My son is taking Algebra 1 in 9th grade. Is he doomed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:he's not doomed but he is probably out of the running for admission to an engineering or computer science program.

Not really. He is out of the running for some of them, but there are plenty where he is not.

OP, not everyone takes a direct path, and if he isn't ready for his dream major at the time he graduates, he will just find another path.

[Anonymous]

Op - wondering whether you are in B’more by chance? Anyway, my DS also did not perform well enough to test out of algebra 1. We’ve requested a retest and have 6 hrs of tutoring lined up during the next few weeks. School is letting us take the test after close of this school year. If DS already took Alg 1, it’s definitely worth having him try to test out.

[Anonymous]

I guess your son will end up like the 95% of us who never use math beyond calculating square footage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op - wondering whether you are in B’more by chance? Anyway, my DS also did not perform well enough to test out of algebra 1. We’ve requested a retest and have 6 hrs of tutoring lined up during the next few weeks. School is letting us take the test after close of this school year. If DS already took Alg 1, it’s definitely worth having him try to test out.

OP here. Yes! We are in Baltimore too. Is your son going to Calvert Hall? My DS did take Algebra 1 this year but he didn’t knock it out of the park so it didn’t totally surprise me that he didn’t test out. I thought I read that the retests were soon but maybe not. His scores were not close enough to the passing score for me to subject him to more work. We are both exhausted from tons of homework in middle school. He did use the study guide to prepare but he said there were things on it they’d hadn’t covered this year. I am fine with him taking it again next year but the over the top reactions from other parents made me wonder if I was missing something. I found out he can take geometry in the summer so that’s good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, OP that is not true. DD just took pre calculus in 12 grade and got into great college, not Ivy, in fact she got over 35K in scholarships to most colleges she applied to. They are just trying to get you to freak out, spend money on tutoring and tell other clients(paying customers) that all of the kids in their school are in Algebra II. In fact, my DS who was ahead in math, didn't get in as many top rated school as DD who was. BTW, I am the Lucifer pp. Just a joke, catholic school and all.

Merit scholarships or need based aid?

[Anonymous]

My D started with calculus in 9th grade, topped out of AP maths in her HS by 11th - and was shut out of all engineering programs she applied to. By topping out with no math in her 12th grade, she got rusty in math. Accelerating in math was no blessing. Algebra in 9th grade can be used as a blessing in disguise, for the right student.

[Anonymous]

My son is taking pre-calc this summer so he can take AP Cale senior year. In hindsight, I would have had him take a summer math class over summer after sophomore year.

[Anonymous]

Do public schools offer all math classes in the summer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op - wondering whether you are in B’more by chance? Anyway, my DS also did not perform well enough to test out of algebra 1. We’ve requested a retest and have 6 hrs of tutoring lined up during the next few weeks. School is letting us take the test after close of this school year. If DS already took Alg 1, it’s definitely worth having him try to test out.

OP here. Yes! We are in Baltimore too. Is your son going to Calvert Hall? My DS did take Algebra 1 this year but he didn’t knock it out of the park so it didn’t totally surprise me that he didn’t test out. I thought I read that the retests were soon but maybe not. His scores were not close enough to the passing score for me to subject him to more work. We are both exhausted from tons of homework in middle school. He did use the study guide to prepare but he said there were things on it they’d hadn’t covered this year. I am fine with him taking it again next year but the over the top reactions from other parents made me wonder if I was missing something. I found out he can take geometry in the summer so that’s good.

There are so many colleges out there, and most are dying for students. I think that your son should just take the kinds of college prep classes that seem to
suit him and then look for colleges that like him, instead of trying to jam himself into a college that obsesses about this sort of thing.

This might be a sign that he’s not a natural fit for being a nuclear physicist. But I suspect that isn’t his idea of a great career path, anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, OP that is not true. DD just took pre calculus in 12 grade and got into great college, not Ivy, in fact she got over 35K in scholarships to most colleges she applied to. They are just trying to get you to freak out, spend money on tutoring and tell other clients(paying customers) that all of the kids in their school are in Algebra II. In fact, my DS who was ahead in math, didn't get in as many top rated school as DD who was. BTW, I am the Lucifer pp. Just a joke, catholic school and all.

Cool story. But if she got $35k in merit aid, these were not top colleges. $35,000 from Juanita is fine for many things, but not engineering. And if she only had pre-Calc, they were not decent engineering or CS programs.

Very top engineering and CS want maxed out on CS/ AP Physics and BC Calc done by end of junior year. Solid engineering programs— like VT— will take BC Calc as a senior— but the want BC Calc in HS. And 2-3 years of AP CS and/or physics. UW 4.0 or very close in math.

Now, of your kid is pre-law, or pre-med or business or college of arts and sciences, being behind in math is not as big a deal. But make no mistake, your kid is behind in math.

OP— if your kid really wants CS or engineering, he probably needs to find a way to get a year ahead in math. Tutor and retake the placement test. Take geometry over next summer. Take Geometry and A2 at the same time next year.

Also, for engineering and CS, he is probably better coming out of a strong DMV public than a Catholic.

Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine? She got into colleges that are top 100 rated by Times Magazine, and she is going for pre med. And funny, she did have to take a test to see which math she can take as a Freshman and got into the highest math they offer, when her friends who did trig didn't get in it. But, you must be right about every single thing you know? Are you actually talking about Virginia Tech?! Maybe it is awesome in engineering, but not great overall. Nor would I ever have DD go to college in Virginia! I am talking about a whole different standard of colleges, and I have no idea what is Juanita? I am talking top CA colleges too, and top British ones. Helps that she is has two passports. Is it insecurity that makes you try to rip people and kids you know nothing about apart? I bet you are a VA pp, so much insecurity, and rightfully so, always behind in human rights to MD, and in education, and so much bigger than MD, yet so backwards. Blacksburg for my DD for college?! Just the sheer thought gives me the creeps. Never.
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/news/when-the-klan-came-to-blacksburg/article_38fc985c-ed72-11e7-b444-bb4b6ea93bb4.html

Take your meds

Read the post before acting like a crazy person. Read carefully before you freak the f—k out. It specifically discusses math pre-recs for engineering and CS at VT. And says that Pre-Calc would probably be fine for most other things. Did you read that part?

I wouldn’t brag about top 100 colleges. And I was not aware “Times” Magazine had a college ranking anyone took seriously. Especially colleges ranked 50 and above.

I’m not sure why you think your kid thinks they are took good for * gasp* Blacksburg. But they are too good for her. VT is currently 13 in undergrad engineering, which is what I was discussing.. Your DC would never be accepted at VT engineering.

And I absolutely positively do not believe your kid was accepted to UC Berkeley or UCLA (or Oxbridge FFS) with $35,000 a year in merit money. Did not happen. Full stop. And I have no idea what 2 passports has to do with anything.


Next time you decide to be an obnoxious snot, raped the post you are responding too. Which is limited to engineering and CS admissions.

And take some Xanax. You. Sound. Crazy. And like a raging b—-h with an amazing superiority complex.

Your DD’s premed admission has nothing to do with OP asking about math tracking for engineering and CS.

20:11 here. I'm not getting involved in the fight between you 2 but just want to restate that my DS did get into VT engineering this year with only Pre-Calculus.

I’m sure it’s possible. Especially if it is the “most rigorous track” she could have taken, like you said. I’m assuming her guidance counselor pointed out she didn’t have A1 in 7th or 8th as an option on the school recommendation.

But it’s unusual for kids who were in the DMV for Ms onward— when VT visits NOVA HSs, they recommend finishing BC junior year. Will accept BC Senior year with strong grades and scores. I personally know lots of kids rejected with Bs in math and/or senior BC from VT engineering. I do not know any kid who was admitted out of NoVA with just PreCalc. But Honors A1 in 8th is the rule in FCPS. 7th and 9th are for outliers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do public schools offer all math classes in the summer?

FCPS does. It’s online for most schools. But only Honors in geometry. I would not have a kid do summer A2 or Pre-Calc. And I would not have a math kid settle for the non-Honors 5 week version. If you are going to accelerate, take Geometry and A1 together. Or summer Honors geometry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Lucifer is knocking.

Seriously. This, AGAIN?? OP, Algebra I in 9th grade is perfectly fine. Move on.

[Anonymous]

OP we are going to CHC as well. I’ve set up 4-6 hr of tutoring over next 2 weeks (we use Huntington learning center in timonium) and I expect DS will test out at that point. (He got a 62 in the first round.) it might be worth trying if he’s already taken Alg 1 - use the practice test to guide the tutor. But 4-8 hr of tutoring vs a whole class seems like an easy call. Just ask for a date in a few weeks for the retest. Worth a try at least. I’ve found them to be very accommodating.

[Anonymous]

Your son IS doomed for competitive colleges. Many non competitive colleges, he is not doomed.

[Anonymous]

I think the pendulum is already swinging back. Parents thought they had the secret sauce with acceleration and “most rigorous course-load ever!!!” I don’t think this is proving to be the case any more. High SAT. High GPA. And show a passion and work ethic in something outside school. All this will get you into the crapshoot that is top 100 college admissions.

Sure, if you want to go the route of having a super-passion in math take all the math courses available—but don’t think that’s enough.