How much math is necessary for STEM major?

[bettyandbob]

Just curious... How did your sons get to calc 2?  Did they take 2 math courses simultaneously?

 

Some students start the high school math sequence in 7th grade. Both my kids did. I didn't rush them though. I made sure they were rock solid on basic math and rock solid in Algebra I. My dd is in public school now. Her math course in 10th grade is a precalc course. The school has multivariable calculus and linear algebra in alternating years for those students who finish calculus and still have one or two more years of high school left. 

 

It's not unusual. However, there are a lot of kids in dd's class who clearly have rushed through with no understanding. She comes home with stories of classmates who can't add fractions, and who can't algebraically manipulate formulas to move all variables to one side of an equation. Those kids may be aiming for STEM, but if they don't rebuild the foundation they won't make it. 

 

So, glad I taught my dc math without calculators and short cuts. 

[8filltheheart]

Just curious... How did your sons get to calc 2?  Did they take 2 math courses simultaneously?

 

Kids that start alg in 8th grade can make it through cal 2 by 12th grade:

8th-alg1

9th-geo

10th-alg 2

11th-pre-cal

12th-2 semesters of college cal or AP cal BC (which will give credit for cal 1 and cal 2 with a score of a 5.)

[regentrude]

 

Absolutely agree.   I can't imagine what engineering dept would accept a student with only alg 2.   Acceptance into the university and acceptance into a dept are 2 different things.   Then add in getting into a specific major.   W/in the engineering dept there are going to be levels of competitive acceptance. 

 

That is not necessarily true. Our students do not even have to declare their major immediately - they get admitted to the university, not a specific department.

 

 

 

  For those that think students should repeat cal at the university, do you believe that students that arrive only having completed pre-cal and place into cal are going to be at a disadvantage to students that repeat cal?  

 

 

Depends on your definition of disadvantage.

Can a student successfully pass the calc 1 course at university without previous calculus at high school? Absolutely, even with an A. Will the student then be prepared for subsequent calculus courses at the university? Yes.

Will the student develop the same deep insight as a student who intentionally repeats the course in order to delve deeper (not because he never understood, or forgot, all his high school calc)? No, he will not. But then, many students may not have this goal of thorough deep understanding, but merely the goal of a good grade. That's fine, too.

 

 

I am just being honest when I say that I believe kids arriving with only alg 2 are at a serious disadvantage as a STEM major and are probably far less likely to complete a STEM degree.

 

Again, the answer is "it depends". It depends on the reasons a student has only competed math through algebra 2. Very often, this is a sign of lacking aptitude, i.e. the student struggling in math, which would also mean the student is not suited for a STEM major. If, however, there are other reasons - illness, moves, substandard school - unrelated to the student's abilities, the student will only lose time, but can still be successful.

 

We see students with high school precalculus still test into remedial college algebra. We see students with AP calculus quite often place into remedial trigonometry! Having taken a class is not the same thing as having mastered the material, and I would always err on the side of caution and go slower with a thorough understanding than faster just to have "calculus" on the transcript - and then have the student end up losing a year because he has to repeat college algebra and trig since he failed the placement test.

 

[regentrude]

Just curious... How did your sons get to calc 2?  Did they take 2 math courses simultaneously?

 

My DD did:

algebra 1 in 8th

geometry in 9th

algebra 2 and precalculus in 10th

calc 1&2 in 11th

multivariable calculus (=calc 3 ) 12th

 

all courses at home.

[8filltheheart]

 

Again, the answer is "it depends". It depends on the reasons a student has only competed math through algebra 2. Very often, this is a sign of lacking aptitude, i.e. the student struggling in math, which would also mean the student is not suited for a STEM major. If, however, there are other reasons - illness, moves, substandard school - unrelated to the student's abilities, the student will only lose time, but can still be successful.

 

 

Does your school keep stats that would indicate the number of students starting with pre-cal and graduating with degrees in engineering?  The reason I am skeptical is b/c of just how many students change majors out of engineering (maybe this is different at your school since they don't declare when applying)   and how many students even with solid math backgrounds aren't finishing their engineering degrees in 4 yrs.    I'm not saying it isn't feasible, but I do think that it is far more unlikely.

[regentrude]

Does your school keep stats that would indicate the number of students starting with pre-cal and graduating with degrees in engineering?  The reason I am skeptical is b/c of just how many students change majors out of engineering (maybe this is different at your school since they don't declare when applying)   and how many students even with solid math backgrounds aren't finishing their engineering degrees in 4 yrs.    I'm not saying it isn't feasible, but I do think that it is far more unlikely.

 

I am sure somebody is keeping stats, but I could not find any by a quick search.

Most students are not finishing in 4 years anyway (4 year graduation rate is 27%), which does not necessarily mean that those are weak students; the best students take semesters off for coops and intenrships.

Our university is untypical, since pretty much only students with a strong engineering and science interest are coming here, very few students choose this school specifically for a humanities major. So, even if they do not declare major, the default is pretty much "some kind of engineering" when they end up coming here.

[regentrude]

When I was an engineering major, many of my fellow students entered with no calc. Their high schools simply didn't offer it.  Not a problem, and not a disadvantage as they would learn it before they needed it for other coursework.  Not ready for precalc though, would set them back a year.

 

And I have encountered students whose pathetic rural high school did not even offer trigonometry!

For those students, not having completed trig is not an indication of future lack of success. It will just cost them time. And money.

[katilac]

 <snip>

 

For dd, pre-calculus as a nursing major would have been remedial math and kept her out of the necessary chemistry rotation in order to get into clinicals and field study on time. When she decided to declare a chemistry/pre-med major, we were ever so glad we'd gotten her through a semester of calculus before she left for college and that was very valuable to her in keeping her 4.0 for her first semester of college which included college chemistry, biology, calculus 1, and a couple of very stout gen ed courses.

 

<snip>

 

 

Okay, this really shows how important it is to check the requirements/recommendations at the schools you are likely to be interested in. I would not have thought that nursing majors would need to be past pre-calc, and indeed a quick check of 2 of the nursing schools near show that neither of them require calculus or pre calculus in the program, much less before starting the program. One lists college algebra as a pre-req; the only thing I recognize as "math" in the actual program is Biometry/Statistics. Checking a few randomly (in various places), I haven't come across one that requires calculus yet. Statistics and variations thereof seem to be the most common - I am not seeing a lot of math courses, but I'm sure many of the 'nursing' course must include math. 

 

This is for a BSN - is that what your dd is going for? I confess that I am totally surprised that an RN degree would require calculus. 

[bettyandbob]

Yes, it is important to get a check of schools your are likely to be interested in. 

 

dd and I visited Virginia Tech last month. She has no idea what she wants to study, so we didn't look into specific departments, but the admissions officer did talk about what is expected on an application. He was addressing a group of about 200. He point blank said " if you are not taking the highest math course offered at your school, then you will not be admitted to the engineering department." To me the message is loud and clear that the vast majority of applicants will have calculus on their transcript. There are a few school districts in Virginia that have small populations and are remote so offering calculus might be difficult in those areas. 

 

My dd is in 10th. She requested to do these visits, even though most people seem to suggest waiting. It's been interesting to watch dd as she really pays attention to what the admissions officers say they are looking for. While most schools say a student must have taken algebra 2, these visits are mostly informally telling applicants that is the lowest of the applicant pool and those students mostly are not getting in. It really got me thinking that if you are visiting schools for the first time the spring of junior year, that is really too late to be finding out that the requirements to be considered an applicant with decent chance of admission are much steeper than the requirements listed on the university's website. 

 

 

[8filltheheart]

I am sure somebody is keeping stats, but I could not find any by a quick search.

 

 

I couldn't find any stats either.   This link has some interesting demographic info on engineering grads:

http://www.asee.org/papers-and-publications/publications/college-profiles/2011-profile-engineering-statistics.pdf

[FaithManor]

 

Just curious... How did your sons get to calc 2?  Did they take 2 math courses simultaneously?

 

[/quote

The two boys who will have calc two in high school took algebra 1 in the 7th and

geometry in 8th thereby beginning high school in algebra 2. We did not have to

accelerate their learning in order to accomplish this. They are both big math

enthusiasts and naturally talented in this subject, a trait they inherited from

dh. I also credit Singapore Math in the younger grades for challenging their

thinking and preparing for the concepts. Eldest boy did algebra 1 twice. Math is

not as easy for him as for his other three siblings. But once he got the concepts

cemented, he really took off. At first, I thought he would finish high school

with precalculus. But he really matured the year that he started algebra two and

he completed the course (Lial's) in one semester doing the odd problems and if he

earned a 90% or better on the chapter review, I let him move on without doing

the chapter exams opting instead for just a midterm and a final. He ended with a

94% and is maintaining a 95% in precalculus. Since we homeschool year around

(235 days per yard on average) he will have a nice easy pace for calculus 1

which he will begin, if his current pace holds, in April.

 

So the boys followed a more European or Asian path in math education including

an introductory calculus course - trying to remember the name...Newton's Apple or something similar - that helped them discover the beauty and elegance of math. We

are also an exceedingly science oriented house. So if a child wanted to attempt

a chemistry, physics, or engineering project that required math they had not

encountered yet, we didn't say "Maybe when you are older. You haven't had the math

yet." Instead we figured that as soon as they could add, subtract, multiply, divide, and have even a rudimentary idea of working with fractions, we could hold their

hands through the math. So they are kind of a fearless bunch.

 

 

I think that the kids have probably benefited from our less American approach to

teaching math and science.

 

Faith

[FaithManor]

I do not like typing on my kindle. I have NO idea how my post ended up as a quotation of myself. Sigh...

I need to take technology class!

[FaithManor]

Okay, this really shows how important it is to check the requirements/recommendations at the schools you are likely to be interested in. I would not have thought that nursing majors would need to be past pre-calc, and indeed a quick check of 2 of the nursing schools near show that neither of them require calculus or pre calculus in the program, much less before starting the program. One lists college algebra as a pre-req; the only thing I recognize as "math" in the actual program is Biometry/Statistics. Checking a few randomly (in various places), I haven't come across one that requires calculus yet. Statistics and variations thereof seem to be the most common - I am not seeing a lot of math courses, but I'm sure many of the 'nursing' course must include math. 

 

This is for a BSN - is that what your dd is going for? I confess that I am totally surprised that an RN degree would require calculus.

I meant to say Pre-calc for nursing and calc for pre-pharma, chemistry etc. That

said, college trig./pre-calc.was.considered remedial college mathematics for

nursing majors at the better schools she looked into. There were also minimum

ACT/SAT scores in order to qualify for the prenursing prerequisites. Organic

chemistry, not for the feint of mathematical hearts, was one of the weeder classes

for the top unis. They also hinted that the students getting the nursing

scholarships were the ones taking the Guppy top math and science courses in high

school. Dd applied primarily to universities in the top tier with nursing

departments boasting 90-99% board passage rates hence the competition for merit

money. As it was, she ended up choosing pre-med/chemistry. So I'm very glad we got that semester of calc one in and I wish we had known about Singapore math

when she was younger so she could have begun algebra sooner. That said, I guess

we didn't do to poorly with her. She is almost done withbuer chemistry degree and

has a 4.0 at U of MI. and completed her EMT and Paramedic training as well. And yes

that was a big mommy brag and I'm proud of her!

[Gwen in VA]

Our four kids have all graduated (except the senior who still has to take Calc 2 next semester) with math through Calculus 2.

 

8th grade -- Algebra 1

9th grade -- Geometry

10th grade -- Algebra 2

11th grade -- Precalculus

12th grade -- Calc I and Calc 2 at the local highly-ranked 4-year college

 

I totally agree that having a strong background in algebra is THE key to success in math / science / engineering.

 

I also strongly maintain that having calculus in high school is a huge advantage, so if possible it's good to have both a great algebra background AND calculus. It shouldn't be either / or.

[horsellian]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the British approach. As I understand it, Mechanics is integrated at the A-level in math. How beneficial is this for either math or physics majors?

 

Well I took A level a little while ago, but I've just looked, and it doesn't look like a whole lot has changed.

 

If you are planning on reading maths at uni in the UK you would normally take 'double maths' or 2 A levels of maths - so you'd usually do about half an A level of mechanics, half an A level of stats and a whole A level of pure maths.

Some future engineers or physicists will also take double maths.

 

Otherwise, if you're only doing a single A level you can choose, depending on your future plans, to do half pure & half mechanics, or pure & stats, or half pure with a little bit of mechanics and a little bit of stats - this is the easiest option, and it's what I did, but it didn't hold be back particularly as I read Chemistry at a very good university.

 

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[regentrude]

reported

[8filltheheart]

I totally agree that having a strong background in algebra is THE key to success in math / science / engineering.

 

I also strongly maintain that having calculus in high school is a huge advantage, so if possible it's good to have both a great algebra background AND calculus. It shouldn't be either / or.

 

I agree.   Even if students don't make it through cal in high school, having at least 4 yrs of math alg 1 + should be the minimum goal for any student that wants to major in STEM.   Many tech universities are going to have a 4 math requirement.   I am not convinced that cal is an absolute goal for high school.   But, I do think that pre-cal or advanced math or trig/college alg--a math beyond alg 2 leading toward being prepared for calculus--should be a high school objective.  

 

Since this is a homeschool board,  limits are only imposed by 2 factors.....student ability or parental provider.   If the reason for only going through alg 2 is the former, then whether or not the student is strong enough in math to manage a STEM major is not just being dismissive of the possibilities of success in college.   It is a prudent question.   If the reason is the latter, then a student might succeed, but the student may be at a disadvantage if their math background is weak due to it and will have to take the "boot strap" approach to filling in areas of weakness and gaps.....and be prepared for extra time.

[Arcadia]

This quote from the OECD report released today is interesting. I have not finish reading the report. Just thought it is relevant to this thread because of the understanding what you learn aspect.

From PISA 2012 FOR THE UNITED STATES – © OECD 2013 (bolded mine, link is a pdf)

"Analyses of the items on which United States students performed relatively well indicate that the strengths in their mathematical competence lies in reading data directly from tables and diagrams; simple handling of data from tables and diagrams; and handling directly manageable formulae. In terms of weaknesses, the analysis suggests that U.S. students struggle with tasks requiring students to: use and apply the number π; establish a mathematical model of a given real world situation; genuinely interpret real world aspects; and reason in a geometric context.
An implication of the findings is that much more focus is needed on higher-order activities, such as those involved in mathematical modeling (understanding real-world situations, transferring them into mathematical models, and interpreting mathematical results), without neglecting the basic skills needed for these activities."

 

ETA:

Analysis of some of the questions start on page 67 of the 106 page pdf.

ETA:

In easier to read format with more details

"Strengths
• Reading data directly from tables and diagrams – requiring students only to understand a short text and read single values directly from a representation provided such as a table or a bar diagram
• Simple handling of data from tables and diagrams – requiring students to understand a short text, read two values from a given representation, and then perform some straightforward operation such as adding or comparing the values
• Handling directly manageable formulae – requiring students to use a formula provided, e.g. inserting numbers for variables, and do some easy calculation. The formulae can be used directly, without any re-structuring.

 

Weaknesses
• Use of the number π – requiring students to make explicit use of the number π in a calculation
• Substantial mathematization of a real-world situation – requiring students to establish a mathematical model of a given real-world situation in the form of a term or an equation with variables for geometric or physical quantities, before further actions (especially calculations) can take place. Students have to understand the situation and activate and apply the appropriate mathematical content
• Genuine interpretation of real-world aspects – requiring students to take a given real-world situation seriously and properly interpret aspects of it
• Reasoning in a geometric context – requiring authentic reasoning in a planar or spatial geometric context by using geometric concepts and facts
• U.S. students have particular problems with mathematical literacy tasks where the students have to use the mathematics they have learned in a well-founded manner. Given that even in more demanding tasks some basic skills are nevertheless needed, an implication of the findings is that much more focus is needed on higher-order activities, such as those involving mathematical modeling (understanding real world situations, translating them into mathematical models, and interpreting mathematical results), without neglecting the basic skills needed for these activities"

 

[8filltheheart]

This quote from the OECD report released today is interesting. I have not finish reading the report. Just thought it is relevant to this thread because of the understanding what you learn aspect.

From PISA 2012 FOR THE UNITED STATES – © OECD 2013 (bolded mine, link is a pdf)

"Analyses of the items on which United States students performed relatively well indicate that the strengths in their mathematical competence lies in reading data directly from tables and diagrams; simple handling of data from tables and diagrams; and handling directly manageable formulae. In terms of weaknesses, the analysis suggests that U.S. students struggle with tasks requiring students to: use and apply the number π; establish a mathematical model of a given real world situation; genuinely interpret real world aspects; and reason in a geometric context.

An implication of the findings is that much more focus is needed on higher-order activities, such as those involved in mathematical modeling (understanding real-world situations, transferring them into mathematical models, and interpreting mathematical results), without neglecting the basic skills needed for these activities."

 

Basically word problems. ;) The word problems are what I love about Foerster's and the weakness I see in a lot of other programs. Plug and chug or apply what you know.

[anne1456]

My oldest only got through Algebra II in high school.  She was accepted everywhere she applied (mid-level schools) as either an environmental science or biology major without pre-calc.  She received merit aid at every school she applied to, ranging from half to full tuition. The math was basically the one weakness in her application, but most students a have weakness somewhere.  The results probably would have been different if she had been an engineering major, but not having pre-calc in high school is not a deal breaker for all STEM majors.

 

For my daughter it made more sense to go thoroughly through algebra and geometry and make sure she really understood it rather than push her through pre-calc.  It worked because she has been successful in pre-calc, calc and stats in college.  And she is thrilled she will never have to take another math class.

 

 

[Teachin'Mine]

8, which plug and chug programs?

[regentrude]

Basically word problems. ;) The word problems are what I love about Foerster's and the weakness I see in a lot of other programs. Plug and chug or apply what you know.

 

But don't you know all those poor kids who are "really good at math, just not good at word problems"?

(I can't count how often I have heard or read this, either from the kid, or from a parent, even on these boards)

[8filltheheart]

8, which plug and chug programs?

 MUS for one. It focuses on the operational methods of algebra, but it is very weak in application and all the word problems follow a pattern. If you set up for one, the rest will be set up essentially the exact same way. It is why I use it as pre-alg bc it does help them build very basic alg skills. Foerster's, otoh, if a student doesn't understand the "what's" that they are doing, they will not be able to set up the problems.

 

 

But don't you know all those poor kids who are "really good at math, just not good at word problems"?

(I can't count how often I have heard or read this, either from the kid, or from a parent, even on these boards)

Yep. :(

[flyingiguana]

Again, the answer is "it depends". It depends on the reasons a student has only competed math through algebra 2. Very often, this is a sign of lacking aptitude, i.e. the student struggling in math, which would also mean the student is not suited for a STEM major. If, however, there are other reasons - illness, moves, substandard school - unrelated to the student's abilities, the student will only lose time, but can still be successful.

What I see going on in our dept is this -- we have a number of very bright students who did well in math and enter with calc 1 or 2 (or even calc 3). And they generally do fine.

 

And then there are a number of other students who didn't get much math background. This can be for a variety of reasons -- goofing off in high school, getting into drugs, going to a school that didn't push kids on in math, having the school decide the student was just kind of dumb and shouldn't do much math (seeing this a lot with ESL students), or maybe even going to a school that didn't offer much math.

 

These kids might just be shut out of a STEM major, except that some colleges do realize that lack of math doesn't necessarily mean the kid has no potential to do the math. They just need some help getting up to speed in the first year. And for some of these kids, they are HIGHLY motivated. And they do just fine, although they may have to work hard.

 

The college can make a big difference in whether kids in this category can succeed in STEM or not. There may be a lot of colleges that just figure it's not their problem. But there are some schools who see that as their job. So they do it.

 

Course, best case scenario is that no one ends up in this situation, but it does happen. It's nice to know there are colleges that can be successful in dealing with it.

 

After graduation, there usually isn't a lot of difference between those kids who came in with calc 3 and those who might not have even had pre-calc -- not in terms of where they may go on to grad/professional school etc, or what jobs they get.

 

There are some kids who come in with little math who really never do get it, despite everyone's best efforts. But, you know, that's ok too. It's just nice that there is a potential for a STEM major after screwing up high school for those who do have the untapped talent in that area.

 

 

ETA -- I'm in a physics department.

However, I've seen the same things happening in the biology and chem depts at this school.

Some kids just need a little more time, or a little more confidence, or a math class that actually explains it for the first time.

 

I just hate to write kids off who might be a little "math-slow" in high school.

[flyingiguana]

But don't you know all those poor kids who are "really good at math, just not good at word problems"?

(I can't count how often I have heard or read this, either from the kid, or from a parent, even on these boards)

Sat next to an engineer at a PTA meeting once. We both heard this line and cracked up. And pointed out that word problems were the whole REASON we found math interesting.

[bugs]

I did not read all the posts, but I'll give you a personal anecdote about high school math and college STEM.  I did graduate high school in 1980 so things may have changed.  In 9th grade I took Alg 1, then in 10th I took Geometry.  I began loving math by this point so I signed up and took Alg 2 in the summer before my junior year.  I wanted to take Calculus as a senior.  As a junior my first semester was a trig class.  My second semester was to be College Algebra but we moved to a different state.  The only math class left that I could take at my new school was Analytical Geometry (I think that was the title).  So I finished math at that school in my junior year.  No math in my senior year - I was bummed.  Anyway, I was accepted into an engineer school and I had to take math modules in areas I had forgotten over the year - but I took them concurrently with my Calc I class.  Once I hit college the math was no longer "easy" for me, but I did okay.  I did receive my engineering degree, however I was motivated (full ROTC scholarship).  

 

So in a nutshell:  A student can be successful without taking Calculus in high school just not ideal. 

[Crimson Wife]

But don't you know all those poor kids who are "really good at math, just not good at word problems"?

(I can't count how often I have heard or read this, either from the kid, or from a parent, even on these boards)

Strong math students can still struggle with word problems. A good home educator, however, will recognize this issue and look for textbooks & other resources that place relatively less emphasis on solving straightforward equations and more emphasis on solving tricky word problems.

[regentrude]

Strong math students can still struggle with word problems.

 

Well, math is "word problems". Anything else is simply computation, arithmetic. Being a "strong math student" means the student understands and is able to apply math concepts to, and make mathematical models for, real situations - in other words, can solve word problems.

Being good at arithmetic is not the same thing as being strong in math.

 

(Of course, even strong math students will be struggling with word problems of AoPS and competition level... but that was not what was originally meant, or what was measured in the study.)

[FairProspects]

Well, math is "word problems". Anything else is simply computation, arithmetic. Being a "strong math student" means the student understands and is able to apply math concepts to, and make mathematical models for, real situations - in other words, can solve word problems.

Being good at arithmetic is not the same thing as being strong in math.

 

(Of course, even strong math students will be struggling with word problems of AoPS and competition level... but that was not what was originally meant, or what was measured in the study. My dyslexic can rock the problem solving once he understands what the language is asking him to do. It has everything to do with the wordiness and nothing to do with his ability to think the problem through.

 

 

My dyslexic can rock the problem solving once he understands what the language is asking him to do. He does struggle sometimes with word problems and it has everything to do with the wordiness, not the ability to think it through or to set up the equation. Obviously it is a work in progress but problem solving ability does NOT necessarily = good at word problems. Kids who struggle with word retrieval and vocabulary can indeed be very strong math students who have issues with these types of problems.

[regentrude]

My dyslexic can rock the problem solving once he understands what the language is asking him to do. He does struggle sometimes with word problems and it has everything to do with the wordiness, not the ability to think it through or to set up the equation. Obviously it is a work in progress but problem solving ability does NOT necessarily = good at word problems. Kids who struggle with word retrieval and vocabulary can indeed be very strong math students who have issues with these types of problems.

 

OK, granted. I was not thinking of students with specific LDs. Sorry.

 

[FairProspects]

No problem. I just know I have posted about difficulties with word problems before and I didn't want you to think we were all lazy educators who only focus on computation. :D There actually is a legitimate disconnect for some math kids. We're working on it. I do realize the importance of word problems and problem solving for higher math.

[Crimson Wife]

Well, math is "word problems". Anything else is simply computation, arithmetic. Being a "strong math student" means the student understands and is able to apply math concepts to, and make mathematical models for, real situations - in other words, can solve word problems.

Being good at arithmetic is not the same thing as being strong in math.

 

(Of course, even strong math students will be struggling with word problems of AoPS and competition level... but that was not what was originally meant, or what was measured in the study.)

Real world math absolutely comes in the form of word problems. But I personally have a hard time thinking of a student who can easily solve straightforward equations and always scores in the 99th percentile on standardized math tests as being bad at the subject. She's not math-intuitive the way her younger brother is, but I would say that in general she is a strong math student.

[8filltheheart]

Heigh Ho posted this link on the general board.   I was very shocked by the numbers.    It reminded me of the conversation here, so I thought I would post the link and one of the graphs.   http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=97

(ETA:  the stats below are only based on students earning either a standard or honors diploma)

 

 

I found this link which discusses the number of math credits required for a high school diploma  by state:  http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED535222.pdf

 

I was shocked by both.   Obviously my impression of what students are achieving are very skewed.  That only 16% of students are taking cal was actually very surprising and that significantly less than 50% are taking pre-cal was even more so.   My reading this forum must REALLY skew my thoughts.

[bettyandbob]

 

 

I was shocked by both.   Obviously my impression of what students are achieving are very skewed.  That only 16% of students are taking cal was actually very surprising and that significantly less than 50% are taking pre-cal was even more so.   My reading this forum must REALLY skew my thoughts.

 

The chart shows all students. Not students go on to post high school education. The chart certainly doesn't show anything about the specific group of students accepted into university level STEM programs.

 

When evaluating what your student needs you need to look at what opportunity you and he want available and build your plan from there. In my house that meant long range planning back in K (I'm a little obsessive like that). I didn't know what my dc were going to do then (I still don't), but I knew I was going to make every effort to keep all the doors open for them to choose from. I live in a competitive area and the best state universities in my state, including liberal arts programs, are expecting to see calculus on the transcript, particularly from applicants in my part of the state (because they know it's readily available public, private and dual enrollment programs). It really helps to know something about the colleges you may be targeting. Keep in mind what they expect to see on a transcript is often more difficult than the "requirements" listed for the university in a college guide or listed on the school's website.

 

That said, I would not continue to push a student through subjects simply to get them on the transcript. Build a strong foundation and only get through Algebra 2. If the student really wants to do engineering, she can take spend a year at cc getting more advanced math and physics. Or she can attend a university with an engineering program, but start as undeclared and spend her first year doing remedial math and then apply to the engineering dept. If the student really has a strong foundation in basics and is determined to go this route they will probably do fine. It will take an extra year of college, but it will work out.

[8filltheheart]

The chart shows all students. Not students go on to post high school education. The chart certainly doesn't show anything about the specific group of students accepted into university level STEM programs.

 

When evaluating what your student needs you need to look at what opportunity you and he want available and build your plan from there. In my house that meant long range planning back in K (I'm a little obsessive like that). I didn't know what my dc were going to do then (I still don't), but I knew I was going to make every effort to keep all the doors open for them to choose from. I live in a competitive area and the best state universities in my state, including liberal arts programs, are expecting to see calculus on the transcript, particularly from applicants in my part of the state (because they know it's readily available public, private and dual enrollment programs). It really helps to know something about the colleges you may be targeting. Keep in mind what they expect to see on a transcript is often more difficult than the "requirements" listed for the university in a college guide or listed on the school's website.

 

That said, I would not continue to push a student through subjects simply to get them on the transcript. Build a strong foundation and only get through Algebra 2. If the student really wants to do engineering, she can take spend a year at cc getting more advanced math and physics. Or she can attend a university with an engineering program, but start as undeclared and spend her first year doing remedial math and then apply to the engineering dept. If the student really has a strong foundation in basics and is determined to go this route they will probably do fine. It will take an extra year of college, but it will work out.

 

Actually, it wasn't for all students.   It was only for honors and standard diploma receivers.   And, based on the % of high school grads going on to college, that is still a high percentage of students entering w/o pre-cal and cal.

 

Directly to College (%) High School Graduates - 2008 First-Time Freshmen Directly from High School Enrolled Anywhere in the US - Fall 2008

Nation

63.3

 

http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/?level=nation&mode=data&state=0&submeasure=63

 

The numbers just really didn't fit what I thought was occurring in high schools.

 

FWIW, in no way did I mean to suggest that aiming for alg 2 should be a goal or that that was a good choice for STEM students.   It is obviously not a route I have taken with my own kids.  ;)    I guess I forget just how out of the norm they are.

[bettyandbob]

Actually, it wasn't for all students.   It was only for honors and standard diploma receivers.   And, based on the % of high school grads going on to college, that is still a high percentage of students entering w/o pre-cal and cal.

 

Directly to College (%) High School Graduates - 2008 First-Time Freshmen Directly from High School Enrolled Anywhere in the US - Fall 2008

Nation

63.3

 

http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/?level=nation&mode=data&state=0&submeasure=63

 

The numbers just really didn't fit what I thought was occurring in high schools.

 

FWIW, in no way did I mean to suggest that aiming for alg 2 should be a goal or that that was a good choice for STEM students.   It is obviously not a route I have taken with my own kids.  ;)    I guess I forget just how out of the norm they are.

 

do you know what qualifies as an honors diploma? In my state you can get an "honors" diploma with just algebra 2, but that isn't going to make you a competitive applicant to most universities in my state.

[8filltheheart]

do you know what qualifies as an honors diploma? In my state you can get an "honors" diploma with just algebra 2, but that isn't going to make you a competitive applicant to most universities in my state.

 

I would assume it is based on the individual states requirements when reporting the scores.   My pt was that the stats were not for all students but actual graduates receiving standard/honor diplomas.   I expected a majority to have taken at least pre-cal.

 

FWIW, I have never once stated that it would make a student competitive nor advocating anything.   I was simply posting that the stats don't match what I would have thought.    All of my kids have had more than 4 math credits upon graduation.  (some significantly more.)

[bettyandbob]

I would assume it is based on the individual states requirements when reporting the scores.   My pt was that the stats were not for all students but actual graduates receiving standard/honor diplomas.   I expected a majority to have taken at least pre-cal.

 

FWIW, I have never once stated that it would make a student competitive nor advocating anything.   I was simply posting that the stats don't match what I would have thought.    All of my kids have had more than 4 math credits upon graduation.  (some significantly more.)

 

 

i'm sorry I sound like I'm picking on you. It's just that the table really doesn't give much relevant info for someone to use it to help a student plan his studies. I'm picking on the table. Not you. You are nice.

[Teachin'Mine]

How on earth do we have any engineers, mathematicians, or scientists who graduated in 1990 or before then?   One of the things the above chart show me is that while calculus is expected for some of the most competitive STEM programs, for years calculus was first studied in college, and that can work just fine now for all but the most selective schools.   We should encourage our students to pursue their interests, academic or otherwise, and plan their courses according to their abilities at the time.   There is definitely more than one way.  JMO.

[bettyandbob]

How on earth do we have any engineers, mathematicians, or scientists who graduated in 1990 or before then?   One of the things the above chart show me is that while calculus is expected for some of the most competitive STEM programs, for years calculus was first studied in college, and that can work just fine now for all but the most selective schools.   We should encourage our students to pursue their interests, academic or otherwise, and plan their courses according to their abilities at the time.   There is definitely more than one way.  JMO.

 

How much of the student population actually enters STEM programs? Not much

[Teachin'Mine]

Betty, maybe I would have made my point better if I went back another 10 or 20 years to 1970 or 1980 graduates.  I'm sure an extremely small percentage, far smaller than the number of STEM majors, took calculus before college.  

 

I'd also bet that a fairly significant number of those students taking calculus in high school aren't taking it for a math heavy major, but to get requirements out of the way in high school.   I would think that many pre-med students would be inclined to do this, or at least to make it easier for them to achieve an A grade in university.   I'm not including pre-meds as STEM majors as they are usually excluded.

[Crimson Wife]

Isn't a "standard" diploma just any diploma other than the SPED one? General ed track students at my high school receive a standard diploma if they pass all the required courses and the state exit exam. It didn't mean they met the admissions prerequisites for the state's 4 year colleges. Even in my affluent suburban hometown, not every kid aspires to a 4 year college. I had a number of classmates who enlisted in the military, went to trade school, or just got some entry level job.