Curie learning vs RSM for middle school and High school

[Anonymous]

I know about 20 kids who went to Curie. All very good in different things from drama, to instruments, dance and sports. Only one of them impressed me in math and science. All the others are below average in math/science. Parents want STEM careers and they turned to Curie. The one kid would probably have been even better at what he did if not for Curie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure we would not be welcome at Curie. We are East Asian, not South Asian, and at Curie that might matter.

Whether you're North/South/East/West Asian or from another background may not matter to Curie. What should worry you more is whether your student can pass Curie's placement test to begin with and, if they do, whether they can survive their entire curriculum through completion. Only about one-third of students complete it with mastery, while the lower third, including many Asian students, give up midway and never return.

It is mind bogglingly rote way of learning that spoon feeds info. Bright kids do not like that kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure we would not be welcome at Curie. We are East Asian, not South Asian, and at Curie that might matter.

Whether you're North/South/East/West Asian or from another background may not matter to Curie. What should worry you more is whether your student can pass Curie's placement test to begin with and, if they do, whether they can survive their entire curriculum through completion. Only about one-third of students complete it with mastery, while the lower third, including many Asian students, give up midway and never return.

It is mind bogglingly rote way of learning that spoon feeds info. Bright kids do not like that kind of thing.

It may be mind-boggling to you, but it's not to the hundreds of students who successfully navigate Curie’s rigorous curriculum. Have you ever considered that you might be falling short?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know about 20 kids who went to Curie. All very good in different things from drama, to instruments, dance and sports. Only one of them impressed me in math and science. All the others are below average in math/science. Parents want STEM careers and they turned to Curie. The one kid would probably have been even better at what he did if not for Curie.

About one-third of students who enroll in Curie struggle with the curriculum and end up giving up. You can consider yourself fortunate to have met the 20 who quit. As the saying goes, "losers attract losers!" I'm one of them, and glad to meet you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curie is just for academically below average kids in STEM whose parents want to make them look like above average kids. These kids might be above average in a hundred other things like arts, sports, languages, etc.

The whole of Indian community bought into the FOMO created by Curie. How can you not be? If you have a dozen of your friends kids going into Curie, you would be worried if only your kid is not going there. That is how, nearly half of Indian community's kids end up there.

Ah, the FOMO companion who couldn't get their student to pass the initial placement test like mine. I’m right there with you in criticizing Curie, whose curriculum is just too challenging for our students. There are plenty of enrichment centers to explore—mediocre as they may be—but at least we won't have to face the demanding and unforgiving Curie curriculum.

[Anonymous]

This is hilarious!

I am from the same region. I know the rote learning programs that are popular in Hyderabad and the surrounding states. People from that region are attracted to Curie, which promotes the same rote learning mentality.

You come here and perpetuate the same cycle that you are used to back home.

I understand your FOMO. Pity your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is hilarious!

I am from the same region. I know the rote learning programs that are popular in Hyderabad and the surrounding states. People from that region are attracted to Curie, which promotes the same rote learning mentality.

You come here and perpetuate the same cycle that you are used to back home.

I understand your FOMO. Pity your kids.

I know a person who spoke negatively of Curie, but a month later was seen dropping off their student at Curie. Is that you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is hilarious!

I am from the same region. I know the rote learning programs that are popular in Hyderabad and the surrounding states. People from that region are attracted to Curie, which promotes the same rote learning mentality.

You come here and perpetuate the same cycle that you are used to back home.

I understand your FOMO. Pity your kids.

Sounds like you are ashamed of where you came from. Feel sorry for you.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:DC just moved to AAP ( will start in this fall) . We moved here last fall but DC was in GT program in different state . So I’m new to this IAAT and level IV and here I see most of my kids classmates are doing some kind of math enrichment . So just wanted to learn about IAAT and about various math enrichments .

That makes sense. Most kids don't really do any prep for the IAAT. It's not a hard test. What can be hard for some kids is that it is a *timed* test. They have to answer 4 sets of 15 questions, and have 10 minutes per set, for a total of 40 minutes for 60 questions. In FCPS, this is likely the first timed test they encounter, and a lot of kids end up with poor scores because of time management issues, not because they don't know the material (up to that point, kids are strongly encouraged to double and triple check their work, and this test is not the time to do it). Take a look at the description of the sections, and see if your kid can work on problems in those domains quickly and accurately. When DD took it, we mostly focused on the 'data analysis' part of the test, because reading charts and graphs were de-emphasized due to COVID, and she really didn't know how.

Most kids that are serious prep for every test. It's only slackers that don't. The prep arms race is real. You're either a winner or a loser.

If you are only prepping for tests, you are losing.
Cram schools are basically low rent private schools that operate without accreditation above a bodega.
For a highly motivated student, Khan academy has everything but that sort of motivation is 1 in a hundred.

Khan academy is a gift from the above. We love it! DC attends Curie, and does Khan academy as well, since it's interesting. What else is out there similar to Khan A, that's free?

Alcumus, schoolyourself, MIT OCW

Khan academy is great if you want a free resource but not really comparable to many for pay enrichment options available like AoPS or RSM. People claiming otherwise are just lying.

Are you suggesting that students enroll in Curie, RSM, etc., instead of relying solely on the free Khan academy? Sure if the student is self disciplined, they dont need anything more than Khan Academy. Otherwise, a paid enrichment appears to be a popular choice, especially for those not sufficiently challenged at their public school.

By enrolling in enrichment, it is the discipline that the student gets more than the content, which is available widely and free as well on the internet.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone actually answer the question? Which is better - RSM or Curie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone actually answer the question? Which is better - RSM or Curie?

LOL

[Anonymous]

All I can say is if you want a challenge, go to Curie, and if you want something cheaper, go the RSM.

But for me...

Curie is literally the worst tutoring service there is.

And no. I'm not joking.

I have been in Curie for over 4 years, and I can gladly say that it is one of the most boring math and english classes I've ever gone to.

The truth is, the way that Curie teaches us is boring. I believe that they should teach us the stuff we need to learn in a fun and engaging way, so that most of us actually do the homework. (I admit, I stopped doing the homework last year because of how boring it got. I'm just thankful that I understood the subject.)

My parents (and many others parents) have been deceived by Dr. Rao, thinking that Curie is fun and engaging for their kids.

Some of the teachers are extremely rude, including Dr. Rao (THE FOUNDER!!) and the video lady (Ms. Herdman).

Also, can we please TALK about the videos? Why does Ms. Herdman have to yap for over TWO HOURS?! This is NOT how you teach kids to LEARN!

I'm also really sad because I have to go to Curie next year

[Anonymous]

All I can say is if you want a challenge, go to Curie, and if you want something cheaper, go to RSM.

But for me...

Curie is literally the worst tutoring service there is.

And no. I'm not joking.

I have been in Curie for over 4 years, and I can gladly say that it is one of the most boring math and english classes I've ever gone to.

The truth is, the way that Curie teaches us is boring. I believe that they should teach us the stuff we need to learn in a fun and engaging way, so that most of us actually do the homework. (I admit, I stopped doing the homework last year because of how boring it got. I'm just thankful that I understood the subject.)

My parents (and many others parents) have been deceived by Dr. Rao, thinking that Curie is fun and engaging for their kids.

Some of the teachers are extremely rude, including Dr. Rao (THE FOUNDER!!) and the video lady (Ms. Herdman).

Also, can we please TALK about the videos? Why does Ms. Herdman have to yap for over TWO HOURS?! This is NOT how you teach kids to LEARN!

I'm also really sad because I have to go to Curie next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how they offer it now, but Curie previously had two tracks, an advanced track with heavy math that a good number quit midway, and a regular track that's normal math, english, science enrichment. In one of these tracks, likely the advanced, they offer add-on lessons for TJ/AOS interested applicants. Math goes frustratingly fast in advanced track.

Curie math is not easy. Very fast paced

[Anonymous]

Boring