Reply to Math acceleration: does it actually benefit the kid?

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[quote=Anonymous]
[quote=Anonymous]My MCPS rising 8th grader has told me a number of times over the past few months that he wants to take Geometry next summer to "get ahead".  Apparently, the majority of his friends took Algebra in 7th, and he wants to catch up to them, so he can be in their classes and also because he wants to be seen as a "smart kid".

I'm going to be honest and say that my kid's not a math whiz.  He's an A/B student, and the things that excite his interest are not math/science related.  He'll talk your ear off about politics, ask a million questions about religion, and right now he wants to study ancient history and archeology.  Of course like most kids he has changed his mind, but since he was tiny he's never mentioned a career that involves math or science.  It's just not his thing.   I asked him if part of his goal would be to be able to take advanced math in college and he told me he doesn't intend to study math in college at all.

I suspect that in the end, I'll let him do what he wants, but I'm curious what the pluses and minuses would be from a college point of view.  From a non-college point of view I see the pluses as: 1) something cheap to keep him busy during the summer (which will be nice after paying a fortune for camp for the past 9 years), 2) If it works, he'll get to be with his friends in math class, and 3) It reinforces his self image as a "smart kid".  As far as minuses it's 1) worry he'll burn himself out without a break from academics, 2) missing out on opportunities for sports and arts, both of which he likes and 3) the class may contain a lot of kids who are repeated and not motivated, my kid is pretty distracted and annoyed by kids who misbehave, and I wonder if he'll learn as much in that setting.  I'm hoping this may matter less in Geometry, than it would if he was taking Algebra 1 in the summer, just because Geometry seems to have

But I wonder, what are the pros and cons from a college perspective?  This will put him on track to take Calculus junior year.

On one hand, if guess if he gets A's in math, and goes on to take Multivariable calculus his senior year, it will look great for admissions.  On the other hand, what if he finds that the advanced math isn't for him?  How would it look not to take math senior year, or to take Calc AB and then BC or AB and then stats?  How would it look if he gets to Calc and finds it's really hard for him, and he gets mediocre grades.  If that were to happen senior year (e.g. not taking summer school) then schools won't really see it, but if he takes it Junior Year, and does poorly, it's on his transcript for everyone to see.

Thoughts?[/quote]

I too find this post a little confusing?  The way it usually works is Alegra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre Calc, Calc and then Cal AB.  Only the best and brightest will move on to Calc BC.  That course is really not necessary if you have no intention of taking math as a major in college.  Statis is often sbustituted.  Even the highly selective scools only rquire 4 years of math which easily exclude BC. [/quote]

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