9th Grade College Preparation
August 26, 2008 – 1:53 pm by Phyllis Zimbler MillerTo many parents and teens the idea of considering – during the summer before 9th grade – where the student may apply to college in 12th grade seems way over the top. Why put on the pressure so early?
Ironically, applying to college in 12th grade may be easier because of some pre-planning before the start of 9th grade.
Let me explain: When students plan what courses they will take for four years of high school, they may know what their own high school requires (for example, how many years of science, math and a foreign language in order to graduate high school). Equally important, they may not know what courses (and for how many years) colleges will want to see on a student’s high school transcript.
A student’s high school may only require three years of math OR completing pre-calculus. On the other hand, a top college may frown on an applicant who hasn’t taken four years of math regardless of whether pre-calculus was completed in junior year or senior year of high school.
Why is this a big deal? Can’t a student learn this during junior year and just take another year of math in senior year?
Here’s what could happen: High school students not especially strong in math push themselves into geometry in 9th grade rather than sticking with algebra that year. Then to their horror they discover in their junior year – while taking pre-calculus and believing this is the end of their high school math career – they have to take calculus in senior year in order to have the four years of math the top colleges want. Yes, calculus!
If math is not a student’s strongpoint, it is probably better for his/her high school grade point average to stick with algebra in 9th grade, geometry in 10th grade, algebra II/trigonometry in 11th grade, and then take pre-calculus in senior year as a fourth year of math. And as an added plus to sticking with algebra in 9th grade, a student should then have a stronger grasp of the fundamentals of higher math.
Thus students need to do their homework the summer before 9th grade to find out the high school requirements of those colleges and post-high school programs they might later consider.
How is this research done? To begin with, students should check out the websites of the colleges and programs that might interest them in three years. But such detailed information – for example, how many years of high school math a top college wants – is not always found on the college’s website.
Another approach is to call or email the admissions office of colleges and post-high school programs and ask direct questions: “Do you want to see four years of math on a high school transcript? Or are three years acceptable if pre-calculus is completed?” And if the person spoken to or emailed doesn’t seem to know for sure, it’s a good idea to try to find another person who might actually know the answer.
When it comes time to apply to college, this pre-planning will truly be appreciated.
