Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 15:36     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is why test optional Needs. To. Go


No, this is why high schools need to teach better.

+1, this has little to do with test optional, and everything to do with diminishing standards within k-12.
I don't think the standards have dropped to the point that Harvard can't fill their spots with people who are prepared for calculus. 50,000 kids got a 5 on the AB exam last year

Someone needs to fill the arts departments. You either take the most talented or lose them to the mediocre.
id like to know which schools with amazing arts programs and graduates kids that get Harvard noticed but can't teach them math

Walnut hill school has notoriously poor math instruction but gets kids into ivies all the time.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 15:34     Subject: Re:Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

This is hilarious. What a joke.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 13:52     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is why test optional Needs. To. Go


No, this is why high schools need to teach better.

+1, this has little to do with test optional, and everything to do with diminishing standards within k-12.
I don't think the standards have dropped to the point that Harvard can't fill their spots with people who are prepared for calculus. 50,000 kids got a 5 on the AB exam last year

Someone needs to fill the arts departments. You either take the most talented or lose them to the mediocre.
id like to know which schools with amazing arts programs and graduates kids that get Harvard noticed but can't teach them math
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 13:34     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is why test optional Needs. To. Go


No, this is why high schools need to teach better.

+1, this has little to do with test optional, and everything to do with diminishing standards within k-12.
I don't think the standards have dropped to the point that Harvard can't fill their spots with people who are prepared for calculus. 50,000 kids got a 5 on the AB exam last year

Someone needs to fill the arts departments. You either take the most talented or lose them to the mediocre.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 13:29     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is why test optional Needs. To. Go


No, this is why high schools need to teach better.

+1, this has little to do with test optional, and everything to do with diminishing standards within k-12.
I don't think the standards have dropped to the point that Harvard can't fill their spots with people who are prepared for calculus. 50,000 kids got a 5 on the AB exam last year
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 12:44     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Either Covid learning loss was worse than we thought (and we know it was really bad) or test optional is a complete failure.

Harvard students don’t know algebra?

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/9/3/new-math-intro-course/

The Harvard Math Department will pilot a new introductory course aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students, according to Harvard’s Director of Introductory Math Brendan A. Kelly.


It's a function of grade inflation period. Someone posted an article from Bethesda magazine earlier that said MCPS had rampant grade inflation and kids had overweighted GPAs of 4.8 and 4.7 but their teachers/tutors said they could not do algebra 1 and lacked foundational algebra skills.

Weighted GPAs are out of control, and they are not college ready as a result. Harvard and others are seeing an over-inflated resume and admitting them based on misleading stats.


agree. everyone is rushing to blame TO policies but I agree it's happening because of inflated GPAs. everyone is getting "bonus" points for stacking up honors and AP classes and teachers are giving As where they should be giving Bs (at best).


Standardized tests counter grade inflation.



Not really. The rich kids with inflated grades pay for test prep classes and game that system.


FCPS once paid for after school prep class for poor/URMs kids, not sure they still do, but made no difference. TJ changed admission policy a few years ago, and increased student number from 480 to 550, after the very first semester, I heard close to 100 students quit, I guess they expected this.


Or maybe they quit because they wanted a more typical American high school experience than trying to keep up with the kids of 1st generation Asians??


Nah. Most people applying to TJ eventually want to go to a top college, and the top college experience is trying to keep up with kids of 1st generation Asians. It’s easier to learn how to do that in high school than to wait and then end up dropping out of college.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 12:34     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is why test optional Needs. To. Go


No, this is why high schools need to teach better.

+1, this has little to do with test optional, and everything to do with diminishing standards within k-12.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 12:07     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:This is why test optional Needs. To. Go


No, this is why high schools need to teach better.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 12:05     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Why is it not possible for people to debate this issue without being a racist or ethnically stereotyping @sshole? I'm looking at some of you on both sides.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 09:36     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Either Covid learning loss was worse than we thought (and we know it was really bad) or test optional is a complete failure.

Harvard students don’t know algebra?

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/9/3/new-math-intro-course/

The Harvard Math Department will pilot a new introductory course aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students, according to Harvard’s Director of Introductory Math Brendan A. Kelly.


Their choice of photo says something. They *could* have put a photo of a student who has lighter pigment skin tone. Alas.
lol @ the idea that harvard is admitting Asians who aren't prepared for calculus
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 09:12     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Either Covid learning loss was worse than we thought (and we know it was really bad) or test optional is a complete failure.

Harvard students don’t know algebra?

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/9/3/new-math-intro-course/

The Harvard Math Department will pilot a new introductory course aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students, according to Harvard’s Director of Introductory Math Brendan A. Kelly.


It's a function of grade inflation period. Someone posted an article from Bethesda magazine earlier that said MCPS had rampant grade inflation and kids had overweighted GPAs of 4.8 and 4.7 but their teachers/tutors said they could not do algebra 1 and lacked foundational algebra skills.

Weighted GPAs are out of control, and they are not college ready as a result. Harvard and others are seeing an over-inflated resume and admitting them based on misleading stats.


agree. everyone is rushing to blame TO policies but I agree it's happening because of inflated GPAs. everyone is getting "bonus" points for stacking up honors and AP classes and teachers are giving As where they should be giving Bs (at best).


Standardized tests counter grade inflation.



Not really. The rich kids with inflated grades pay for test prep classes and game that system.


FCPS once paid for after school prep class for poor/URMs kids, not sure they still do, but made no difference. TJ changed admission policy a few years ago, and increased student number from 480 to 550, after the very first semester, I heard close to 100 students quit, I guess they expected this.


Or maybe they quit because they wanted a more typical American high school experience than trying to keep up with the kids of 1st generation Asians??
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 09:09     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:FWIW in my all White HS calculus was not offered.


According to some of the posters on this thread, then, Harvard should never accept you. There is no one as bitter and hateful as a solipsistic liberal in the DC area.


Thank goodness you don't live in the DC area!
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 09:08     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:Either Covid learning loss was worse than we thought (and we know it was really bad) or test optional is a complete failure.

Harvard students don’t know algebra?

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/9/3/new-math-intro-course/

The Harvard Math Department will pilot a new introductory course aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students, according to Harvard’s Director of Introductory Math Brendan A. Kelly.


Their choice of photo says something. They *could* have put a photo of a student who has lighter pigment skin tone. Alas.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 03:34     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

DCUM needs a remedial class for people on this thread who think they know more than Harvard about what Math courses to offer.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2025 03:22     Subject: Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

Anonymous wrote:FWIW in my all White HS calculus was not offered.


According to some of the posters on this thread, then, Harvard should never accept you. There is no one as bitter and hateful as a solipsistic liberal in the DC area.