My 7th grader was asked to a lower level in math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do people realize that the rest of the country—urban, rural, small towns, medium-sized cities—and they learn math and go to college too?

I don't get the weird obsessive focus on the top 25—it's not achievable for the vast majority of applicants let alone students in general. It's bizarre that kids get the message that a small group of colleges is the be-all, end-all when it clearly is not.

The top 25 comment was joke, simmer down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's pulling a C and he's been moved down from the honors track. he's fine with it. I am too of course but also feel kinda bad. Guess it's normal and I am proud of him for trying, but the striver in me feels sort of crappy. I need to shut up for his sake and won't say anything. Just venting here.

Don’t feel bad.

“C’s earn degrees.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

+1000

Whatever path he will follow, you want a strong foundation in Math. Because even if not a STEM major directly, the key to many jobs is an understanding of math concepts/stats and definately not a fear/hatred of anything math. Let him go at his own pace and who knows what the future holds. What we do know is he has a much stronger chance of liking math and having a strong foundation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

Yes he would still make his way as an EE or any type of engineering or CS he wants. There are PLENTY of schools where majors are not "direct admit" or not "impacted". Just look outside the T40-50 schools. There are kids who succeed as engineering majors who never took calculus in HS or only took "regular Calc" and no AP calc (so they start college in Calculus 1 and go from there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

PP pointed out that it's a marathon and used her EE husband as an example. Taking algebra in ninth is going to make it very hard to get into any school as an electrical engineering major. To the extent that it's a marathon, there are cut times along the way and if you miss them certain doors close.

BS---look outside of T50 schools and PLENTY of kids are engineers who take calculus 1 in college and go from there.

Get out of your T25 bubble and realize a kid can major in whatever there want---just go to schools outside T50 that let your kid major in whatever they want. Want to be a CS major? Sure, just take the first 2 CS courses and get a C or better and you can be a CS major. Want to be a EE major? Sure, take Calc 1&2 and Physics 1 and get a C or better and you can be an EE. Majority of schools are not "direct admit" or "impacted" majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is interesting how some of these people say how Alg 1 in middle school and honor track put you in certain tracks to go to top schools. I was a math major at a top 50 school (when I went there, lowered to top 75 now)-- Me or my twin brother who also was a math major was on any honor track. We did take AP Cal by 12th grade but we did not pass. OH, and My brother went on to get an MS in Mathematics and I in Data Science so your kid is okay.

This is from a successful math major who was not on an honor track.

My HS had 13 of us in Regular Calculus. That was it. Nobody else out of 450 seniors was even in Calculus. There was no AP calc at our school. Yet somehow, I have a BS in CS and an MS in CS/EE. And of my HS classmates, there are 3 who are doctors (not in the calc class), 2 who have PHD in Engineering (neither in calculus with me) and 2 more with PHD in Sciences/Math (not in my calculus class). Yet the HS 8 miles away had Calc AB and BC offered to their students.
I went to a T10 university without AP Calc. I even took the placement test and passed out of Calc 1 without even studying for it (done during new student week before we signed up for classes).

Just like people went into STEM 20-30 years ago without calculus in HS, it still happens now. Not at T25 schools, but outside of T25-50 it happens ALL the time. Kids who were not on track to be advanced math in MS (you know the time when many boys are severely lacking in EF and desire to stay focused) come out of their shell by time college rolls around and they love STEM. Those kids still get to go into STEM and succeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is interesting how some of these people say how Alg 1 in middle school and honor track put you in certain tracks to go to top schools. I was a math major at a top 50 school (when I went there, lowered to top 75 now)-- Me or my twin brother who also was a math major was on any honor track. We did take AP Cal by 12th grade but we did not pass. OH, and My brother went on to get an MS in Mathematics and I in Data Science so your kid is okay.

This is from a successful math major who was not on an honor track.

1) that was a long time ago and college admission preferences have changed a ton
2) OPs son moving out of honors math 7 means (which is pre alg) means he would take pre-alg next yr in 8th, Alg I in 9th and on track for pre-calc in 12th. Definitely not the end of the world and there are many colleges you can go to and still be successful- but it does close some doors to more competitive schools and STEM majors in some colleges

Yes, he likely isn't going T25 or any school where CS/Eng is a direct admit in the t50. Outside of that the world is his oyster. He can find any of the remaining schools with accredited engineering and/or CS/STEM majors and gain admission and major in whatever he wants. He can be an engineer, and work alongside kids who graduate from T50 universities (you know the ones who took calc BC Junior/senior year). He will be an EE just like them, have similar jobs and might even be their boss someday.

The notion that you need to be advanced in math to go into stem is not accurate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cool. Don’t let it worry him (or you).

1. Literally every math professor will tell you many kids simply have to mature a bit more to “get” math. It’s common. Sure there are kids who keep pace through high school, and there are kids who mature into it during college.

2. GPA is far more important than taking high school advanced courses.

And it is more important to take math courses that your kid is ready for, so they can build a strong foundation. Rather than being rushed/pushed ahead and not fully learning concepts.

If you cannot get a B or better in Algebra 1, you really need to retake it in summer school to build strong foundations for future math courses and science courses (ie chemistry)

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

PP pointed out that it's a marathon and used her EE husband as an example. Taking algebra in ninth is going to make it very hard to get into any school as an electrical engineering major. To the extent that it's a marathon, there are cut times along the way and if you miss them certain doors close.

BS---look outside of T50 schools and PLENTY of kids are engineers who take calculus 1 in college and go from there.

Get out of your T25 bubble and realize a kid can major in whatever there want---just go to schools outside T50 that let your kid major in whatever they want. Want to be a CS major? Sure, just take the first 2 CS courses and get a C or better and you can be a CS major. Want to be a EE major? Sure, take Calc 1&2 and Physics 1 and get a C or better and you can be an EE. Majority of schools are not "direct admit" or "impacted" majors.

Majority of kids taking calculus in college are actually repeating it. Going from precalc senior year in high school to calculus in college will be tough. But let’s be realistic. If you have only advanced to precalc in high school, your interest and aptitude in math or stem careers is probably not strong. That’s ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

PP pointed out that it's a marathon and used her EE husband as an example. Taking algebra in ninth is going to make it very hard to get into any school as an electrical engineering major. To the extent that it's a marathon, there are cut times along the way and if you miss them certain doors close.

BS---look outside of T50 schools and PLENTY of kids are engineers who take calculus 1 in college and go from there.

Get out of your T25 bubble and realize a kid can major in whatever there want---just go to schools outside T50 that let your kid major in whatever they want. Want to be a CS major? Sure, just take the first 2 CS courses and get a C or better and you can be a CS major. Want to be a EE major? Sure, take Calc 1&2 and Physics 1 and get a C or better and you can be an EE. Majority of schools are not "direct admit" or "impacted" majors.

Majority of kids taking calculus in college are actually repeating it. Going from precalc senior year in high school to calculus in college will be tough. But let’s be realistic. If you have only advanced to precalc in high school, your interest and aptitude in math or stem careers is probably not strong. That’s ok.

No---all it means is that way back in MS your "interest and aptitude in math" were not strong, or you simply were not a strong student back in MS. So you were not "advanced math tracked" at all. If that happens, it's hard to take a full year of math in the summer---not easy to get a good foundation when rushed. However, if the kid likes math and wants to pursue a Stem major, they still can. Plenty of kids outside of the T50 bubble do exactly that. Yes, plenty are retaking calculus (because didn't get 4/5 on AP, only took reg calc or simply want to get a strong foundation if their major requires them to actually understand/use calculus).

FYI--there are HS where only a few kids make it to calculus still. Think rural schools with only 150 kids in the graduating class. They likely have only a few AP courses or simply none.
Do you honestly think nobody from those schools goes onto a STEM degree of any type? Are you that naive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

PP pointed out that it's a marathon and used her EE husband as an example. Taking algebra in ninth is going to make it very hard to get into any school as an electrical engineering major. To the extent that it's a marathon, there are cut times along the way and if you miss them certain doors close.

BS---look outside of T50 schools and PLENTY of kids are engineers who take calculus 1 in college and go from there.

Get out of your T25 bubble and realize a kid can major in whatever there want---just go to schools outside T50 that let your kid major in whatever they want. Want to be a CS major? Sure, just take the first 2 CS courses and get a C or better and you can be a CS major. Want to be a EE major? Sure, take Calc 1&2 and Physics 1 and get a C or better and you can be an EE. Majority of schools are not "direct admit" or "impacted" majors.

Majority of kids taking calculus in college are actually repeating it. Going from precalc senior year in high school to calculus in college will be tough. But let’s be realistic. If you have only advanced to precalc in high school, your interest and aptitude in math or stem careers is probably not strong. That’s ok.

No---all it means is that way back in MS your "interest and aptitude in math" were not strong, or you simply were not a strong student back in MS. So you were not "advanced math tracked" at all. If that happens, it's hard to take a full year of math in the summer---not easy to get a good foundation when rushed. However, if the kid likes math and wants to pursue a Stem major, they still can. Plenty of kids outside of the T50 bubble do exactly that. Yes, plenty are retaking calculus (because didn't get 4/5 on AP, only took reg calc or simply want to get a strong foundation if their major requires them to actually understand/use calculus).

FYI--there are HS where only a few kids make it to calculus still. Think rural schools with only 150 kids in the graduating class. They likely have only a few AP courses or simply none.
Do you honestly think nobody from those schools goes onto a STEM degree of any type? Are you that naive?

I would guess that those folks are more likely to be in the 5-year or 6-year undergrad bucket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

PP pointed out that it's a marathon and used her EE husband as an example. Taking algebra in ninth is going to make it very hard to get into any school as an electrical engineering major. To the extent that it's a marathon, there are cut times along the way and if you miss them certain doors close.

BS---look outside of T50 schools and PLENTY of kids are engineers who take calculus 1 in college and go from there.

Get out of your T25 bubble and realize a kid can major in whatever there want---just go to schools outside T50 that let your kid major in whatever they want. Want to be a CS major? Sure, just take the first 2 CS courses and get a C or better and you can be a CS major. Want to be a EE major? Sure, take Calc 1&2 and Physics 1 and get a C or better and you can be an EE. Majority of schools are not "direct admit" or "impacted" majors.

Majority of kids taking calculus in college are actually repeating it. Going from precalc senior year in high school to calculus in college will be tough. But let’s be realistic. If you have only advanced to precalc in high school, your interest and aptitude in math or stem careers is probably not strong. That’s ok.

No---all it means is that way back in MS your "interest and aptitude in math" were not strong, or you simply were not a strong student back in MS. So you were not "advanced math tracked" at all. If that happens, it's hard to take a full year of math in the summer---not easy to get a good foundation when rushed. However, if the kid likes math and wants to pursue a Stem major, they still can. Plenty of kids outside of the T50 bubble do exactly that. Yes, plenty are retaking calculus (because didn't get 4/5 on AP, only took reg calc or simply want to get a strong foundation if their major requires them to actually understand/use calculus).

FYI--there are HS where only a few kids make it to calculus still. Think rural schools with only 150 kids in the graduating class. They likely have only a few AP courses or simply none.
Do you honestly think nobody from those schools goes onto a STEM degree of any type? Are you that naive?

I would guess that those folks are more likely to be in the 5-year or 6-year undergrad bucket.

Some may be, but a majority are not. Simply because they know they don't have unlimited funds available, so they need to graduate within the 4 years.

Not so long ago, I know of a kid who attended a T10 school, only had regular calc in HS, got BME degree, got full scholarship to get MS in BME at same elite school (one of the tops in BME), and somehow got into a top MD/PHD program (actually got into 3 but got into Emory off the WL and went there)---there are only about 500-600 slots available each year in the USA for these programs. They are highly selective programs and competitive because of the scholarships/stipends. Those kids get full scholarship and basic stipend for the 7 years (more than enough to live on). So imagine this, a kid with only basic calculus went on to do all of this (all in the last 10-15 years).
So don't tell me "your life is over, there is NO STEM path at all if you are NOT advanced in math". This kid only made it to regular calc yet went on to be a superstar in college/gradschool/med school/PHD. Why---because they are smart and have the drive to excel. This doesn't have to happen in grade 6

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

PP pointed out that it's a marathon and used her EE husband as an example. Taking algebra in ninth is going to make it very hard to get into any school as an electrical engineering major. To the extent that it's a marathon, there are cut times along the way and if you miss them certain doors close.

BS---look outside of T50 schools and PLENTY of kids are engineers who take calculus 1 in college and go from there.

Get out of your T25 bubble and realize a kid can major in whatever there want---just go to schools outside T50 that let your kid major in whatever they want. Want to be a CS major? Sure, just take the first 2 CS courses and get a C or better and you can be a CS major. Want to be a EE major? Sure, take Calc 1&2 and Physics 1 and get a C or better and you can be an EE. Majority of schools are not "direct admit" or "impacted" majors.

Majority of kids taking calculus in college are actually repeating it. Going from precalc senior year in high school to calculus in college will be tough. But let’s be realistic. If you have only advanced to precalc in high school, your interest and aptitude in math or stem careers is probably not strong. That’s ok.

No---all it means is that way back in MS your "interest and aptitude in math" were not strong, or you simply were not a strong student back in MS. So you were not "advanced math tracked" at all. If that happens, it's hard to take a full year of math in the summer---not easy to get a good foundation when rushed. However, if the kid likes math and wants to pursue a Stem major, they still can. Plenty of kids outside of the T50 bubble do exactly that. Yes, plenty are retaking calculus (because didn't get 4/5 on AP, only took reg calc or simply want to get a strong foundation if their major requires them to actually understand/use calculus).

FYI--there are HS where only a few kids make it to calculus still. Think rural schools with only 150 kids in the graduating class. They likely have only a few AP courses or simply none.
Do you honestly think nobody from those schools goes onto a STEM degree of any type? Are you that naive?

I would guess that those folks are more likely to be in the 5-year or 6-year undergrad bucket.

Some may be, but a majority are not. Simply because they know they don't have unlimited funds available, so they need to graduate within the 4 years.

Not so long ago, I know of a kid who attended a T10 school, only had regular calc in HS, got BME degree, got full scholarship to get MS in BME at same elite school (one of the tops in BME), and somehow got into a top MD/PHD program (actually got into 3 but got into Emory off the WL and went there)---there are only about 500-600 slots available each year in the USA for these programs. They are highly selective programs and competitive because of the scholarships/stipends. Those kids get full scholarship and basic stipend for the 7 years (more than enough to live on). So imagine this, a kid with only basic calculus went on to do all of this (all in the last 10-15 years).
So don't tell me "your life is over, there is NO STEM path at all if you are NOT advanced in math". This kid only made it to regular calc yet went on to be a superstar in college/gradschool/med school/PHD. Why---because they are smart and have the drive to excel. This doesn't have to happen in grade 6

A kid “only taking calc in high school” bc that is as high as his school provides, and OP’s kid who will only take precalc because he wasn’t able to keep up at a more accelerated level. This is two entirely different scenarios.

[Anonymous]

Even if your kid is a humanities type, colleges still care about math/science because they want to see whether their applicants have challenged themselves. Even 35 years ago, it was important to take BC Calc in high school to show rigor and hard work, even if I never took another math class again (and I didn't! English major all the way!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if your kid is a humanities type, colleges still care about math/science because they want to see whether their applicants have challenged themselves. Even 35 years ago, it was important to take BC Calc in high school to show rigor and hard work, even if I never took another math class again (and I didn't! English major all the way!)

35 years ago Not as many schools offered AP courses, and certainly not BC calc. I was not "rural" and in our district of 10 HS, I think only 1 offered BC or the ability to do 2 years of calc.