High school math courses for College entrance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, I think the choices are Multivariable Calculus or AP Statistics, depending on the school.

OP here - I guess one of my questions is: if DD ends up not being the keen STEM type, can she stop math with AP Calculus (AB or BC) in 11th grade or will that limit her College admission potential?

Most colleges want to see 4 years of math during high school. You should look at the expectations of a couple of colleges you think your DC might end up being interested in to see. So she'd have to take MV calc or AP stat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what do seniors take if had AP calc as a junior?

If your DC took AP Calculus AB, he can take BC the next year.

If your DC took AP Calculus BC, she can take multivariable calculus and matrix algebra - both are semester course and are counted at AP for GPA even though there is no AP to take.

The other option is AP Statistics.

Mine will take multivarable calculus and matrix algebra senior year as he took AP statistics during his sophomore year. He took AP Stats instead of AP World History so he could see what an AP class would be like and his strengths are in math/science.

[Anonymous]

OP: First, I would ask the current teacher and the Algebra I teacher for their advice. I would also recommend you "map out" high school math classes for all 4 years. Unless you have a math geek on your hands, you don't want to run out of math classes in high school.Also, the SAT is composed of algebra and geometry (not calculus) so you might want a solid base of those classes especially freshman and sophomore year. If you take Algebra too early, the student needs to re- learn it for the SAT.

[Anonymous]

What math courses do kids take if they take algebra I in 6th grade?

[Anonymous]

Look it up

It's going to vary by school system slightly

This is a parents job. To know what's ahead. To know what is going to be expected of your DC for success.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I guess one of my questions is: if DD ends up not being the keen STEM type, can she stop math with AP Calculus (AB or BC) in 11th grade or will that limit her College admission potential?

College don't want to see a gap. They don't want the student to take "a year off" from math instruction

Some advantage when the student has mastered calculus in HS (but only if they do well, which for some college a C is well-enough) Students who can't master calculus in college are limited in their majors. If the student lists a major for college admission, and the major is known to require calculus, that will be taken into consideration. However math SAT/ACT offer insight too. However having said that, doing well in HS math - and taking math senior year in HS - is probably more important than the particular class the HS student takes as a senior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, I think the choices are Multivariable Calculus or AP Statistics, depending on the school.

OP here - I guess one of my questions is: if DD ends up not being the keen STEM type, can she stop math with AP Calculus (AB or BC) in 11th grade or will that limit her College admission potential?

Most colleges want to see 4 years of math during high school. You should look at the expectations of a couple of colleges you think your DC might end up being interested in to see. So she'd have to take MV calc or AP stat.

It is also worth noting that some of the most selective colleges do not view AP Statistics the same way they view Multivariable and Matrix Algebra. If your child does not plan to take Multivariable they may be better served taking AP Calculus AB in 11th grade and AP Calculus BC in 12th grade if they choose to take Algebra in 7th grade. They can always take AP Statistics as an elective. Selective colleges want to see 4 years of math in HS no matter how far up the chain the kids started in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it would be pretty presumptuous for someone to assume that their middle schooler will never get anything below an A in high school. Expunging Bs seems like a risky game. Those Bs could end up boosting the GPA rather than dragging it down.

Some kids are afraid to get anything below an A. Their tiger parents punish them for less then top marks. I know a family who boycotts their HS kid for a week every time the kid gets a B.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd took algebra 1 honors in 7th and geometry honors in 8th. She got a B in both and pass advanced on the SOLs.
I have no intention of expunging them or having her retake them. She did great and I'm sure she will get into a great college that's a good fit.

When did anything less than perfect become something to hide? When did a B become "doing badly?" There's a lot more to life than UVA.

Don't be so sure she will get into a great college. The competition is brutal. Unless your kid got B's in middle school Alg/geom AND got into a selective school dont be so quick to bash others.

HYP are not the only great schools. My ds just got into Duke with a handful of Bs and (gasp) one C.

Congrats! I also know a couple of kids at prestigious Ivies, one who had B/B+ (all 4 years in English but great in math and science) and the other a handful of Bs like your DC. Neither did sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What math courses do kids take if they take algebra I in 6th grade?

7th: Geometry Honors
8th Algebra II Honors
9th Precalc Honors
10th AP Calc BC
11th Multivacalc and Matrix Algebra
12th AP Statistics

Unless they go to TJ or NOVA for more math options in 11/12th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what do seniors take if had AP calc as a junior?

If your DC took AP Calculus AB, he can take BC the next year.

If your DC took AP Calculus BC, she can take multivariable calculus and matrix algebra - both are semester course and are counted at AP for GPA even though there is no AP to take.

The other option is AP Statistics.

Mine will take multivarable calculus and matrix algebra senior year as he took AP statistics during his sophomore year. He took AP Stats instead of AP World History so he could see what an AP class would be like and his strengths are in math/science.

At our school you took AB or BC. They weren't sequential. BC covers AB. The AP test is the same -if you take the BC test you get an AB subscore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, I think the choices are Multivariable Calculus or AP Statistics, depending on the school.

OP here - I guess one of my questions is: if DD ends up not being the keen STEM type, can she stop math with AP Calculus (AB or BC) in 11th grade or will that limit her College admission potential?

Or Discrete Math. Sadly, the top universities want to see calculus finished and with an A too, before appication whic means by end of jr. year. DC did that and is now taking college chemistry so to hit the chemistry subject matter test hard in the fall. It's a brutal college app. world out there.

[Anonymous]

Or Discrete Math. Sadly, the top universities want to see calculus finished and with an A too, before appication whic means by end of jr. year. DC did that and is now taking college chemistry so to hit the chemistry subject matter test hard in the fall. It's a brutal college app. world out there.

It's only brutal if that's the path you take. There are plenty of good universities, or colleges and majors within certain universities, which are perfectly fine with completion of pre-calculus before college. Unless your DC is applying for engineering at a Top 10-15 school, they can probably do just fine if they take Algebra I in 8th grade. My DD took Algebra I in 8th grade, didn't take honors math at all, has never gotten an A in a math course, and is not taking calculus in high school (although she will take AP Stats as a senior). As tragic as this is, I fully expect her to be able to attend a decent school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Or Discrete Math. Sadly, the top universities want to see calculus finished and with an A too, before appication whic means by end of jr. year. DC did that and is now taking college chemistry so to hit the chemistry subject matter test hard in the fall. It's a brutal college app. world out there.

It's only brutal if that's the path you take. There are plenty of good universities, or colleges and majors within certain universities, which are perfectly fine with completion of pre-calculus before college. Unless your DC is applying for engineering at a Top 10-15 school, they can probably do just fine if they take Algebra I in 8th grade. My DD took Algebra I in 8th grade, didn't take honors math at all, has never gotten an A in a math course, and is not taking calculus in high school (although she will take AP Stats as a senior). As tragic as this is, I fully expect her to be able to attend a decent school.

Not a tragedy and your expectations of DD attending a decent school are not unreasonable. My DC has taken Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Math, and Calculus. The science courses are honors and AP. At our private school, it is rare when you are allowed to deviate from the track. I have spoken to all of DC's interested schools and every one has said the math track will not keep DC from being competitive. Our private is well known and the counselors have said the same thing because the colleges are familiar with the intensity of the courses.

I get a lot of great information from DCUM but I would never count as gospel anything in a thread that has to do with college admissions. That lies in the hands of the admissions staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Or Discrete Math. Sadly, the top universities want to see calculus finished and with an A too, before appication whic means by end of jr. year. DC did that and is now taking college chemistry so to hit the chemistry subject matter test hard in the fall. It's a brutal college app. world out there.

It's only brutal if that's the path you take. There are plenty of good universities, or colleges and majors within certain universities, which are perfectly fine with completion of pre-calculus before college. Unless your DC is applying for engineering at a Top 10-15 school, they can probably do just fine if they take Algebra I in 8th grade. My DD took Algebra I in 8th grade, didn't take honors math at all, has never gotten an A in a math course, and is not taking calculus in high school (although she will take AP Stats as a senior). As tragic as this is, I fully expect her to be able to attend a decent school.

It is not even needed for some of the top ten engineering schools. DC is attending a top ten engineering school in the fall and just finished BC Calc this year.