Awesome! Best of luck!

Thank you MBM and everyone else! A few weeks ago, despite being so happy about the article, I fell back into my habit of looking at the things I had not done right. I was counting all the ways that I thought I'd failed this kid, number one being how little exercise we both do (no matter how hard we try that always falls by the way side). Kiddo started aikido lessons a couple months ago and I joined as well but had to stop due to some old injuries on my back and knee. A continued but then stopped Aikido for a few weeks when we were traveling. When we got home, A surprised me by saying how much Aikido has helped! Now the kid is training for the yellow belt with much excitement. This is probably a tiny little accomplishment compared to everything else kids here and in our neighborhood do with martial arts. But it made me so happy to see A willingly pick this class and now keep at it despite how challenging physical things still are. A's height coupled with low muscle tone and general gawkiness have always made exercise hard. I don't think anyone who reads the article will realize how hard. But I think for A, it really is a continuum. I have to remind myself over and over that there is no end to the things we parents will worry about and work on for our kids and that while some areas come so easily, others will probably take a whole lifetime to nurture and get started, let alone complete or master. It's so important to hug them and love them and celebrate little things. It's so important to not compare (still very hard for me). It's so important to be our kids number one cheerleaders. I know I did one thing right...and it's so funny that the reporter remembered me saying it...to follow those sparkly eyes. I am glad I trusted my gut with that. Hug them tight. These younger years are too fleeting.

This article by eIMACS's Natasha Chen might be of interest to some. Found a sample by googling.

Thank you so much all! We are traveling for the holidays and could not thank you earlier. You guys are really sweet.

Thank you everyone! :001_wub:

Mine did the math track (we could only afford the first class) and liked it but found it tedious too. My friend's son took the CS track (I think more than one level) and also liked and found it tedious lol. IIRC she said the material was very good foundation to have (she thought Level 1 was more tedious than necessary for her already extremely CS-oriented kid). It took them the full 40 weeks or so to go through every level. Her son works best in spurts though so it could be that he wasn't working on it regularly and why it took them that amount of time. I remember kiddo working on it more consistently but still taking 40 weeks because kiddo took a big break of a few months in the midst of the class. I've heard of people finishing a level in a few weeks! Perhaps if you work on it intensively and are maybe older, that's possible but not so for my kid at the time (he was 9 when he started; my friend's son was 11 or 12 I think).

Thank you calbear and everyone. It's been such a journey! Definitely lots of joys AND struggles. This board was so helpful to me when I needed it most. :001_wub:

I agree. Kiddo was 13 during SAT registration and technically in 8th but I asked kiddo to indicate 9th on the college board site and the scores were kept.

So proud of all the kiddos and so happy for you guys too. Thinking good thoughts for everyone waiting. I remember how hard it was to wait knowing we will only hear back in March (or if lucky, in February). Curious if anyone here applied to UCs (California) this year.

The very same to you and your family regentrude! We don't celebrate but the kid and I wish each other every year! Happy holidays to everyone too!

I know I missed sending likes...please consider your post liked. These are always one of my favorite threads every year. Sending all of you still waiting big hugs and those denied/waitlisted tons of good wishes for happy news soon. Hang in there!

Derek, I always love your questions. Are you interested in stories from parents themselves? I was incredibly average academically but have hobbies in creative fields that I was (and hopefully still am) good at. I have two sibling superstars and I am wedged right in the middle (one is older, one younger). While there are days when I wish I was less intellectually/academically average, there are also days when I think my sibs don't have the resilience that I do. Had a minute and was inspired to respond. :001_smile:

Thank you for your kind words, Janice! You are very right. I call it a luxury but I think in many ways it was a necessity. What a time consuming rock it was! Sometimes, truth and beauty take time. Such excruciatingly long time (for a type A mom who wishes output was less molasses and more warm honey). And that was true in many ways for my child. Berkeley is a good choice (maybe our only choice for the present come to think of it) both logistically and financially as well. Very grateful to be living close by. Our only regret? That kiddo entered Cal after Ken Ribet retired. One more point therefore, to potential math majors: if at all possible, attend public lectures or math festivals organized by local universities. Talk to the professors or speakers there. The people-professor connections make such a huge difference. Kiddo's LA prof is such a character but kiddo so enjoys her as a person and is hoping to ask her for a rec to join an undergrad-grad mentoring program. Kiddo's abstract algebra professor was so spacey but is so respected that just mentioning kiddo took a class with this man to a faculty advisor gave kiddo an advantage in having a math major requirement waived. I understand now what posters used to say about the school-within-a-school culture in larger universities. Make those connections early if you can!

Thank you Janice. Beautiful. Moving. Written only as a mathematician/musician who feels the love in their bones could. My 2 cents is that I see many kids love math because they do well in math competitions in middle and high school and while that problem solving practice is fantastic, I want to see more kids do well in problem solving because they love math and for some kids that can only happen when the speed and competition factors are taken away. When we took speed and competition away in our home school, it offered more time for studying and thinking about math, leading to: 6 years' practice in proof writing (from high school geometry onwards) prior to starting as an undergrad. Every other math class after geometry was proof-heavy. 3 years' worth of calculus. 2.5 years' worth of abstract algebra and group theory at high school to undergrad upper div level - quite an effective indicator to whether or not this kid has the stamina for higher math. A lot of faith that the subjects we left by the wayside to accommodate math would eventually be learned somewhere, somehow, enough to get kid a foot into a college for more math. This last factor is a huge luxury isn't it? So many kids just don't have that access or trust or reassurance that they can spend their time on something they love without worrying too much about the other subjects. That some kids find math to be their calling while in college *after* being exposed to the really hard math? Genuine awe and wonder here and so very happy for them. For my kid, double majoring in something else would take time away from immersing more deeply into math. The practical side of me would be happy if A took on another double major. The idealistic side wants that to be because A truly wants to and not because it's a good plan B. PS: Those bold sentences are often repeated here. :001_wub:

I used to think kiddo will double or even triple major seeing the wide range of interests and the loads of time to do so. But kiddo seems very set right now on not doing it. All or nothing might be one way to put it. In the kid's words, "Mom, I"m 15. I really don't need to rush into decisions like double majoring right now." and a puppy dog look when I start explaining why I even suggest it and replying with, "but I really want to do more math". Maybe a mix of knowing very clearly what he wants to do + falling in love with finally having access to the cool math + not wanting to load self up right now with 20 units when 13-17 feels better and offers more time to think through hard math + still be a kid. It's a conversation that we've put aside to focus on more day-to-day things. There's still so much time left. If it has to happen I think it will. The one thing that has not changed at all since young is that kiddo is very "pure/theoretical" with little interest in applications of whatever it is that captures interest.

You mentioned math major to theater major...for a minute there I was wondering how you knew!!! :laugh: Nah, A's not changing majors yet. In fact, A's petition to waive a math major requirement was approved and will be declaring the math major soon. BUT, I think if A does change majors, theater is a distinct possibility. I'll probably be a little sad because I know how much work A has put into this journey but as long as finances are not too obviously affected I will support A as much as I can. Right now, this would be the least of my worries. If finances ARE affected, we will brainstorm ways to make it work. I might try to talk A into at least being a math tutor on the side (for future stability too). The kid will need to take responsibility for the decision but will have my support where needed to the extent that I can offer that support. I might be more worried about why the change is occurring, especially in regards to this specific kid's dogged determination about studying math. It would have to be a pretty compelling reason. That is probably what will worry me the most, what sparked it, etc. But I'm sure we'll live with the decision and work with it the best we can.

The son of a friend qualified for a $10K merit scholarship at SCU IIRC. This was for 2016/17. His SAT was almost perfect and he had a slew of CC classes under his belt. Small departments and very customized attention was what she reported when I asked how he liked it. Just one anecdote.

Thanks Derek! He's really into pure math right now. All theory. No application. I'm learning to step away. :laugh:

Perimeter is really, really cool but my kid was not interested in the intense theoretical physics aspect. I know someone's kid who loved it very much. Also like kiddo with multiple interests but more in depth into those multiple interests than kiddo. Kiddo is signed up for Math H185, 114, and waitlisted for 142 in spring. Very much an algebra-ist right now with nil interest in probability/discrete math.

Thanks Mark. Yes, many different plans were made by plan-loving mom only to be frowned upon by kid who thinks anything other than a 100% pure math concentration is not up for discussion. I'm wondering if I could secretly feed my plan to one of kiddo's new friends and have them convince kiddo instead. But that would be creepy and kiddo will never forgive me. All this to say, we've talked about it but unless the kid realizes this for himself they will just remain as plans. I think kiddo will feel the pull of CS at some point...but it has to be from within. Thank you so much for the thoughtful suggestions!

Apologies as I haven't read all the responses. Mine is still a freshman but has completely shot down any suggestion to double major for now. I don't have numbers but a fair amount of math majors at Cal seem to double major in CS, both majors being under College of Letters and Sciences (not EECS). For kiddo, here are some stats and info: - 80.6 transfer units when starting this fall (brought 70.6 units from CC coursework with all but one gen ed completed and 10 units from AP classes) - currently 3 classes or so away from graduating with a math BA - bumped up to junior status about a month+ after starting as first year - planning to declare math major early (by the end of first freshman semester) despite not completing the discrete math requirement - will be speaking to faculty advisor soon with recommendation from the major adviser (the recommendation note says, "can we consider giving Mr. Last Name a waiver from Math 55 seeing his track record?" :laugh:) - therefore, could technically graduate if desired after sophomore year. But kiddo wants to wait and rightfully so...leaving kiddo 4 more semesters to dabble or double major. My kid is currently choosing to keep taking more math classes along with a wide variety of other classes in philosophy, literature, and possibly film. Kiddo also wants to make full use of the excellent foreign language offerings in Cal. One example of a kid with wide interests who is NOT planning to double major. Kiddo has a rough four-year plan that has kiddo taking classes deep into graduate level math. I think this can change but right now this is kiddo's plan. This plan also allows for time to deal with some health concerns and to reduce workload to 15-17 units a semester if needed vs the 18+ it would take to double major. Just remember that with the UCs, despite what it says on the website, the student could ask for individual waivers depending on the student's situation. You'll need to inquire whether this is campus-wide or specific college/department-related. The biggest challenge at Cal's Letters and Sciences has been getting appointments but with some early planning, it's possible to talk to the people to get what you need provided you have the GPA/track record and other general requirements. We didn't read the Newport book or anything but I think kiddo is just very besotted with math (as well as other things but does them more from interest and does not plan to major in them). I've tried giving the "you know, CS is very useful" talk but like every other teen I know I think kiddo needs to realize this without mom's interference. :glare:

I am SO excited for you Connie. Congratulations and all the best! Although I don't have my own student taking your class, I'm quite sure I will be sending some folks your way, at least for inquiries. So awesome to have a chemistry class to recommend now.

The Economist We had a Math Horizons subscription from MAA for about a year. Nice for math loving teens. The New York Times (digital, student rate) Proto - very interesting health sciences news Inc. (entrepreneurial news)

My Doxie Minpin mix is very sweet. He has some issues but I think it might be due to being a stray for a while and catching goodness knows what before we adopted him. He has a very sensitive gut (can only eat beef and rice that I home cook for him) and I watch his back a lot because I am worried about injuries. When we first got him the vet told us he is 4-5 years old but he had very bad teeth and probably not a good judgement? About 2 years ago, when he would have been around 6-7 according to the vet, I noticed his gait changing a little. He is also a little more careful about the way he sits or curls around. I try to stop him from jumping but it's hard to keep an eye on him all the time. He is also compulsive about biting his paws and will not step on bare earth if he can help it let alone dig. I've not seen him dig anything in the last 5 years we've had him. He has a yeast infection too I think that I am trying to fight. More than anything though he is my darling love bug. He is the sweetest little guy and very mellow. He likes to boss my other poodle doxie (more poodle than doxie) around but is also happy to be bossed around in return. Just don't get between him and his food (that's where his full wolf fang baring comes out...rarely happens now because he showed the pup the fangs one time and the pup got the message). He is very happy to spend time snoozing/snoring on my armchair (and what he's doing now). This Doxie pin is about 15lbs...not too heavyweight to carry around if need be. Our entire homeschooling writing curriculum in the younger years revolved around this guy. He helped my kid to get over some of the persistent writing resistance and my kid ended up creating whole stories around the little fella. He is a Norwegian spy (ala Get Smart) one minute and a lone wolf sheriff keeping the peace the next. We will miss him so much when he passes. He is about 9 now and I am hoping his back stays okay and that he will live forever. I can't think of how I would ever move on if I lose him. PS: he sheds a lot. But his sweetness makes up for everything else.