Anonymous
Post 09/16/2025 11:11     Subject: Re:College outcomes for average math students
Anonymous wrote:My kid just graduated college --- he had strengths in humanities. He took Algebra in 8th grade and ended senior year with basic calculus (not AP calc of any kind). He got into 2 T20s- likely because of his AP exams in other areas, his ECs and other attributes - but he was "average" in math for DCUM. Didn't hurt him but he did really well in other areas. He made most of his choices but I did, when asked, encourage him to focus on his strengths not his weaknesses. He wasn't actually bad at math, he just didn't care and didn't want to put in effort to that subject.

He graduated from college and is working in his field.


Did he do ok on the SAT Math? If he is on grade level or only a year ahead in math, I’m assuming top 25 colleges want to see proficiency with a high test score.
Anonymous
Post 09/16/2025 10:46     Subject: Re:College outcomes for average math students
My kid just graduated college --- he had strengths in humanities. He took Algebra in 8th grade and ended senior year with basic calculus (not AP calc of any kind). He got into 2 T20s- likely because of his AP exams in other areas, his ECs and other attributes - but he was "average" in math for DCUM. Didn't hurt him but he did really well in other areas. He made most of his choices but I did, when asked, encourage him to focus on his strengths not his weaknesses. He wasn't actually bad at math, he just didn't care and didn't want to put in effort to that subject.

He graduated from college and is working in his field.
Anonymous
Post 09/16/2025 08:19     Subject: College outcomes for average math students
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Getting into "top" schools is a crapshoot. Why force a kid to advance in a subject that they don't particularly like, just for the shot at what is still an uncertain outcome?


I’m the OP and I am not forcing my kid to do extra math. I posed the question on this thread because I want to know if there are examples of parents who didn’t force advanced math and their kids had good college placements. If advanced math is a minimum for top colleges, I can at least be informed about that as I let my kid be just ok at math.


I think it depends what your school’s “grade level” math track is. If grade level math for your school means they won’t be taking Alg I until 9th grade, then yes, that will significantly decrease chances of a top college. If grade level math is Alg I in 8th, that would mean they would get to AP calc AB (potentially BC if schools allows) by 12th. Not taking any calculus in high school will hurt chances for college admission, if wanting top 50