Have some questions about math classes...

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Help. My school guidance department is worthless. So I'm looking for answers from all of you guys who have been there, done that (or haven't done it).</p>

<p>I'm coming up on my junior year (this fall) and I am expecting it to be my last year. I have raced through a new, experimental program (on computer) and have covered most of my requirements; the state requires we go through Algebra 2 as a senior (though I'm a sophomroe) and that we have 4 years of math. Well, I have covered the Algebra 2, BUT I don't have that 4th year of math. </p>

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<p>I am NOT intending to go into the sciences, I just want to get my math out of the way as soon as possible. Math is my worse subject but I am ace-ing Algebra 2 (though in Geometry I am lucky if I end up with a C+). </p>

<p>My goals are very reasonable, when I am 17 and out of high school I intend to take some classes at the community college, then transfer into a state school (not the best nor the worst). I test very well--PSATs in the 700's and 600 for math--but in a classroom setting with a bunch of distracting idiots I don't do so well (such as baseball players on steroids, girls texting each other [my hs is a joke]) and my GPA isn't the best, like a 3.7 or so.</p>

<p>BTW, my cousin had a 4.2 GPA and a 29 on her ACT's so in her 4th year she took Business Accounting, she didn't want to blow her GPA and she knew she wasn't going inyto any science field (she loaded up on AP for English and Lit).</p>

2

<p>If I'm understanding correctly, you're saying that the College Algebra class is high school agebra I and II? If that's the case, definitely go with high school precalc.</p>

<p>...and a 3.7 GPA is actually quite good. :]</p>

3

<p>Between Precalc and dual-enrollment algebra, I would go with precalc. It looks a lot better for colleges to have some upper level math classes, and you if you think high school is a joke, just picture taking a remedial level math class at a community college.</p>

4

<p>I think I wasn't very clear...</p>

<p>The choice i have is between Pre-Calc (which is not AP or Honors, just plain Pre-Calc) OR a DE Math Class (not remedial) but a class called College Algebra or College Statistics. These 2 classes are both what incoming college freshman who are going for a B.A. degree are required to take, IF they have gone as far as Algebra II in high school. </p>

<p>I am not going into the sciences, so I wonder, what use is Pre-Calc? And with the way the economy is going now, about all I can afford to do is go to the state comm college for 2 years, then transfer to my state U after that. </p>

<p>I just read an article in today's (Sunday) paper that said private colleges are having to lower their academic standards just to reel in more $$ from rich kids who don't have great grades--the private schools need the $$ right now more than they need bright kids.</p>

5

<p>I think you better have pre-calc for college. But it sounds like you are eligible for either EPGY or CTY distance ed courses that offer an honors precalc option and you could only pay for one course but if you work fast enough get through 2 which would count as 2 years of a math.</p>