<p>I'm a freshman and i took a credit Geometry course over the summer. So this year I'm taking Adv. Algebra II (slightly higher than regular Algebra II, but lower than Algebra II Honors). What looks better to colleges, Geometry, or Adv. Algebra II? Everyone else not in the A & E program (also known as G & T) is taking Geometry Honors, so i though i'd be at the head of the game. But today one of my friends said Geometry honors is better than taking Alg. II in freshman year. It's not too late to change my schedule so.........PLEASE REPLY! (btw, i want to go to the top schools (like Columbia...) so i want to look good too...</p>
<p>My guess is that Alg II is far more useful in trig, precal, and calculus, all of which are classes that colleges will like. So you'll get a better foundation in Alg II. </p>
<p>It also depends how far you got in geometry. Can you work with polygons and circles, and know some basic formulas and properties? if not, I'd definitely do the geometry, but if you know those, then go for Alg II. At least for the rest of high school math, I see a lot more application in higher level Alg II than in higher level geometry.</p>
<p>Hey, Myrmidon -- do you need to know polygons, etc. to get through calculus?</p>
<p>If u think u had a really good course in Geometry over summer, there's no reason why u shudn't take Alg II Hn.</p>
<p>In general, getting the highest grades you possibly can in the hardest classes available is the rule of thumb for math. Honors level classes are usually expected. Either Honors Alg II or Geometry Honors would probably be a better choice for you.</p>
<p>y not just take alg 2 honors? Also, i don't know why your friend would say that. Algebra II is a lot harder than geometry imo. He or she is probably just trying to make you feel bad and make themselves look better. I would just switch into alg. 2 honors.</p>
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[quote]
Hey, Myrmidon -- do you need to know polygons, etc. to get through calculus?
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</p>
<p>No, you don't. The only really necessary prerequisite for calculus is algebra II and, in some schools, pre-calculus. Geometry isn't much involved in calculus at all, although some basic knowledge is sometimes required (nothing concerning polygons or anything, except for some approximation formulas that no one knows of anyway).</p>
<p>In my school, I have to take ONE WHOLE YEAR of PreCal b4 Calculus! :(</p>
<p>As did my public school. It's often useful, and it builds trig skills that are necessary in calculus.</p>
<p>Somehow, my ex-girlfriend got a 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam without knowing the first thing about trigonometry. This just proves that the College Board isn't doing its job in making appropriate tests.</p>
<p>Geometry is overly easy and pointless. You can learn it on your own in a weekend. It's randomly thrown in between Alg 1 and Alg 2 because no one knows what to do with it. Take Algebra II!</p>
<p>I kind of skipped geometry :)</p>
<p>some things in geo are revisited in alg 2 and even trig, so if you know those you'll be golden (Pythagorean theorem for ex.)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hey, Myrmidon -- do you need to know polygons, etc. to get through calculus?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, the only thing I can think where you'd need polygons is related rates. More likely, you'll need to know the circle formulas, and probably stuff like squares and rectangles. But when I took geometry, we had all of that stuff (and the 0.5ap thing about polygons) all lumped together.</p>