DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids at Blair, RM, Wootton, and Churchill public schools routinely have taken such high advanced Calculus courses and differential equations prior to 11 th grade in the area public schools. I know a couple on the math USAMO teams. What’s the big deal here? All those power hitting high GPA kids are no longer deserving?

Same. Multi, linear eq, diff eq by junior year. Common at our public.

Good for them. Won't help. Up to BC with good grades is all the good schools want. Anything more can also be a negative if they are not involved in a lot of activities especially varsity sports showing they are well rounded.

Source?

Why would a college admit a kid who has already completed an undergraduate degree in math? It’s a waste of everyone’s time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids at Blair, RM, Wootton, and Churchill public schools routinely have taken such high advanced Calculus courses and differential equations prior to 11 th grade in the area public schools. I know a couple on the math USAMO teams. What’s the big deal here? All those power hitting high GPA kids are no longer deserving?

Same. Multi, linear eq, diff eq by junior year. Common at our public.

Good for them. Won't help. Up to BC with good grades is all the good schools want. Anything more can also be a negative if they are not involved in a lot of activities especially varsity sports showing they are well rounded.

Agree. And I will take it a step further to say that any calc at all is all you need. Taking calc as a sophomore or whatever really isn't impressing anyone, and it is just setting your kid up for failure.

We purposely turned down a very elite magnet school to send our kid to private school to avoid the pressure to take calc as a sophomore, 15 APs, not have a lunch period, and whatever else. Yes, I am extremely privileged to be able to afford to do this. But people really need to chill.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a sad statement of the world today (I'm not blaming you - I feel awful for you). One bad grade should not ruin a kid. I'm pretty sure I had multiple final grades of B or so (but still finished in the top few % of my class at a good public HS) and got into multiple Ivy+ schools in the 90s. A's weren't handed out like candy and any SAT score over 1400 was great. The process is just so awful. But I don't know the answer.

This isn't the 90s.

In the era of grade inflation, a C+ might as well be a D. Now, if the OP isn't obsessed with T10 schools like most DCUMers and puts a reasonable college list together, he/she will avoid some admissions pain.

Rigorous schools do not have grade inflation.

A C+ at a "rigorous " school still sucks, so there's that.

Well, most kids don’t make it past calc BC either, and especially not an a junior. If he did well though BC I think he is fine

The kids at our school admitted to the highest ranked colleges did not take the hardest math classes offered. I don't know where people got the idea that this was needed. It has never been the case at our high school.

Exactly. Princeton, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Duke, Hopkins do not care about calculus. Take Algebra I, II, Geo/trig. Take precalculus as a senior. That checks the most rigorous box so no need for further.

That would be a year behind the standard math progression at DC’s private school, and my understanding of most private schools in the DMV. Stand is to have geometry in 9, algebra 2 (with or without trig) in 10, precalc in 11, and some level of Calc in 12. Yes, there is a track a year behind that many kids are on, but it’s essentially remedial and would not “check the most rigorous box.” And of course there are honors/AP sections of the standard progression, and there are also kids a year or two advanced who take Calc in 11th or even 10th and then take a year or two of post-Calc math.

I was assuming the “advanced calculus” that OP mentions was an honors non-AP class or the equivalent of an AP class in a school that doesn’t offer APs, but others seem to think it’s actually post-AP. It would be helpful for OP to explain what it actually is.

And, depending on the child and track that’s very behind public. I find it strange too privates water things down so much especially when they encourage redshirting. Between older kids and getting the brightest they all should be able to handle more.

Very behind public? lol

Public school kids can take whatever they want and get at least a B+ as long as they turned in hw on time. The whatever advanced courses offered there are too navigational to mean anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a sad statement of the world today (I'm not blaming you - I feel awful for you). One bad grade should not ruin a kid. I'm pretty sure I had multiple final grades of B or so (but still finished in the top few % of my class at a good public HS) and got into multiple Ivy+ schools in the 90s. A's weren't handed out like candy and any SAT score over 1400 was great. The process is just so awful. But I don't know the answer.

This isn't the 90s.

In the era of grade inflation, a C+ might as well be a D. Now, if the OP isn't obsessed with T10 schools like most DCUMers and puts a reasonable college list together, he/she will avoid some admissions pain.

Rigorous schools do not have grade inflation.

A C+ at a "rigorous " school still sucks, so there's that.

Well, most kids don’t make it past calc BC either, and especially not an a junior. If he did well though BC I think he is fine

The kids at our school admitted to the highest ranked colleges did not take the hardest math classes offered. I don't know where people got the idea that this was needed. It has never been the case at our high school.

Exactly. Princeton, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Duke, Hopkins do not care about calculus. Take Algebra I, II, Geo/trig. Take precalculus as a senior. That checks the most rigorous box so no need for further.

That would be a year behind the standard math progression at DC’s private school, and my understanding of most private schools in the DMV. Stand is to have geometry in 9, algebra 2 (with or without trig) in 10, precalc in 11, and some level of Calc in 12. Yes, there is a track a year behind that many kids are on, but it’s essentially remedial and would not “check the most rigorous box.” And of course there are honors/AP sections of the standard progression, and there are also kids a year or two advanced who take Calc in 11th or even 10th and then take a year or two of post-Calc math.

I was assuming the “advanced calculus” that OP mentions was an honors non-AP class or the equivalent of an AP class in a school that doesn’t offer APs, but others seem to think it’s actually post-AP. It would be helpful for OP to explain what it actually is.

And, depending on the child and track that’s very behind public. I find it strange too privates water things down so much especially when they encourage redshirting. Between older kids and getting the brightest they all should be able to handle more.

Very behind public? lol

Public school kids can take whatever they want and get at least a B+ as long as they turned in hw on time. The whatever advanced courses offered there are too navigational to mean anything.

This is not true at fcps. Homework counts for almost nothing.
Its amazing the lies private school parents tell each other!

[Anonymous]

The norm among college-bound kids at our large, mediocre public hs is precalulcus as a junior, calculus as a senior.

These are not the "math" kids or the smartest kids, just the regular kids aiming for regular colleges

[Anonymous]

Most kids in NYC who enter SHSAT schools (Stuy, Bronx Science, etc.) from public schools end up doing calc as a senior. And these are the best and brightest.

The take calc early phenomenon is dumb. It is not proving anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a sad statement of the world today (I'm not blaming you - I feel awful for you). One bad grade should not ruin a kid. I'm pretty sure I had multiple final grades of B or so (but still finished in the top few % of my class at a good public HS) and got into multiple Ivy+ schools in the 90s. A's weren't handed out like candy and any SAT score over 1400 was great. The process is just so awful. But I don't know the answer.

This isn't the 90s.

In the era of grade inflation, a C+ might as well be a D. Now, if the OP isn't obsessed with T10 schools like most DCUMers and puts a reasonable college list together, he/she will avoid some admissions pain.

Rigorous schools do not have grade inflation.

A C+ at a "rigorous " school still sucks, so there's that.

Well, most kids don’t make it past calc BC either, and especially not an a junior. If he did well though BC I think he is fine

The kids at our school admitted to the highest ranked colleges did not take the hardest math classes offered. I don't know where people got the idea that this was needed. It has never been the case at our high school.

Exactly. Princeton, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Duke, Hopkins do not care about calculus. Take Algebra I, II, Geo/trig. Take precalculus as a senior. That checks the most rigorous box so no need for further.

That would be a year behind the standard math progression at DC’s private school, and my understanding of most private schools in the DMV. Stand is to have geometry in 9, algebra 2 (with or without trig) in 10, precalc in 11, and some level of Calc in 12. Yes, there is a track a year behind that many kids are on, but it’s essentially remedial and would not “check the most rigorous box.” And of course there are honors/AP sections of the standard progression, and there are also kids a year or two advanced who take Calc in 11th or even 10th and then take a year or two of post-Calc math.

I was assuming the “advanced calculus” that OP mentions was an honors non-AP class or the equivalent of an AP class in a school that doesn’t offer APs, but others seem to think it’s actually post-AP. It would be helpful for OP to explain what it actually is.

And, depending on the child and track that’s very behind public. I find it strange too privates water things down so much especially when they encourage redshirting. Between older kids and getting the brightest they all should be able to handle more.

The kids admitted to Ivy League schools at our private took calc as seniors. They aren't "behind."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most kids in NYC who enter SHSAT schools (Stuy, Bronx Science, etc.) from public schools end up doing calc as a senior. And these are the best and brightest.

The take calc early phenomenon is dumb. It is not proving anything.

Stuy is THE best STEM magnet school in the country, yet fcps moms say they are very behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids in NYC who enter SHSAT schools (Stuy, Bronx Science, etc.) from public schools end up doing calc as a senior. And these are the best and brightest.

The take calc early phenomenon is dumb. It is not proving anything.

Stuy is THE best STEM magnet school in the country, yet fcps moms say they are very behind.

Exactly. That is why I mentioned this. I live in NYC and have friends with kids at allegedly top suburban schools in VA, NC and MD who are obsessed with pushing their kids ahead and think it shows that their kids are so brilliant and their schools are so great. It really doesn't. But they are in their little bubble.

I have also heard that these kids who place into super advanced math sometimes end up struggling if they end up at top colleges because they aren't as prepared as they think they are.

[Anonymous]

My white, completely unhooked kid was accepted this year to an Ivy engineering program after taking a max of calculus AB in high school. And no AP computer science either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My white, completely unhooked kid was accepted this year to an Ivy engineering program after taking a max of calculus AB in high school. And no AP computer science either.

Yep. For my kid it the same. DC admitted this cycle as an engineering major to one of the top 5 engineering schools and one of the top schools in the country. Ended with Calc BC completed junior year. His HS did not offer any math above that. All A's in all math. Academic awards. 2 varsity team sports and captain of one. Also a lot of leadership activities and roles in HS. No robotics and no school engineering clubs. Nothing wrong with these I might add and they can be good I'm sure, my kid was just too busy with sports and the time they consumed. I kept hearing we are looking for well rounded students. I think any parent giving advice to their kids this should be it. BTW, in my opinion, don't waste your time or money on engineering camps. My kid did one and we thought it was a complete waste of time. Again, just my opinion. Hope it helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My white, completely unhooked kid was accepted this year to an Ivy engineering program after taking a max of calculus AB in high school. And no AP computer science either.

What HS, what is the highest math offered at the HS, and are any ap CS courses offered?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of schools that will take him. Relax

This.

That course would matter most for engineering.

I think your 40-60 range is correct.

[Anonymous]

Most high schools in America don't even TEACH Calculus.

Taking it Junior year is unnecessary.

Senior year is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also when you apply to some large schools they may expressly say they will not recalculate advanced classes that are not AP.
They will only give a point extra for AP so your kid may not make it beyond the algorithm. Suddenly the kid who took basic math and got an A looks better than your kid who took Advance AB calc as a junior and got a C plus. This is just one example. This could be the case comparing other classes ex Advanced English to regular English . College has become so complicated that these issues have to be worked out from private schools to keep up. Again simply talk to your school on how they will figure this out for fairness for students who take on these classes. I feel like the kids who fare better have parents who bring this up right away. If you wait until senior year then college counseling is so busy and your recommendations already written. It makes it harder.

This has nothing to do with public or private and colleges want the most rigour at your school. What it comes down to is that this kid is struggling with Calc AB. Parents should have gotten a tutor but didn't. So, now they should get a tutor for the summer and have him take AB again or BC.

What school lets students retake a class?? Not many will unless you have a F or D.