Maths

Parent Cafe
1

<p>I was informed by the counselor that sophomores might only have a choice of one math class in their sophomore year, unfortunately just like freshman year. My D has been a fast track maths student, taking Algebra 2 as a freshman, who was not allow to double up with PrecCalc. It appears next year we will face the same problem, a combination of school budgets for teacher/student ratio and prerequisites. </p>

<p>By design, our goals are college admission to a competitive engineering school. Ideally, BC Calc or better would have been our endpoint for H.S. maths, but the highest maths class is AB Calc, unless you go off campus or virtual, and both are undesirable. Our conundrum (and please weigh in), as a H.S. sophomore does she:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>take College Algebra, for dual credit (MAC1105), and to help stay sharp for algebra focused PSAT (Merit Scholarship contender, but odds are long even for best when so few slots are available)</p></li>
<li><p>take PreCalc/Trig, for dual credit (MAC1140/MAC1115), and hope to somehow avail a BC Calc class as a senior off campus..</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I am on the fence, because my belief is the college algebra course is not a rigorous class, and will be at best a warm up class for the PSAT. </p>

<p>The PreCalc class advances the student up the maths curriculum for consideration by engineering college admissions officer and a leg up on college calc.</p>

<p>AP statistics, just doesn't carry much rigorous weight with colleges or contribute to the PSAT prep, but definitely a fair class to pair for senior year along with BC calc or linear algebra.</p>

<p>Thanks, I'll await your input.</p>

<p>PS: Any suggestions how to lobby the Principal for the addition of a BC Calc class?</p>

2

<p>I would think the pre cal/trig class will engage her more and allow her to keep her forward momentum in the subject. PSAT scores are not important enough to drive decisions about HS curriculum. She can study for PSAT in her spare time and/or take a review course. If no Calc BC will be available to her as a senior, counselor can explain that in her applications. In that event, taking and doing well in Calc AB will not preclude her from top engineering programs. There are a number of summer or online alternatives for Calc BC as well.<br>
AP Stats is useful only if she would be allowed to double up in math. Otherwise stick with core curriculum of pre-cal/calc.</p>

3

<p>Check if your school will support online classes NEXT year. If they do no support it (pay for it and offer credit) look at the programs offered in the Summer. They are not that costly in the grand scheme of things. </p>

<p>PS Keeping sharp for the PSAT in the Junior Year is a good idea, although it does not require any of those advanced classes. Just make sure to review a couple of sections every month until the real test. You should have a training one coming up this year, and that will help you ascertain where your scores will fall. Well, your child scores that is!</p>

4

<p>Thank you for clearing away the cobwebs, she will stay with the preCalc/Calc track, and use the her expected SAT prep studies to stay up to date in Algebra. </p>

<p>Now I will just lobby the school PTO for a BC calc class.</p>