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Reply to "Yet another math question - algebra 1 in 8th?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Yes, the regular pathway puts kids in alg in 8th, geometry in 9th. This is the most common in MCPS. This still puts your child taking Calculus in 12th. [b]Any Ivy or other competitive school will be happy with that course selection.
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The accelerated pathway is alg 7th, geometry 8th which brings kids to Calculus in 11th.[/quote]

Please do NOT believe the bolded. For Ivies:
A. They are a lottery these days.
B. Straight As, dozens of AP courses, perfect test scores are simply to avoid going into the bin during the first pass at an Ivy. To get in, you need a special "pointy" accomplishment. International or national win in a competition (STEM, music, sports), or creating a profitable business or whatever it is, but it has be objectively rare and admirable.
C. In that context, not going at least to AP Calc (BC, not AB, for the STEM oriented) does not bode well for the rest of the application. How many APs will your kid be realistically able to achieve if they can't even be on the advanced track in math is MCPS? If no APs, same deal for the IB diploma track - top scores everywhere are de rigueur, particularly as the high level IB math doesn't go as far as AP Calc BC.

Now extrapolate from this to the next tier down: they still want straight As, dozens of APs/IB, and really high test scores (don't fall for the test optional unless you are Black or Hispanic). But they'll forgo the Sony record and Carnegie Hall solos.

And now descend to third tier of universities: OK, your kid may have a shot. Those will be his reaches. Now go own further for matches and safeties, and you have your college list.

I know this conversation did not start out with college admissions in mind. But sadly this is what parents have come to because entry to university has become so competitive. One major reason for your kid to do well in school is not for his own enjoyment, not for his own brain development... but just to eek out a decent college acceptance.

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