Math at MC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid will need to go to MC next year for their math class. Just not enough kids at our school to offer a higher level math. He has no desire to take a math filler class just to meet the MCPS graduation requirements. So now I'm considering full time dual enrollment because a 4 credit math class at MC just does not work nicely with a HS schedule.

But on the college forum people say that for a T20 school, to show rigor, you need to show AP classes. He can take all the "AP" level classes at MC and have 4 or 5 classes rather than 7. Kid is currently in 10th grade so will need MC math for 2 years. School offers humanities AP classes, just not the STEM ones. I know it sounds silly but could he take the classes at MC and then go back to the HS and sit for the AP exams?

To show rigor, your kids need to take the hardest available course in their school. So if there’s no magnet or other special programs in your DC’s school, dual enrollment at MC is considered hardest available. That doesn’t conflict with taking other AP classes (e.g., in ELA or social study or arts, etc).

It doesn't in the sense that they could take AP Lang at the HS. However, transportation and logistically, it becomes a bit of an issue trying to match the times AP Lang is offered at the HS with the times MV/DE is offered at MC. And of course colleges don't always offer classes at the same day/time each semester. It's not that he can't take AP humanities at the HS; it's just logistically really challenging. He also doesn't have his license yet which adds another layer of complexity. MCPS offers bus transportation but it's at set times so again, it's not that it can't be done, but on a practical level, it's challenging.

Another PP suggested looking at online offerings. That maybe a solid option.

People have all kinds of opinions about DE vs AP, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with having 20 DE classes on your college app including writing, history, etc. That is still more in total than you are likely to do as AP’s at your HS. I think colleges understand that these types of program require tradeoffs. You get farther in math but you do it with DE humanities instead of APs.

Thank you for this. You hit the nail on the head. It's the tradeoffs. He's much more a STEM kid. At MC, he could take Waves and Optics, Organic Chem, Logic---those are the classes that excite him. Modern World History sounds like a painful slog to him

This may be where I burst your bubble. Early college is cohorted so you don’t get to choose your classes. For my math kid they got to choose two electives for spring of senior year, but that was all. And the options were limited to where they had met the pre-requisites.

I don’t know how it is with other majors but I’d encourage you to have a very realistic view of how much exploration of passions, beyond their major in general, will be part of their program. Even the science is preselected, so while DD would have preferred Physics she is chugging away in Chemistry instead.

As an alternative to early college I believe MCPS will pay for two DE per term which you can choose. But beyond that I think you have to pay (I assume paying yourself is permitted and the credits go on the transcript but it is not something I’ve asked about).

I can't thank you enough for this. It is very helpful. From the MCPS/MC sites, I didn't understand that the programs of study were cohort. I suppose it's nice since there is a group of HS kids all going through the program together. But you're right--it does limit any exploration of other interests. The online option is looking better and better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid will need to go to MC next year for their math class. Just not enough kids at our school to offer a higher level math. He has no desire to take a math filler class just to meet the MCPS graduation requirements. So now I'm considering full time dual enrollment because a 4 credit math class at MC just does not work nicely with a HS schedule.

But on the college forum people say that for a T20 school, to show rigor, you need to show AP classes. He can take all the "AP" level classes at MC and have 4 or 5 classes rather than 7. Kid is currently in 10th grade so will need MC math for 2 years. School offers humanities AP classes, just not the STEM ones. I know it sounds silly but could he take the classes at MC and then go back to the HS and sit for the AP exams?

To show rigor, your kids need to take the hardest available course in their school. So if there’s no magnet or other special programs in your DC’s school, dual enrollment at MC is considered hardest available. That doesn’t conflict with taking other AP classes (e.g., in ELA or social study or arts, etc).

It doesn't in the sense that they could take AP Lang at the HS. However, transportation and logistically, it becomes a bit of an issue trying to match the times AP Lang is offered at the HS with the times MV/DE is offered at MC. And of course colleges don't always offer classes at the same day/time each semester. It's not that he can't take AP humanities at the HS; it's just logistically really challenging. He also doesn't have his license yet which adds another layer of complexity. MCPS offers bus transportation but it's at set times so again, it's not that it can't be done, but on a practical level, it's challenging.

Another PP suggested looking at online offerings. That maybe a solid option.

People have all kinds of opinions about DE vs AP, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with having 20 DE classes on your college app including writing, history, etc. That is still more in total than you are likely to do as AP’s at your HS. I think colleges understand that these types of program require tradeoffs. You get farther in math but you do it with DE humanities instead of APs.

Thank you for this. You hit the nail on the head. It's the tradeoffs. He's much more a STEM kid. At MC, he could take Waves and Optics, Organic Chem, Logic---those are the classes that excite him. Modern World History sounds like a painful slog to him

This may be where I burst your bubble. Early college is cohorted so you don’t get to choose your classes. For my math kid they got to choose two electives for spring of senior year, but that was all. And the options were limited to where they had met the pre-requisites.

I don’t know how it is with other majors but I’d encourage you to have a very realistic view of how much exploration of passions, beyond their major in general, will be part of their program. Even the science is preselected, so while DD would have preferred Physics she is chugging away in Chemistry instead.

As an alternative to early college I believe MCPS will pay for two DE per term which you can choose. But beyond that I think you have to pay (I assume paying yourself is permitted and the credits go on the transcript but it is not something I’ve asked about).

I can't thank you enough for this. It is very helpful. From the MCPS/MC sites, I didn't understand that the programs of study were cohort. I suppose it's nice since there is a group of HS kids all going through the program together. But you're right--it does limit any exploration of other interests. The online option is looking better and better.

Yes, I agree the cohort element is both the magic and the drawback of the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid will need to go to MC next year for their math class. Just not enough kids at our school to offer a higher level math. He has no desire to take a math filler class just to meet the MCPS graduation requirements. So now I'm considering full time dual enrollment because a 4 credit math class at MC just does not work nicely with a HS schedule.

But on the college forum people say that for a T20 school, to show rigor, you need to show AP classes. He can take all the "AP" level classes at MC and have 4 or 5 classes rather than 7. Kid is currently in 10th grade so will need MC math for 2 years. School offers humanities AP classes, just not the STEM ones. I know it sounds silly but could he take the classes at MC and then go back to the HS and sit for the AP exams?

Which math classes?

MC only has Calc 1 (AB), Calc 2 (BC), MVC (Calc 2), DiffEqu (Calc 4), LA, and Stats.

If you're looking at commuting to MC for math, have you asked for permission to commute to a school like Blair instead? Or find an online class to do async?

Turning 2 years of high school into a hash because only you want to study a bit of extra math seems a poor tradeoff, since math is one of the easiest subject to learn in an online format.

[Anonymous]

Oops, MVC is Calc 3

[Anonymous]

You absolutely can take AP exams even if you aren't enrolled in the high school class, as long as you are still a high school student. (DE is still high school student.)

You might have to pay the $100 yourself though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid will need to go to MC next year for their math class. Just not enough kids at our school to offer a higher level math. He has no desire to take a math filler class just to meet the MCPS graduation requirements. So now I'm considering full time dual enrollment because a 4 credit math class at MC just does not work nicely with a HS schedule.

But on the college forum people say that for a T20 school, to show rigor, you need to show AP classes. He can take all the "AP" level classes at MC and have 4 or 5 classes rather than 7. Kid is currently in 10th grade so will need MC math for 2 years. School offers humanities AP classes, just not the STEM ones. I know it sounds silly but could he take the classes at MC and then go back to the HS and sit for the AP exams?

To show rigor, your kids need to take the hardest available course in their school. So if there’s no magnet or other special programs in your DC’s school, dual enrollment at MC is considered hardest available. That doesn’t conflict with taking other AP classes (e.g., in ELA or social study or arts, etc).

It doesn't in the sense that they could take AP Lang at the HS. However, transportation and logistically, it becomes a bit of an issue trying to match the times AP Lang is offered at the HS with the times MV/DE is offered at MC. And of course colleges don't always offer classes at the same day/time each semester. It's not that he can't take AP humanities at the HS; it's just logistically really challenging. He also doesn't have his license yet which adds another layer of complexity. MCPS offers bus transportation but it's at set times so again, it's not that it can't be done, but on a practical level, it's challenging.

Another PP suggested looking at online offerings. That maybe a solid option.

People have all kinds of opinions about DE vs AP, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with having 20 DE classes on your college app including writing, history, etc. That is still more in total than you are likely to do as AP’s at your HS. I think colleges understand that these types of program require tradeoffs. You get farther in math but you do it with DE humanities instead of APs.

Thank you for this. You hit the nail on the head. It's the tradeoffs. He's much more a STEM kid. At MC, he could take Waves and Optics, Organic Chem, Logic---those are the classes that excite him. Modern World History sounds like a painful slog to him

This may be where I burst your bubble. Early college is cohorted so you don’t get to choose your classes. For my math kid they got to choose two electives for spring of senior year, but that was all. And the options were limited to where they had met the pre-requisites.

I don’t know how it is with other majors but I’d encourage you to have a very realistic view of how much exploration of passions, beyond their major in general, will be part of their program. Even the science is preselected, so while DD would have preferred Physics she is chugging away in Chemistry instead.

As an alternative to early college I believe MCPS will pay for two DE per term which you can choose. But beyond that I think you have to pay (I assume paying yourself is permitted and the credits go on the transcript but it is not something I’ve asked about).

I can't thank you enough for this. It is very helpful. From the MCPS/MC sites, I didn't understand that the programs of study were cohort. I suppose it's nice since there is a group of HS kids all going through the program together. But you're right--it does limit any exploration of other interests. The online option is looking better and better.

NP here, with a kid who did early college.

The early college students are cohorted for a couple of reasons. First, the courses are selected to fulfill both the high school graduation requirements and the requirements for an associates degree. Second, the classes are scheduled to be relatively compact during usual high school hours. Students aren’t competing against other MC students to get into courses for their program. And third, they are grouped together because they are still minors. All the professors have been through the state mandated child safety training and there is regular attendance reporting to be sure they are accounted for.

If your kid really isn’t that into high school and wants a different pace of learning, the early college program can be a good choice. If you look at the MC website, you can see that the EC students go on to top colleges. However, if your kid is interested for next year, you need to call ASAP, because I think they are in process of approving next year’s cohorts now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid will need to go to MC next year for their math class. Just not enough kids at our school to offer a higher level math. He has no desire to take a math filler class just to meet the MCPS graduation requirements. So now I'm considering full time dual enrollment because a 4 credit math class at MC just does not work nicely with a HS schedule.

But on the college forum people say that for a T20 school, to show rigor, you need to show AP classes. He can take all the "AP" level classes at MC and have 4 or 5 classes rather than 7. Kid is currently in 10th grade so will need MC math for 2 years. School offers humanities AP classes, just not the STEM ones. I know it sounds silly but could he take the classes at MC and then go back to the HS and sit for the AP exams?

Which math classes?

MC only has Calc 1 (AB), Calc 2 (BC), MVC (Calc 2), DiffEqu (Calc 4), LA, and Stats.

If you're looking at commuting to MC for math, have you asked for permission to commute to a school like Blair instead? Or find an online class to do async?

Turning 2 years of high school into a hash because only you want to study a bit of extra math seems a poor tradeoff, since math is one of the easiest subject to learn in an online format.

Only MC offers math online. MCPS will not allow outside vendors except for a few ap classes. With a regular hs schedule, it’s very hard when Mc is on a college schedule and there is no coordination.

If you go to another school you have to provide transportation.

[Anonymous]

It is very hard to get into the upper math classes at MC because there are very few spots. The online spots go fast. In order to increase your odds of getting into the class, begin enrolling early so that you have your M number ( the MC student ID number). Also complete your online orientation and have your AP BC Calc scores ready to share. This will make you ready to go when class registration begins.

The idea of taking higher level math classes at a neighboring high school is also an option, but like MC will require transportation back and forth.

Good luck to your student. It is great that you are proactively looking into options so early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In answer to your question yes, you can take AP exams at your home school but I think you have to pay for them.

Check with kid's school no, not all let students take exam for an AP class they didn't take at the school or didn't take the class at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In answer to your question yes, you can take AP exams at your home school but I think you have to pay for them.

Check with kid's school no, not all let students take exam for an AP class they didn't take at the school or didn't take the class at all

They are required to allow it. You just have to figure out the test coordinator and they send you a code and pay.