Should I take pre-calculus over the summer?

W

William B

New member
As an honors math teacher I would not recommend it unless you are exceptionally gifted in math.
You are preparing for calculus and a summer course will usually have to omit and rush through topics. To distinguish yourself from your peers (I understand that motivation) do something unique or independent.
I teach in a wealthy school district , the first year the system decided to double-jump students, so that they would take AP Calc as juniors, there were 75 kids in the double-jump sixth grade class. Six years later I wondered how many students made it to Advanced Calc: there were 6, out of 75. Although it is still done because of parental pressure, experience shows that it just doesn't work for most students. I have had C students who got into Harvard or Yale because they played the French horn or were fluent in a strange language.
 
Go for it!

Pre-Cal is not hard. It is a mash of some new materials mixed in with materials learned from Intermediate Algebra and some middle school Geometry. I was never good at math but when I took it at a college it was an easy A and that was 4 months so if I can do it then I'm sure anyone else can. (I study history at the university)
 
If I took it during a normal semester, the course would be about 6 months long.

However, since summer's only 3 months long, that would mean I have to learn the material twice as fast compared to taking it during a normal semester.

I have asked several people at school and some have said go for it, while others didn't recommend that I do so.

The main reason that some people say I shouldn't take it over the summer is because it's one of the most difficult math courses.

However, I want to be ahead of my peers.

What should I do?
 
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