How Tough Is It To Get A's In Sidwell Math I-IV Track And Chem 1A?

[Anonymous]

I'd like my son to attend Sidwell for 9th grade, but I've heard horror stories about the Math I-IV track and Chem 1A. I've heard Math I-IV is unreasonably difficult and only truly mathematically brilliant students (not simply accelerated by a few grade levels), can get A's. I've heard of students getting C's/D's in the Math I-IV track, yet getting A's in Calculus II. Is advanced math that tough at Sidwell?

I've also heard that Chem 1A doesn't actually teach students through lecture, and they're expected to figure out the work with "reasoning skills". I've heard some parents would just hire tutors to actually teach their kids Chemistry outside of class, so they can actually do the work.

I want my son to be competitive for top 10/Ivy League admissions when he applies for college. I know that a 3.9+ GPA is expected for the most competitive colleges. How realistic is this at Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

I’d suggest focusing first on your kid being admitted to Sidwell for HS. Then worry about the appropriate math track followed by options for college. Ivy/Top 10 is not a guarantee based on math track.

[Anonymous]

Where is your son now? How is he doing in math and science? Why Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd like my son to attend Sidwell for 9th grade, but I've heard horror stories about the Math I-IV track and Chem 1A. I've heard Math I-IV is unreasonably difficult and only truly mathematically brilliant students (not simply accelerated by a few grade levels), can get A's. I've heard of students getting C's/D's in the Math I-IV track, yet getting A's in Calculus II. Is advanced math that tough at Sidwell?

I've also heard that Chem 1A doesn't actually teach students through lecture, and they're expected to figure out the work with "reasoning skills". I've heard some parents would just hire tutors to actually teach their kids Chemistry outside of class, so they can actually do the work.

I want my son to be competitive for top 10/Ivy League admissions when he applies for college. I know that a 3.9+ GPA is expected for the most competitive colleges. How realistic is this at Sidwell?

Is Sidwell the only school you’re considering? If so, I suggest you broaden your options and apply to other schools.

[Anonymous]

Your thinking is backwards. First make school and curriculum choices that best fit who he is as a learner. Then see what colleges are available and would be good fits.

[Anonymous]

Chem 1A is not hard so I wouldn’t worry about that if your kid is a math/science kid. The advanced math track is very hard. Very. I have a gifted math student and it was very challenging for him.

[Anonymous]

You are putting a lot on your kid. Every kid does not have to get As all the time. These are the kids that are pushed so hard that they kill themselves if they start to think they won’t get into Harvard, or they turn to cheating or drugs or alcohol.

Parent the kid you have with love and support, not the kid you want him to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd like my son to attend Sidwell for 9th grade, but I've heard horror stories about the Math I-IV track and Chem 1A. I've heard Math I-IV is unreasonably difficult and only truly mathematically brilliant students (not simply accelerated by a few grade levels), can get A's. I've heard of students getting C's/D's in the Math I-IV track, yet getting A's in Calculus II. Is advanced math that tough at Sidwell?

I've also heard that Chem 1A doesn't actually teach students through lecture, and they're expected to figure out the work with "reasoning skills". I've heard some parents would just hire tutors to actually teach their kids Chemistry outside of class, so they can actually do the work.

I want my son to be competitive for top 10/Ivy League admissions when he applies for college. I know that a 3.9+ GPA is expected for the most competitive colleges. How realistic is this at Sidwell?

This is a recipe for a mental health disaster. You need to rethink your role as a parent.

[Anonymous]

If you want him to have all A's, why send him to a competitive and challenging school?

[Anonymous]

I think the hardest track is Physics 1A and Math 3. Not sure how many kids did that, really depends on each grade. This should NOT be a goal for your child. Only if he wants it and is inspired by those subjects. You do not need to be in Math 1/4 to get into a good university. If he is a STEM kid and applying to MIT then yes. Even then MIT doesn’t really like Sidwell. It’s not known as a STEM school although advanced math is really hard. Math 3 is harder than Math 4 so it’s really being able to get all As as a junior.

[Anonymous]

Physics II is also very hard

[Anonymous]

I have kids at STA and NCS and the honors math tracks are similarly difficult. Maybe not as theoretical as Sidwell's I-IV track but well above typical pre-calc and calc classes as the exam problems require application of concepts in novel ways. Only about 10-15% of each graduating class makes it through (and they grades at-large are not dumb cohorts of kids). My kids came from public and it was sobering--after years of easy As in accelerated public math classes they really struggled to get low As in honors pre-calc and BC calc. There are many Bs given out in both. The kids who do well go on to excel as college math majors, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd like my son to attend Sidwell for 9th grade, but I've heard horror stories about the Math I-IV track and Chem 1A. I've heard Math I-IV is unreasonably difficult and only truly mathematically brilliant students (not simply accelerated by a few grade levels), can get A's. I've heard of students getting C's/D's in the Math I-IV track, yet getting A's in Calculus II. Is advanced math that tough at Sidwell?

I've also heard that Chem 1A doesn't actually teach students through lecture, and they're expected to figure out the work with "reasoning skills". I've heard some parents would just hire tutors to actually teach their kids Chemistry outside of class, so they can actually do the work.

I want my son to be competitive for top 10/Ivy League admissions when he applies for college. I know that a 3.9+ GPA is expected for the most competitive colleges. How realistic is this at Sidwell?

If you didn't give your kid super smart genes, you're going to have a tough road ahead. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Physics II is also very hard

I mean the combo of taking the two classes in the same year. Physics II and Math IV combo is not as hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids at STA and NCS and the honors math tracks are similarly difficult. Maybe not as theoretical as Sidwell's I-IV track but well above typical pre-calc and calc classes as the exam problems require application of concepts in novel ways. Only about 10-15% of each graduating class makes it through (and they grades at-large are not dumb cohorts of kids). My kids came from public and it was sobering--after years of easy As in accelerated public math classes they really struggled to get low As in honors pre-calc and BC calc. There are many Bs given out in both. The kids who do well go on to excel as college math majors, etc.

The easy As in public schools happen because they focus on mechanics over conceptual learning. STA/NCS demand a high level of conceptual understanding.