Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 21:41     Subject: Re:Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
I’m confused. How can you:

Be in the camp that your kid should be enjoying his high school summer and also

Have your kid do summer programs, study for the SAT, sports. and do research and possibly a college class?
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 19:50     Subject: Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
Anonymous wrote:Skip, my DC is headed to Ivy with BC calc senior year.


Caveat: If your DC wants to go after MIT/Caltech, they need to show extraordinary potential in math. Otherwise BC is fine.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 19:49     Subject: Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
Skip, my DC is headed to Ivy with BC calc senior year.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 19:40     Subject: Re:Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
Anonymous wrote:He's heard a lot of conflicting advice about it coming from current graduated seniors that got into Ivy+. He'll most likely end HS with a 4.6+, his main worry is how much not taking calc as a junior brings down his application as STEM focused.

- OP


In many part of the world calculus is a standard course. We are really unique in this country..we have managed to monetize everything that a regular course like calculus is seen as some kind of prestigious course.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 19:22     Subject: Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by skipped history? Has he not taken US History? Many top colleges want to see that course in the transcript.

If he’s trying to get to Multi solely for the college app, it’s not needed.


He took World 2 in the summer on NOVA Online, he's taking APUSH as a sophomore.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 19:20     Subject: Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
What do you mean by skipped history? Has he not taken US History? Many top colleges want to see that course in the transcript.

If he’s trying to get to Multi solely for the college app, it’s not needed.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 19:18     Subject: Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
If he wants to do it, then let him.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 19:11     Subject: Re:Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
Anonymous wrote:He's heard a lot of conflicting advice about it coming from current graduated seniors that got into Ivy+. He'll most likely end HS with a 4.6+, his main worry is how much not taking calc as a junior brings down his application as STEM focused.

- OP


It will not hurt his application at all. Relax. Deep breaths. He must chill. This is not being driven. It is being neurotic. It is not healthy.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 19:03     Subject: Re:Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
He's heard a lot of conflicting advice about it coming from current graduated seniors that got into Ivy+. He'll most likely end HS with a 4.6+, his main worry is how much not taking calc as a junior brings down his application as STEM focused.

- OP
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 18:59     Subject: Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
The downside of getting a bad grade because he is overburdened is greater than the potential upside of theoretically impressing colleges with a harder workload.

It sounds like he has plenty going on this summer and a heavy load academically next year.

Let the kid relax a little bit. Tell him to find a girlfriend.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 18:58     Subject: Re:Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
Anonymous wrote: He is gunning for T10 schools

- OP


Then he needs to take it.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 18:48     Subject: Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
Gunners gonna gun. Let him do it.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 18:47     Subject: Re:Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
He is gunning for T10 schools

- OP
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 18:44     Subject: Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
Anonymous wrote:Ds wants to take precalc in the summer through NVCC (currently in Algebra 2 as a sophomore with a high grade), so he can take AP Calc BC as a junior and eventually Multivariable/Linear Algebra as a Senior. Then, his junior schedule would be: AP Calc, Chem, Physics, Spanish, Comp Gov (already skipped history), DE English, and AV CS. Ds is going to have a packed summer schedule with research, summer programs, sports, and preparing for the SAT.

I am worried that the stress of a summer class, on top of calc in his junior year isn't worth it for a potentially small gain for college admissions. If Ds is planning on being a STEM major is it really necessary; I'm in the camp that he should be enjoying his high school summer. Can anyone shed some light on this?


He absolutely should. But don't take my advice I went to HS in Africa and in my country there is a specific section in HS dedicated to Math and Physics. It wasn't uncommon for us to study 5 hours per day during the summer.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2025 18:41     Subject: Summer Precalculus for Multivar?
Ds wants to take precalc in the summer through NVCC (currently in Algebra 2 as a sophomore with a high grade), so he can take AP Calc BC as a junior and eventually Multivariable/Linear Algebra as a Senior. Then, his junior schedule would be: AP Calc, Chem, Physics, Spanish, Comp Gov (already skipped history), DE English, and AV CS. Ds is going to have a packed summer schedule with research, summer programs, sports, and preparing for the SAT.

I am worried that the stress of a summer class, on top of calc in his junior year isn't worth it for a potentially small gain for college admissions. If Ds is planning on being a STEM major is it really necessary; I'm in the camp that he should be enjoying his high school summer. Can anyone shed some light on this?