<p>TD: If I may suggest this: your providing guidance and opportunity to your son is great. But your goal shouldn’t be an impressive list of items come his senior year – your goal should be to inspire and ignite a great desire to learn, to affect others, to be excellent, to serve his fellow man – if you succeed in this, his resume will look fine. Often I see people focused on the “resume” and not on the character of the student. I’ve interviewed many kids who have impressive resumes – but lack any investment in what they’ve done besides follow some prescribe path. These don’t impress my alma mater’s admissions office.</p>
<p>Summary: provide gentle guidance and opportunity. If your son truly is a top college candidate, it will rise to the surface. You can’t force it. </p>
<p>Your son sounds bright. Let him explore and excel in what he wants to excel in. Don’t worry about competitions or awards. And don’t fixate on community svc. Everyone does it. It’s “meh” to be frank.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>