I am currently an 8th grader and I’ve seen multiple people at my school take honors geometry over the summer in order to be in alg 2 as a freshman. Is it beneficial at all? I also have a question regarding the academies. If I were to go on the pre-med path, should I take IB program or Stem academy. The counselors at my school have advised me to take Stem, but many students at the high school mentioned that it’s substandard.
If you take Geometry in grade 9, algebra 2 in grade 10, precalc in grade 11, and calculus in grade 12, you will be fine. That is already an accelerated math track in most places.
Also, in terms of pre-med…the courses you take in high school will have no bearing on your medical school applications UNLESS you apply to BS/MD or BS/DO programs. Is that your plan?
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I think I would take the advice of your school counselors over other students.
Substandard in what way? You need to do the best you can do in high school. This will position you better for college acceptances.
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If you take Geometry in grade 9, algebra 2 in grade 10, precalc in grade 11, and calculus in grade 12, you will be fine. That is already an accelerated math track in most places.
Also, in terms of pre-med…the courses you take in high school will have no bearing on your medical school applications UNLESS you apply to BS/MD or BS/DO programs. Is that your plan?
what are those programs? I’m trying to be a cardio-thoracic surgeon so that might help.
Thank you!
Geometry in 9th grade is already +1 accelerated to reach calculus in 12th grade. Going to +2 accelerated is not likely to be of much benefit unless you have a very strong interest in math and will study math or a closely related subject in college.
It depends on what the details of the IB program (e.g. what subjects are offered SL and HL) and STEM academy (e.g. what does it actually offer different from other options) at your high school are.
As a high school student, if you can take the usual college prep courses, you should be ready for college study in any major:
- 4 years of English
- 4 years of math (or to calculus if you reach calculus earlier than that)
- 4 years of foreign language (or to the highest level available to you)
- 4 years of science (biology, chemistry, physics, plus advanced level elective)
- 4 years of history and social studies
- 1 year of visual or performing art
Consider whether your school’s IB program and STEM academy would allow you to cover the above.
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BA/BS → MD/DO programs are highly competitive programs that frosh applicants to some colleges may apply to. Basically, they offer an express lane to MD/DO admission at a specific medical school associated with the college. Such admission is contingent on later earning a high college GPA (usually high enough to have a realistic chance of admission to MD/DO programs the regular way) and often a high MCAT score. But students in these programs who do meet the GPA and MCAT criteria can then avoid the regular MD/DO program application process (usually a few dozen applications in hopes of being among the ~2/5 who get one admission).
However, as an 8th grader, your interests may change, so it is very early to be thinking about medical school and especially medical specialty (many medical specialties have residencies that are very competitive to get into).
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A cardio thoracic surgery specialty is at the fellowship level. This would be after medical school and after residency. To gain admission to a fellowship program, your residency performance will be most important.
You are most definitely putting the cart before the horse here. You are, what…14 years old? You would even be applying for this fellowship program for 14 or 15 years (3 more years of high school, 8 more years if you do traditional college plus medical school, and a 3-4 year residency. Actually surgical residencies are typically 5-7 years long).
Please just concentrate on getting the best grades possible in high school. This could have the potential to position you for college merit awards for undergrad, and if medical school is in your future, that would be a good thing.
By the way BS/MD and most BS/DO schools have VERY low acceptance rates and are highly competitive.
And BSMD or BSDO programs do not help in getting residencies and fellowships at all. It is, in fact, better to develop broad interests, nurture your intellectual curiosity, artistic, technical, and manual skills, etc. While in HS and college.
(For instance, fine dexterity can be obtained doing work in a forge, learning how to blow glass, crocheting/knitting…)
Why do you want IB HL Math?
How well are you doing in Algebra1 (H?)
What HLs and SLs of interest does your HS offer?
What’s the average score for your school?
What is the STEM academy at your school (at some schools, it’s worth it and at others, it’s not!) And does it offer AP (or AICE) classes?