The problem is that a student who is in Algebra II at a self-described “low funding” high school has not really had the opportunity to assess whether he is “good at” higher math. Testing his “chops” by jumping into a faster-paced DE sequence is a high risk proposition, because if it doesn’t go well, it will remain permanently as part of both his high school and college transcripts/GPA. This isn’t a student who has aced every class without breaking a sweat and demonstrably needs more challenge. The high school offers AP precalc. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I agree that there’s a lot of overlap in program strength, between CSU’s and UC’s. That’s why the question of which would work better financially is important. For full-pay students, CSU’s are the more economical option, but that isn’t necessarily true for students with high financial need.
Well, risky yes. But I think we agree OP is “low stat” for LA or UCB. Unless he takes a chance and demonstrate he is capable of something above and beyond a 3.6, his chance will be very very low.
Also for DE/CC classes, you have 2 weeks to drop if he realizes he is over his head. Up to 8 week to with draw with a W and while looks bad, does not compute into GPA. In most cases CC classes are free to CA high school students. He isn’t taking a financial risk here by going CC. The rewards on the other hand is much greater. The question really is: what can he do in the next 4 months that will increase his chance?
Plus, like I said in my original post: start with trigonometry over summer. If he can’t do well there, then he will not do well at UCLA or UCB.
I like to think OP is “low stat” but not “low performing.” I like to give him the benefit of doubt.
The context we are missing here is whether the student was asking whether we think UCB/UCLA are good targets for him (as I - and some others have been assuming), or if he was asking how he can get into UCB/UCLA at all costs (which I believe is your interpretation). Either could be what he meant, so we need some more feedback from the OP on this point, in addition to the financial question.
Or, the first two weeks are easy, and then it becomes not-easy.
Keep in mind that the OP has a lot on his plate senior year - college apps, other AP classes, high-commitment EC’s, and a paying job. I’m all for outside-the-box, but we aren’t the ones who have to keep all of the balls in the air. I’m not a believer in pressuring kids to overextend themselves, just to reject the proverbial “box” on principle.
I see where you are coming from. I really do.
But I was also “that kid” who people told me things will be too hard and don’t do it.
Luckily I didn’t listen and later realized:
things are not as hard as they said.
I can do more.
past performance does not always predict future failure or success.
sometimes you just have to make it over that step and move on.
Again, I am guilty of plotting a path without knowing if OP is actually capable of traversing that path, because unlike my own kid, I don’t know OP. But I do believe when there is a will, there is a way. Hopefully, like you said, OP is realistic with his own ability and goals and decides for himself.
Actually, for S24, the first 2 weeks of his Calculus 1 class was the hardest. The professor was purposely trying to weed people out by assigning impossible HM so people will drop. In fact, S24 tried last year and couldn’t stomach the work and dropped after 2 classes. This year, he knew he HAS to made it and plowed tru. It got much easier by week 3, after 1/2 the class disappeared.
That’s fair. I’d just note that it isn’t just about raw ability; it’s also the total amount of time and energy available, and also the amount of support he has. (A lot of us parents underestimate how much we’re doing to prop up our kids’ daily lives, while they are taking on big challenges. And not all kids have that.) The accelerated path you suggest is an option if he’s seeking an intense effort to level-up; but he is already doing a lot to distinguish himself, so I think it’s unfair to portray the AP Precalc path as “settling.” No one person can do everything, and he is doing a lot! I think his future looks bright, no matter what math sequence he chooses over the coming year, and much has already been accomplished by establishing that precalc (in whatever setting he chooses) is a must.
That’s why I agree with you that OP needs to ask himself what is HIS end goal (for the next 12 months) here?
I mean if his final goal is a degree in Business and a fine paying job, then he can get that at CSUF or LB or Pomona and be fine and happy. My own brother dropped out of UCI and went to CSUF for business after he realized his mistake in choosing a school that was a poor fit for him.
Sometimes picking a school for the wrong reason can be devastating in other ways.