<p>I can't imagine that AP Calc BC would be easy to self-study. </p>
<p>But, I could take Calc 2 at a CC and then take the Calc BC exam at the end of my senior year.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And I know for a fact that they won't make you take calc if you pass the exam. That is bull. The exam basically tests what you learn in calc. What's the point of doing it again if you already know everything?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My brother took Calc BC in 7th grade and got a 5. After that his school finally let him take the Calc AB class (which is apparently restricted to higher grade levels). Needless to say, he was rather bored.</p>
<p>fengshuibundi, I go to Blair. I think you are waaay overating it. Let me tell you my experiences with the classes. </p>
<p>Quantum: No one understands anything the teacher says, not even the teacher. </p>
<p>Advanced Geometry: Teacher reads about Archimedes' method and scribbles on the board. Half the class can't even read it. For tests, we have math team problems. </p>
<p>Phamistry: Basically AP, except teacher doesn't teach and we have to self-study. </p>
<p>Linear Algebra: No different from a regular class, can ace it through memorization. We go so slow because the teacher has to reexplain everything that in the end, we cover less than half of a college course. </p>
<p>MV Calc: Forgot whatever I learned there, so I can say it's like "regular" Montgomery County math classes. </p>
<p>Don't know about Astronomy or robotics, but the tenth grade versions (required) were ridiculous: we basically learned why there are seasons, what albedo is, and built a lego car. You can do the same (maybe even more) at home with Wikipedia. </p>
<p>So basically, it's just a fancy label on regular BS.</p>
<p>Hahaa.</p>
<p>Well I go to Paint Branch :P</p>
<p>It's a step up from us!</p>
<p>I should have gone to Blair......
Well maybe not because then I may not end up where I am today.
Why didn't anyone tell me it was BS. I kept hearing stories about kids getting home at 7 then working till 2 (thats if you stay on track) just to get up at 5 to catch the bus at 6. Whatever, my school is still considred good even though you can bs your way to the top 5% (which I probalby wont get).</p>
<p>Hahaa yeah man, your school is really awesome anyway and you're in UPenn so you obviously didn't do anything wrong.</p>
<p>I'm glad I didn't go.</p>
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[quote]
We have a girl like you in my grade. Even the asian kids can't come close to her lol
[/quote]
Awwwww, you made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.</p>
<p>What's funny is that there are no typical Asians at my school. I'm only half Asian, but I seem to embody that entire archetype.</p>
<p>But I'm still worried about college, that I won't be prepared. Oh well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.</p>
<p>wow.</p>
<p>no typical Asians...
I WANT TO GO TO YOUR SCHOOL SOOO BAD! TAKE ME! <em>tosses self onto your back</em></p>
<p>Plenty of Asians, no one typical. I find that a conundrum.</p>
<p>Can you try to prepare yoruself outside of school?</p>
<p>Oh, we have tons of asians. And they are the straight A's, perfect GPA type of asians, but more so for the female asians. But most of the "top-of-the-class" students are white, and girls :D .</p>
<p>snoopyiscool, you are making waaay too much out of "The Overacheivers." I also attend a Montgomery County high school (one of the "better" ones, anyways, since some of our schools are still pretty "bad"), and I know the likes of Whitman (which is where the book takes place and is comparable as one of the "better" schools); I have several friends that go there. There is nothing stand-out-ish about students at Whitman or the college prepatory courses that are offered there. It certainly did not stand out to the nation until "The Overacheivers" was published, and bear in mind that the types of people who the author shadowed are of a drastic minority. </p>
<p>Blair, obviously, has reached national acclaim without the help of a book, and it would be first and foremost in comparison against the types of schools mentioned in "The Incredibles." (That is, unless a778999's opinions about the science curriculum are widely shared by attending students.) But really, the entire area just tends to attract more hard-working (albeit too grades/SAT-centric) students, and Blair, being the magnet program for science, attracts again the hard-working students who have such interests. Perhaps my view is biased, since a lifelong education from MoCo makes me feel as if the school system here is "the norm" across America, but I personally feel as if Blair has nothing against TJ, Stuyvesant, etc.</p>
<p>Haha yeah. Well <3 Moco and my school that breeds mediocrity. It's awesome.</p>
<p>that is what life is about, isn't it?</p>
<p>I am not as driven as those kids right now, but I have taken on multivariable calc as a junior</p>
<p>which would be below average to kids at TJ</p>
<p>But preparing ourselves outside of school, to me, is less about academics and more about study habits, people skills/communication skills, and a passion for life in general. What is the point of being able to create an algorithm that can find any prime number, but you cannot walk up to someone you do not know wihtout sweating?</p>
<p>What if you can do both?</p>
<p>Some people just aren't social. I'm not. I hate parties and concerts and big events. I think it has to do with the way you grow up. I live far away from the city, and there is no one near my age for miles. And I'm an only child if that matters.</p>
<p>I'm very independent and I don't like working with a bunch of people. And I love to work alone; I absolutely hate group projects. They usually turn into a "I do all the work" type of project anyway.</p>
<p>I'm not a social party animal and I never will be. I don't want to live that type of life.</p>
<p>You just described me as well ^.</p>
<p>kryptonsa36,</p>
<p>a778999's opinions about Blair's curriculum are irritatingly widely shared among its students, but I still, perhaps naively, believe that he is in the minority. I'm not sure I agreed with any of his statements, and I've had all of the teachers and most of the classes he spoke of.</p>
<p>That's good to hear.</p>
<p>Although.. as much as I would have enjoyed classes like astrophysics and biochemistry (and not having to wait until senior year to take MVC :D), I don't regret my decision not to go to Blair.</p>
<p>All the people I know from middle school who went to Blair have basically fallen into obscurity.</p>
<p>P.S. What the heck is "phamistry"?! Pharmaceutical chemistry?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>What I posted is the general agreement of the students in the program. I'm not going to take back any of my statements. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do you really believe that Mr. Pham's constant tantrums and insults actually did us any good in the long run? Everything I learned was from reading the textbook. </p></li>
<li><p>We went through five chapters of the textbook in Linear Algebra for the whole semester. Enough said. </p></li>
<li><p>Testing us on math team problems is no way to run a course, especially if you don't even teach the problem solving skills involved. For those of us in the math team, we already know everything in the "curriculum," and for those who are not, well they have no chance of catching up with the rest of the class and succeeding. In conclusion, Advanced Geometry helps no one. </p></li>
<li><p>Analysis 2: Memorize the answers to the hw questions and you'll ace the quizzes. No learning is needed. </p></li>
<li><p>Robotics: We are re-doing mission possible (10th grade project). WTH? The teacher clearly has no plans for this class. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>This year, a handful of the teachers quit/retired/went to other schools, which expedites the collapse of the magnet program. For example, the new discrete math teacher plans to spend the whole semester discussing interest (and not even doing a good job at that). The average grade on the last test was a 33%. </p>
<p>arkleseizure, please do not blame me for these posts. Although I have these opinions, these are basically a compilation of student gossip and teacher rants.</p>