math and college?!

<p>I'm a Junior in high school and i'm taking Algebra 2 and i'm currenly doing horrible...getting a D. I know i'm not going to do any better because the class is just getting harder and harder. I got a 20% on my last math test. At my school they offer Algebra 2 M which is a modified, easier class. The class basically goes slower than the regular.all my other classes are AP/Honors. If I have an modified math class will it ruin my chances of going to a good college?? No one will tell me the truth at my school not even conselors. Also i'm taking AP bio next year. will i need a solid algebra class to do good? and one more question. will i have a harder time on the math part of the ACT if i don't learn as much in modified as i did in regular? i don't know what to do!</p>

<p>I hate to really say this but a junior in algebra two is not good. By a good college I was wondering what are you thinking. If you're thinking about the Ivies I definitely urge you to reconsider. If you are struggling now consider improving your study habits before switching to a different class. Much luck. <em>*No it probably will not really hurt your chances at anywhere else. Although you must really try your best which I'm sure you're doing *</em></p>

<p>I would calm down and consider that life was not over if I did not get into Princeton. The current president of Princeton graduated from Queen's University in Canada--a pretty good place by any standard. At Queen's as at any Canadian university you need to have a high school graduation diploma with grade 12 english to matriculate. You would need fairly high grades ( like a 90% average) but you do not need mathematics. </p>

<p>Undoubtedly there are any number of american universities you could get into with a decent GPA but no mathematics beyond algebra 2. So if you are losing sleep over your showing in mathematics forget it for a while. At this point in your life it is a lot more likely that you are paralysed by how mathematics is taught in your high school than by an inability to master basic algebra. The dirty little secret in american education is that in most high schools mathematics is abysmally taught, needlessly confusing and totally demoralising for students who cannot move at the speed of the class. Just tell yourself, "I can learn algebra as well as everything else, just not as fast as everything else". Take the 2M class and stop worrying.</p>

<p>I have a friend who was in my Calculus class last year (as a Junior) who got straight A's and an F in Calc. He's already into BC, BU, UW, and Penn State. His SATs are average (~2000) at best. </p>

<p>I don't know what you consider "a good college", but I consider all of these schools good colleges and he got into them. I don't think you'll have a problem as long as you do well in everything else.</p>