by Leah Schroeder ‘13

For years, students in Montgomery County have been force-fed, and have willingly swallowed, the idea that to get into college, their best bet is to load up on AP classes, honor societies and clubs.

In a recent column from The Washington Post, noted columnist George Will quoted from Andrew Ferguson’s new book, “Crazy U: One Dad’s Crash Course in Getting His Kid into College,” saying, “There are 36,000 high schools in this country. That means there are at least 36,000 valedictorians. They can’t all go to Brown.” There are lots of students following a similar rigorous path to the most selective schools and thus, there are no guarantees.

Students will be better assisted if they learn to appreciate the opportunities available to them and to take advantage of the ones that give pleasure. Take an AP class because you want the challenge or the low-priced college credit. Apply for an honor society only if it has meaning for you, not because it will make your resumé more appealing to admissions officers.

Padding a resumé will only help for the short-term, if it all, while pursuing interests and challenges will teach you to enrich your life for years to come.