Problem for a prospective engineer

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>Hi guys,
I've been doing loads of research and I simply can't seem to find any reasonable summer program at a university, or merely a course at a community college, for me, a freshman in high-school. The reason why I'm interested in such a course is because I'm in 9th grade and taking Integrated Algebra, a grossly rudimentary course. I'm in a Jewish college prep-school, the Yeshivah of Flatbush. I was considering switching to Ramaz for junior year (more rigorous courses, wider range of AP's, greater college acceptance, fine reputation) , a college prep-school in Manhattan. Now I'm an all-honors student, so basically I'm in every honors class possible, and doing rather excellent in every class. However, Ramaz does not follow the NYS Regents curriculum; they delve further into each respective course. Thus, since most 8th graders take "Elementary Algebra", 9th grade is simply a repeat of this course, with a different title ("Integrated Algebra"), and slightly more emphasis on graphing, parabolas, linear theory etc. Ramaz begins 10th grade math, geometry, in 9th grade, and completely skips the Integrated Algebra course. Now logically, I would think that I can somehow accelerate myself. Perhaps, I would take Geometry next year, as usual, and then take a course somewhere in Algebra 2/Trig, and cover bothj courses in 1 year. Hence, I would switch to Ramaz, and be in their Pre-calc program in junior year. However I have a plethora of dilemmas. Self-teaching/tutoring is out, since my school won't give credit, and they won't allow me to take the Regents unloess I've gone through a year-long track. Moreover, albeit Algebra 2 is not stressed that much on the SAT's, I feel it is important that I take it formally, since I may want to go into engineering in college. The problem is I can't find a satisfactory program for my requirements. Some schools near me don't even offer an Algebra 2 course, or even a Pre-calc course (as long as I accomplish 1 year of high-school math, I can accelerate). The ones that do, are slightly far, thus requiring me to live on-campus. Since I'm Jewish, it wouldn't work out so well, for religous reasons. The only true program I fell in love with was Harvard's SSP: a summer course for 1:45-2:30 PM, for two months, and I would receive 4 credits. Problem? I live 4 hours away! If anyone could reccommend something for me to do, I'd really appreciate it.</p>

<p>P.S. Apologies for over-elaborating on the issue.</p>

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<p>So you are trying to skip Geometry or Algebra 2/Trig so you can place into PreCalculus before your senior year so you can take AP Calculus during your high school career right? </p>

<p>Okay I reccommend taking a community college course during the summer so your school will let go on ahead. Since you’ve decided to do that, smart choice. I took Geometry and Algebra 2/Trig in the 10th grade so I could skip ahead.
How about Geometry, since there is no available Algebra2 or Precalc courses nearby? Check to see if you can take a summer course in Geometry. </p>

<p>Or, I don’t know how it works in community colleges in your area, you can self study geometry and take a math placement exam at a community college. That way you can skip geometry and go right into Intermediate Algebra(Algebra 2 under a different name) at community college. So what I’m trying to say is that you self study geometry throughout the summer and take the placement exam at community college, so you can take Intermediate Algebra during the fall semester of your tenth grade year at community college. Then, you can just take Pre-Calc at community college for the spring semester of your tenth grade. Basically you take two math courses during the 10th grade at community college, provided you self study the prequistes during the summer in order to pass the placement exam. </p>

<p>I hope this helps! :)</p>

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<p>nuff said…</p>

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<p>There are all kinds of ways to spend a summer, and there must be some math camp, etc. that would interest you.
Check out the geniusdenied.com website… THINK summer institute.
I’ll make it even easier. Follow this link: [Browse</a> by Topic: Resources - Summer Programs](<a href=“http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/browse_resources_217.aspx]Browse”>http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/browse_resources_217.aspx)
and check out the summer programs.
Most universities have summer programs, some engineering oriented. Grade levels they take vary, but some even have programs for middle school/jr. high age.
Cal Tech has the YESS program, U. Cincinnati has the Men in Engineering summer thing, Cornell has a summer biotech program as I recall. I think Stanford and Purdue have similar things. It is probably too late for this summer, but keep checking your local university websites so you know what they have for next year.
You might also search for Jewish oriented resources if that is an issue.</p>

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<p>I was merely suggesting that if taking a summer course isn’t possible, then why not take a course during the fall? or spring?</p>

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<p>Wow great suggestions. But honestly, how would I go about figuring out which colleges offer what? I’ve looked at some “High School Summer Programs” for CUNY Schools and such, but all they offer are like drama classes, art, or Humanities.</p>

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<p>LaGuardia has a summer mechatronics program:
[College</a> Now @ LAGUARDIA — Summer Program 2010: Mechatronics: Investigations in Math and Engineering @ LaGuardia Community College](<a href=“http://collegenow.cuny.edu/courses_events/summer/listings/program.php?code=MECH_LAGUARDIA]College”>http://collegenow.cuny.edu/courses_events/summer/listings/program.php?code=MECH_LAGUARDIA)</p>

<p>[College</a> Now Summer Scholars Academy in Mathematics and Science @ Macaulay Honors College](<a href=“http://collegenow.cuny.edu/courses_events/summer/listings/summer_scholars.php]College”>http://collegenow.cuny.edu/courses_events/summer/listings/summer_scholars.php)</p>

<p>Too late for this year, but in the summer MIT has the Junction program:
[MIT</a> ESP - Junction](<a href=“http://esp.mit.edu/learn/Junction/index.html]MIT”>MIT ESP - Junction)</p>

<p>For the fall, MIT’s Splash program (the weekend before Thanksgiving) might work out for you.<br>
For last year:
[Of</a> Note: This weekend, students will ?learn anything? at MIT Splash](<a href=“http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/splash-preview.html]Of”>Of Note: This weekend, students will ‘learn anything’ at MIT Splash | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
[MIT</a> ESP - Splash 2009 Student Reg Info](<a href=“http://esp.mit.edu/learn/Splash/reg2009.html]MIT”>MIT ESP - Splash 2009 Student Reg Info)
There’s also Spark in the spring.
Lots of cool classes which are nearly free except for your travel, etc.</p>

<p>If you plan ahead, you can find plenty of programs.
Look at what you could be doing during the summer at Brandeis in a couple of years:
[High</a> School Course Offerings - Summer 2010 « Courses « Summer School « Brandeis University](<a href=“http://www.brandeis.edu/summer/courses/hsofferings.php]High”>http://www.brandeis.edu/summer/courses/hsofferings.php)
Symbolic logic, statistics, computer courses, chemistry, etc.</p>