I am currently a sophomore, in a high school in Minnesota, enrolled in AP Calculus BC, due to my advanced self-study during the summer vacations. However, I learned that there is a program by the UMN for students gifted with math: the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Math Program, or UMTYMP. It is a fairly well-recognized and reputed program that awards college credit up to Multivariable Calculus to high school students, who are generally sophomores or juniors. Since, I relocated from NJ this year, the UMTYMP program manager is willing to let me enroll in calc 2 next year.
But, I also learned about another program: PSEO, which is also offered by the UMN. I am confused as to which option I should go for. Both options would include me studying Linear Algebra/Diff Eqn and Multivariable in my junior and senior year. I am kinda skeptical about this, because the professors for PSEO may not be that good, and it may turn out that my multivariable prof is an undergraduate TA, with no teaching experience.
Can someone help me make a decision about my future math course, since I talked to counsellors and scheduling starts in January. I talked to my BC teacher about this, but he does not know it either, since he believes both are very good and it is difficult to choose. I am passionate about math, and want to make my decision carefully.
PSEO is a generic program that allows high school students to take classes at the U. Most freshman classes are available and the classes are taught by the regular profs/TAs of the U. Tuition is covered by the Department of Education.
UMTYMP is a specialized program for gifted high school math students. Classes are taught at UMTC from 4-6 pm once a week. Calculus is taught by profs who are experienced in teaching high school students.
My kids did not do UMTYMP because the schedule is really inflexible. I believe Thursday afternoon after school hours are the hours they meet and if those don’t work for you, too bad so sad. It says that those kids participate in extra curricular activies and I’m sure that they do, but it certainly limits your options. My kids do pretty focused music, theater, dance, etc and the schedule doesn’t work for us at all. I do suspect the support is better for this and you have to be mature and self motivated for PSEO.
In terms of PSEO and math, make sure wherever you do PSEO will allow you to continue with your math sequence. My kid is doing math online separate of PSEO he started because they wanted him to go back to college algebra. The U of MN would have let him start at Calc with his ACT score. Anyway - I think PSEO may be easier to schedule in terms of options if you are planning on doing PSEO in other subjects anyway depending on where you are looking at. I think either could be a good quality option and I don’t think either would be better or worse on a college app.
ETA - I would check out PSEO for programs you are interested in. My kid is a junior and has only taken 2 PSEO classes so far but had excellent professors with PhD’s that were readily available. He got to know either to the point that they would be a good reference letter for college apps. That experience may not be the same at all PSEO options. Including the U of MN. Both my husband and I graduated from the college of science and engineering and those lowest calc classes can be real weeder classes.
I wanted to clarify what bouders said. PSEO is not just available at the University of Minnesota. It is available at many schools including many community colleges, Hamline, Bethel, Macalester, Metro State, MacNally-Smith School of Music, etc. There are outstate options too.
My kid is having a great PSEO experience at a high quality community college AA program with PhD holding teachers who are in many cases also teaching at another college or University in the twin cities area. You just need to check out programs individually. The U of MN is not your only PSEO option and possibly not your best option if you want to do math or science with better access to a qualified teacher.