Skipping a Few Years in Math

Lima
Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:23:52 +0000

I don’t think you really want to hear what I have to say, as you seem to disagree with everyone who has given you similar advice, but you did ask a question, so.

I think this would be a very bad idea, and I’m not saying you’re not a brilliant math student. Do you have the time to devote to this? Aren’t you getting a job this summer and don’t you have EC’s now? If we’re talking about college, they’ll be more impressed with these things than with an accelerated maths schedule.

Also, a lot of these topics require, more than active time studying, time to sit and “digest” or “commune” or whatever. If you cram everything in to six months, then you might be skimming over some topics that could A) be really interesting, if you took the time to examine them or B) be important later. (Additionally, in my silly, Romantic opinion, a true math lover should savor the problems and the concepts and use them as a springboard for new ideas rather than guzzling them down like a glutton)

Also, if you’re so capable of this, why weren’t you on an advanced maths track before? Did this idea just come to you? If not, it would have served you MUCH better to do geometry last summer and precalc this summer. The fact that you didn’t do this seems like this may be an impulsive decision, which are generally speaking, not good.

Finally, are you sure you can do all this without a teacher? This is a lot of math you want to “self study”, not just the few chapters that seperates BC calc from AB. Do you have anyone who could tutor you if you need assistance (a family member, a friendly teacher, etc)? I think you’ll need it. Textbooks can be a b**** to figure out. (I assume you’re using your school’s standard text for these courses, no? And following the teacher’s general syllabus?)

Just my two cents. If you do decide to do it, do it for yourself and because you NEED to learn math and couldn’t live without it, not because it’ll put you ahead for college or because you want to compete with somebody. You’ll be more willing to do the work if you’re self-motivated.