High school/ independent study conflict

Pre-College Issues Home Schooling and College
1

<p>Hi guys,
I've been doing loads of research and I simply can't seem to find any reasonable summer program at a university, or merely a course at a community college, for me, a freshman in high-school. The reason why I'm interested in such a course is because I'm in 9th grade and taking Integrated Algebra, a grossly rudimentary course. I'm in a Jewish college prep-school, the Yeshivah of Flatbush. I was considering switching to Ramaz for junior year (more rigorous courses, wider range of AP's, greater college acceptance, fine reputation) , a college prep-school in Manhattan. Now I'm an all-honors student, so basically I'm in every honors class possible, and doing rather excellent in every class. However, Ramaz does not follow the NYS Regents curriculum; they delve further into each respective course. Thus, since most 8th graders take "Elementary Algebra", 9th grade is simply a repeat of this course, with a different title ("Integrated Algebra"), and slightly more emphasis on graphing, parabolas, linear theory etc. Ramaz begins 10th grade math, geometry, in 9th grade, and completely skips the Integrated Algebra course. Now logically, I would think that I can somehow accelerate myself. Perhaps, I would take Geometry next year, as usual, and then take a course somewhere in Algebra 2/Trig, and cover bothj courses in 1 year. Hence, I would switch to Ramaz, and be in their Pre-calc program in junior year. However I have a plethora of dilemmas. Self-teaching/tutoring is out, since my school won't give credit, and they won't allow me to take the Regents unloess I've gone through a year-long track. Moreover, albeit Algebra 2 is not stressed that much on the SAT's, I feel it is important that I take it formally, since I may want to go into engineering in college. The problem is I can't find a satisfactory program for my requirements. Some schools near me don't even offer an Algebra 2 course, or even a Pre-calc course (as long as I accomplish 1 year of high-school math, I can accelerate). The ones that do, are slightly far, thus requiring me to live on-campus. Since I'm Jewish, it wouldn't work out so well, for religous reasons. The only true program I fell in love with was Harvard's SSP: a summer course for 1:45-2:30 PM, for two months, and I would receive 4 credits. Problem? I live 4 hours away! If anyone could reccommend something for me to do, I'd really appreciate it.</p>

<p>P.S. Apologies for over-elaborating on the issue.</p>

2

<p>Maybe you should contact the school you want to transfer to and ask if they have placement tests where you could place into Pre-Calc after self-study. Art of Problem Solving could also be a good idea for you - they have classes running during the summer and the school year. If you are considering Engineering, you could go above and beyond the math your area offers with them too (they have an Algebra III class, etc so you could go more indepth). As for getting credit from self-studying: the Math I subject test tests algebra I, II & geometry if your current school would take that as vaildation of your self studying.</p>

3

<p>Excellent suggestion about attempting to use the SAT I as validation, Harvard! In addition to AoPS, Aleks.com could give you a graded framework for self-study. Aleks.com is where my mathy kid got most of his regular high school math (the rest came from AoPS). Aleks only teaches you what you don’t already know, and it gives an assessment of what you know and don’t know that is more useful than a grade for the entire course. I can go into more detail on Aleks if you want.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Okay, thank you guys so much? But would taking the Math I SAT II be better than the respective NYC regents for each topic?</p>

5

<p>I would assume you would need to take the NYC regents test to make your school and state happy, and the SAT II to apply to colleges. I don’t really know the point of the regents test…</p>

6

<p>^ Same here. A rote Regents curriculum is destroying the young, developing and abstract math minds of our generation…No wonder why so many hate “Math”…</p>

7

<p>snicker. No, I really don’t know the point - I don’t live in NY and am not familiar with it. :stuck_out_tongue: Whether or not it meets its goal, I don’t know what that goal is - to allow you to graduate? To allow you to advance to the next grade/subject? To grade your school with NCLB?</p>

8

<p>Well truthfully, the deal with the Regents, as my teacher claims, is to establish a solid background of math per year, and to stimulate one’s mind. However, I know that the problem with the Regents curriculum is that it’s well designed–but often poorly presented. Thus, a school with a more abstract math curriculum gives more room for class disscussions, a dwelling on interesting topics, and less pressure to finish the curriculum. I truly despise the bueracracy of it. And since I’m in the honors class, our teacher is pressuring us not to get lower than a 98. Not that its hard, but when you have pressure, you can’t really do math.</p>