Math sequence?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello all!</p>

<p>I'm a Freshman this year, and I'm just concerned about how colleges are going to look at my math sequence. So, to give you a bit of background, I go to what is considered to be the Harvard or Yale of my city (not saying what it is, but its NY, Boston, Philadelphia, DC, or LA). Of course a school like that attracts lots of very smart students... so my concern is that I'm taking the middle math track at my school, (taking geometry freshman and calculus AB or BC in senior). The issue is that in my grade of ~120, I know of at least 7 or 8 students who are taking Algebra II this year, (one is actually taking BC Calculus), and will take calculus before, or in Junior year. My concern lies in the fact that top universities always look at my school to find the best students there, so if they see all those students in those courses, and then they see me it makes me look MUCH less desirable.</p>

<p>There's no question that if certain academic policies prohibited me from taking Geometry in 8th grade, that I could be taking more advanced math, (I actually was recommended by several people who mentally evaluated me earlier in life to skip several grades, and required work FAR beyond what I had in school in earlier days). I was wondering if to quell this impending issue if I should take either Algebra II/Trigonometry or Pre-calculus over the summer. </p>

<p>Again, I have a very high level of comprehension in math as a profoundly gifted student with a very high mathematical aptitude, but the issue with policy stemmed from poor marks I earned in earlier classes because I struggled with ADHD (attention deficit type). While the ADHD set me back quite a bit (very annoyingly), my parents finally relented and let me take medication for it this year, and I'm hoping that it will help.</p>

<p>In other classes though, I generally earn nothing below an A (with the occasional B+ or A- stemming from attention/laziness issues) , and if they had honors english or honors history I'd be in it, (In 2nd grade I had a collegiate reading comprehension level). </p>

<p>Anyways, as you can tell from this disorganized writing I'm not on my medication right now, (before some prick makes a joke about it), but I'm highly motivated, ready, and willing to get the best marks I can at whatever the cost, and I really think the medication will help.</p>

<p>So from that, my two questions were:</p>

<p>a) should I take a math over the summer
b) If I don't, will it affect my chances at admission to a top university?</p>

<p>Please don't accuse me of being an arrogant, lying troll about the whole profoundly gifted thing, I'm really just trying to present the facts for an accurate picture.</p>

<p>Also, before pointing out mistakes, this wasn't proofread or anything, so please excuse any as I'm in a bit of a hurry (ironically, for such a long post).</p>

2

<p>Oh, but I am in what is normally the Chinese class that Juniors take (if that is a plus). If you guys want to know I can tell you about other levels of courses/extracurriculars etc.</p>

3

<p>

</p>

<p>It is not too unusual for high school freshmen to take level 2 or 3 of a foreign language.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>They may be native or heritage speakers who jump right into the more advanced level instead of taking level 1.</p></li>
<li><p>They may have had instruction in the language in junior high or elementary school, so they are ready for a more advanced course than level 1 upon entering high school.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>As far as math goes, you are one grade level ahead, so how can that be bad?</p>

4

<p>Very few kids are gifted across the board. There are lots of good students, but very few that are exceptional at math AND science AND language AND writing. At the start of high school all the ‘smart’ kids are placed in honors classes for the most part. You then move on to APs. As you move up each year, this will start to flush out as each student starts to realize what they are actually good at, where they want to focus their energies, and what they actually like. By your senior year very few kids will be taking APs in all core classes. Of those students, fewer still will have excellent grades in them all.</p>

<p>So yes, I am telling you to hold tight and let your, and your peers, natural gifts emerge. You will find not all students will complete the math tract as scheduled, not all will stay in AP sciences. Some will and their grades will suffer across the board…IMO not the best way to go. You will have plenty of ways to stand out in holistic admissions of ultra selective universities.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you!!</p>