<p>My grade 10 son is doing a modification of the typical four-yr math sequence at his HS (grades 9-12), since math is not his thing (he took Algebra I in middle school):</p>
<ul>
<li>Typical: Geometry, Algebra II, Pre Calc, Calc/AP Calc</li>
<li>What S will do: Geometry, Math 3, Math 4, Pre Calc</li>
</ul>
<p>Math 3 & 4 are Algebra II spread over 2 yrs (slower pace); he's in Math 3 now</p>
<p>Question: will this sequence limit his ability to get into a decent college? We are trying to optimize his GPA and overall rigor as best we can, knowing that he does not like math and will not be an engineer or have any math-related career. So far he has been about a B math student all along (with considerable assistance). We are not looking at Ivys (obviously), but a well-respected LAC would be nice.
Thank you.</p>
<p>It really would depend on the school. For a school which most highly weights academic rigor, this could have an effect. If the academic rigor is weighted the same as the GPA then I would say you are doing the right thing. Ultimately, if your son is challenged with this math sequence so he learns, then this is good.</p>
<p>I am a sophomore in high school and I was in the Accel Math course freshman year. I was suppose to take Pre Cal my junior year and AP Cal my senior year. My math sequence is a little different, I think I am taking college prep calculus my senior year and integrated pre cal my junior year now. </p>
<p>I got a 72 both semesters freshman year. I didn’t have a great teacher which didn’t help, but math is my weakest subject. I was put in the Accel track because I had a 96 in math in 8th grade. I usually do good in math some years and bad other years. I was in the accel math for about 3 weeks this year and then dropped down to CP. I was lost and I didn’t get the concept. It wasn’t the speed, they just don’t go in detail. I would have one lesson a day in Accel Math and in CP we have the same lesson for two days. I also am going to do some math I did last year again, because they never did it in CP. My counselor last year didn’t want me to drop down, but I have a new counselor this year. She told me it will not hurt me at all in admissions. And an AP Cal teacher told me the same thing and that some kids are just bad at math. The 72 hurt my GPA A LOT and it basically ruined my freshman year. I now have a 99 in math, LOL. I’m also in AP World History and Honors Chemistry and Honors Language Arts. I’m in the hardest classes, except for math. </p>
<p>I am not trying to apply for Ivy League schools for the most part, Northwestern may be on my list if I get my GPA up. I want to go into print journalism, screenwriting or acting so math won’t help me much in my career. I just wanted to let you know about a kid who was in Accel Math and almost failed and had to get a tutor for the first time in his life!</p>
<p>The only difference that I see in CP Math is that the kids have bad behavior and they are much slower. They also talk way too much and I can never concentrate!</p>
<p>Go to Section C7 and it tells the relative importance of different factors. You can see from the U Dayton one above that GPA is the very important and academic rigor is only important.</p>