My daughter is going into 9th grade and just finished Honors Algebra 1. She likes math and has always done extremely well in it. However I don’t think she’s going to pursue a STEM field…maybe theater, law, or something social science related? At our home high school (we are doing an intra-district transfer to another high school), they really recommend taking Honors Geometry over the summer for advancement. They feel it allows a shorter time between Algebra 1 and 2, and it allows students to take AP Statistics in Senior year. They also feel that it doesn’t affect SAT performance because of the test’s low emphasis of Geometry and more basic level questions. My daughter wants to take the class. However I’m concerned that she’ll lose getting a good foundation in the proofs and logic that Geometry teaches…as I feel that is a strength for her (she is very logical) and could be useful in a law career. Also I just don’t know if it’s really worth the summer effort to gain an additional math class in AP Statistics…although I can see how that class could help her in the social sciences fields. Any advice?
The one thing that I would at least think about - for many kids the purpose of getting ahead it to take a higher level math. I know at our school AP Stats is seen more of a math elective than a core math class. I guess it seems like to start high school in algebra 2 9th grade would be precalculus in 10th Calculus AB in 11 and calculus BC in 12th or Calc BC in 11 then two semester higher level math in 12th grade. Basically it just seems odd to get ahead then end with an easier math elective. I have no idea how colleges see it.
That said I hated geometry and would have failed a condensed version even though I aced algebra 1 and 2 so I have no clue.
My son did this. He is glad he did, but he is also a stem kid. He wanted to do it, too, which is essential.
Is there a set class the district offers? If not, confirm that the course is something colleges accept. Eg, the UC’s are very picky. He did Art of Problem Solving on line - which kicked his butt and prepared him well. He said if anything it was more rigorous than his high school classes.
Just my opinion, but I think stats is a great high school option for someone interested in social sciences. And while geometry Pre-ninth grade is not essential for future success, it is nice to be able to take additional math, too. You are right to worry about getting the solid foundation. But if she is motivated, the class is good, and she really wants to spend her summer that way, I see nothing wrong with it.
I agree that if the end goal is taking AP stats as a senior, I wouldn’t try to cram a year worth of geometry into the summer. I’d have a different take if you had a STEM kid who wanted to reach AP calc.
If your daughter agrees, I definitely go for it, especially since its recommended by the school. You don’t really want to be the one junior in a math class full of sophomores. I skipped Honors Geometry as well (currently a soph in Pre Calc), and don’t think hurt my performance on the PSAT in any way. Good Luck!
If she wishes to do it, I would say it’s totally worth it. One of my biggest regrets as a graduating senior is not being able to advance in math. I don’t plan on pursuing anything related to STEM (double major gov and econ), but just having that intellectual stimulus is great. I’m currently in precalc honors as a graduating senior because my school offered advancement, but for tuition, which my family could not afford.
I definitely saw stuff on my ACT that I would have been able to get right if I was in a higher math class.
That being said, if she really doesn’t want to do it, don’t force her. It doesn’t matter THAT much to college admissions, as I got into some pretty selective schools. Definitely talk to her and see if she wants to do it.
We talked with her 8th grade school counselor today. She said that my daughter wouldn’t have to take an additional math class like AP Stat, which is the only other math class they offer unless she wants to do IB Math SL (and she does not think she’s gonna do IB diploma). She could take something else that she is more directly related to her interests…which for me feels like it’d make it more worthwhile! I guess I’m a little confused though, because I thought ideally (to be competitive for college admissions) you take 4 years of math. Would Geometry over the summer count as one year? Then if she took Honors Algebra 2, Honors Precalc, and then AP Calc AB (they don’t offer BC), would that be considered 4 years even if she finished in Junior year?
If she is self-motivated and wants to do it then go for it. If it is a chore and you’d be nagging her or she’d be unhappy with it then there is no need.
If she isn’t pursuing STEM this is gravy.
As per your question above, each course will count as a year. Yes, I do believe 4 years of math is what she should be aiming for.
In other words, she is finishing algebra 1 in 8th grade? So she is a year ahead, with a math progression looking like this if she does not take any summer courses:
9th Geometry
10th Algebra 2
11th Precalculus
12th Calculus
?
Seems like there is no particular need to accelerate further, unless she really wants to spend her summer doing geometry.
Statistics in high school can be taken as an elective any time after algebra 2, but can be left for college (when there is an option for calculus-based statistics and/or major-specific versions for some majors in the social sciences).
There can be a difference in terms of graduation requirements and what colleges want to see. Your high school may count a class before 9th grade and give it a credit so technically you would have 4 math credits by the end of 11th grade. However there are many colleges that may want to see math taken in senior year.
For instance this is from UMass Amherst website http://www.umass.edu/admissions/apply/admissions-requirements/first-year-admissions-requirements which specifies they want math taken senior year
Oh that’s very interesting. As far as graduation requirements for our high school, she only needs 3 years. And for most college admissions, we were planning on 4 years. But it is very good to know that some colleges will want to see math taken during their senior year regardless if she already has 4 math credits before then. Darn! That’s too bad…I was hoping that taking Geometry over the summer would help to free up her schedule for classes other than another math such as AP Statistics.