Algebra 1 - Shameful in the 9th grade?

PreppyDude123 · 11-01-2011, 01:17 PM

So I was doing Geometry but my teacher was really mean and didn't teach well, I had a few bad tests too, so now she thinks I should move to Algebra 1. She went and complained to my counsellor and now I'm in Algebra 1. Is it bad to do Algebra 1 in the ninth grade? Does it look bad to colleges?

Also, is it possible to do an online Geometry course and go to Algebra 2 next year, like it was originally planned for me before?

TheEllister2007 · 11-01-2011, 01:22 PM

I actually took Algebra 1 my freshman year. I had taken it in eighth grade, but didn't feel comfortable with the material. The semester after, I went to the Honors sequence. I'm a senior now in AP Calc. It only looks bad if you stay in the lower-level math sequence. Can you double-up next year or something?

PreppyDude123 · 11-01-2011, 01:29 PM

Yeah, my counsellor's making me double up in Geometry and Algebra 2 next year, but I was thinking it'd be smarter if I did Geometry online next semester along with Algebra 1 at school, so I can do Algebra 2 next year. Doubling up next year could work too, but that's too much of a workload.

PreppyDude123 · 11-01-2011, 04:17 PM

bump bump bump

machinima · 11-01-2011, 04:24 PM

Florida virtual school. Just go there to take a geometry class. And trust me, I understand your pain of a bad teacher, especially a geometry teacher.... Bastard couldn't bump my 88% to a 90% since I was sick in school and couldn't give him my parent signatures (he required us to do parent signatures since he didn't believe that we could study with out parent supervision...)

TheASP · 11-01-2011, 04:41 PM

Um, OUCH. I took Algebra 1 my freshman year and there's nothing wrong with me, believe it or not. It IS a freshman class. It's totally fine.

CSIHSIS · 11-01-2011, 06:16 PM

From what I remember Geometry really had nothing to do with Algebra 2 so taking them at the same time is okay.

DancingK · 11-01-2011, 06:26 PM

There's a bit of correlation between the two classes when you're solving for dimensions of shapes in algebra 2. I know I frequently use terms and formulas I learned in geometry in algebra 2. I guess it would be possible to take both at the same time, but I'd recommend doing geometry over the summer instead so you can catch up that way.

Tigerb · 11-01-2011, 09:04 PM

In our school you took Algebra I before you took Geometry. I took it in the 9th grade as well.

honestysux · 11-01-2011, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Does it look bad to colleges?

Well yeah, what kind of idiot takes Algebra I in the 9th grade? What the hell do you study in middle school, if you're not doing algebra?

Where I went to high school, the lowest-tier students took geometry...but even there you have to wonder what they were doing before eighth grade. Middle school really is an "intellectual wasteland."

smwhtslghtlydzed · 11-01-2011, 09:53 PM

I can't tell if the above user is being serious, but in any case just ignore that. At some schools most 9th graders do take geo, but at many schools algebra 1 is the norm. It would probably look better to be a year ahead, but they're hardly going to hold it against you for being in the normal sequence, especially if you're in honors courses in other subjects.

UFOninja · 11-02-2011, 07:10 AM

It's no big deal, the majority of people take Algebra I in 9th grade. Seriously, it's totally normal. When I entered high school, I went straight into Algebra II. I was the only freshman in the class, and I believe there were maybe 2-3 sophomores. The majority of people were juniors, meaning they would have taken Algebra I as a freshman and geometry as a sophomore. So yeah, it's pretty normal; I wouldn't stress about it if I were you

P.S. Before you go cramming during the summer, please remember that you will end up completing much higher math during high school if you go into Algebra II next year. This can be a good or bad thing depending on your situation; if you plan on doing something with math (like engineering) I'm sure that AP Calc. will really pay off. If you totally suck at math (especially word problems) and you have no choice but to take calc. your senior year, it might be best to stick with Geometry next year.

PreppyDude123 · 11-02-2011, 07:20 AM

@UFOninja, I was gonna start doing Geometry online next semester along with Algebra 1 at school. It's a 32 week course so I should be done by the start of summer in June. I can slow it down or speed it up, I can work at my own pace. I do not intend on doing anything with math, but I don't suck at it. I'm just more of a social-science/humanities type of person.

honestysux · 11-02-2011, 04:48 PM

Average people take Algebra I in 9th grade. Good schools don't take average people.

Just kidding. Or am I?

rucar12 · 11-02-2011, 06:14 PM

yes dude just drop out and get your GED, or go to online school

are you serious? I took algebra 1 in 9th grade, still didnt stop harvard/mit from sending me letters or me getting a 2390 on the SAT.