Algebra I freshman year and selective colleges

[Anonymous]

DD took Algebra 1 freshman year at a DC private. Before entering freshman year, you could test into Geometry, otherwise you are placed in Alegebra 1. We didn’t want to overload her freshman year as she struggles with anxiety. She got an A in the class and is on track for an A in Geometry. She wants a humanities degree. Will she be shut out of selective schools like William and Mary because of this? I’m wondering if she should take math this summer to move up, though I really, really don’t want to do this as she works very hard during the year. She’s a straight A student but I know that is hardly enough these days for some of these schools.

[Anonymous]

OP, have your DD call the schools and ask. I don't think it will be an issue, but it's better to get their guidance while she has time to enroll in a summer course if she decides she needs one.

[Anonymous]

You can’t worry about this. You said it yourself, you didn’t want to overload her and she struggles with anxiety. She got an A in a foundational course. Don’t stress over this now and give her the anxiety you wanted to avoid.

[Anonymous]

What did others at the school do? And how early could she have started it but didn’t? Is it honors or regular algebra, if your school has a choice n

[Anonymous]

Just make sure she applies to other match colleges she loves

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t stress over this if you are not aiming for a top20. Ideally, geometry would be the class you take over the summer and that isn’t an option now.My advice would be to have her take 2 maths senior year (precalculus and AP Statistics). If the goal is W&M, make sure she EDs.

[Anonymous]

One thing to consider is where others from her school have tracked in math - colleges will look at other student applicants in her year. If she is in a minority of starting at Algebra I (either as a grade or as a group applying to a selective school), it may come off as she had lower rigor. Basically, it's all relative. Personally, I would consider taking summer math so she can reach Calc her senior year.

[Anonymous]

My kid tested into Honors Algebra 1 in 9th at their private school despite an A in algebra in 8th. There were obviously some gaps in their learning (probably due to online school in 8th during Covid). It was the right decision. DC took geometry over the summer between 9th and 10th in order to take AP Calculus senior year. Not aiming for top 20 colleges, but DC wants to apply to UVA and it seems important to them that you reach calculus. I don’t know if W&M is the same, but I am sure others have an opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did others at the school do? And how early could she have started it but didn’t? Is it honors or regular algebra, if your school has a choice n

This is OP. That’s the problem, I’d say more than half of the school took Geometry. She is at a Private so they don’t do honors and only offer a handful of APs.

[Anonymous]

I think that it's likely that a kid who is easily overwhelmed, and struggles with anxiety, will find that the most selective schools aren't a good fit. I think that if she has the transcript that's right for her, she'll find the school that's right with her.

But, I don't think that algebra in 9th is a deal breaker by itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did others at the school do? And how early could she have started it but didn’t? Is it honors or regular algebra, if your school has a choice n

This is OP. That’s the problem, I’d say more than half of the school took Geometry. She is at a Private so they don’t do honors and only offer a handful of APs.

It will have an impact but you can’t make choices today based exclusively on what you may want tomorrow. You have to consider the here and now - and if that meant slowing it down for your daughter to be mentally ok and get good grades - you did that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing to consider is where others from her school have tracked in math - colleges will look at other student applicants in her year. If she is in a minority of starting at Algebra I (either as a grade or as a group applying to a selective school), it may come off as she had lower rigor. Basically, it's all relative. Personally, I would consider taking summer math so she can reach Calc her senior year.

+1. Where this might also make a difference is the weighted GPA. I have one kid that was in Algebra I in 9th grade and it would have impacted their ability to take certain honors science courses which would have impacted their weighed GPA …they took a summer class that put them on track for Calc senior year. This was helpful on many levels - I think the only reason they even made the cut for Spring at our in-state flagship was the overall rigor and having the boost of both math and science honors classes (and doing well). It also helped with applications to LACs that they had course rigor even though at the time they were planning for a non-STEM major. I will also add that in college, they have changed what they want to study so having a strong foundation in high school in math made it easier to pick that path.

[Anonymous]

Ideally, one would have taken Geometry over the summer, but it is too late for that now. I mention it here only for the possible benefit of others in that situation.

Do the best you can to have a strong academic record overall. At admissions time, one optionally might indicate which specific non-STEM major DC plans to major in. That gives Admissions reviewers a non-negative reason for the student not being in the most advanced math courses.

[Anonymous]

She will not be shut out. As you demonstrate, math progression is set early and then it's hard to jump. Continuing to excel on the current track is sufficient. AOs know how this works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ideally, one would have taken Geometry over the summer, but it is too late for that now. I mention it here only for the possible benefit of others in that situation.

Do the best you can to have a strong academic record overall. At admissions time, one optionally might indicate which specific non-STEM major DC plans to major in. That gives Admissions reviewers a non-negative reason for the student not being in the most advanced math courses.

OP your best bet is to ask the guidance counselors at your child’s private school after they are done with senior applications and before your child is looking to sign up for junior classes. Specifically ask “How has William and Mary has viewed applicants from this school that have opted for the math track for senior year pre-calc with the combination of honors/AP for the math and sciences and whatever rigor they are pursuing with the English, social sciences, arts, and foreign language”. The counselor could say - yes, those candidates or just as competitive as the ones taking Calc senior year OR that they needed to stand out in having extra rigor/do well in AP in certain areas or you could find out that they won’t be able to be in the GPA range to make this a match (despite having A’s) if all the math and science classes are non-honors/AP. If they need to step up a level to be competitive, then you can talk with your kid to decide if it’s better to find a school that fits the path she is on, step up the difficulty level, or stay on the path but put William and Mary in the reach category and look at ED or any type of guarantee transfer to improve their chances.