High School Academics

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toboldlygo

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Oct 22, 2018
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Hi everyone! I'm back with another question about academics this time.

Background: I'm currently a freshman in high school (I'll graduate in 2022). For high school, I transferred to a really competitive high school (in Silicon Valley no less). I've done my best to adjust quickly, and I had a 3.8 GPA first semester.

However, I am really struggling in my math class, Geometry Honors. I am doing better now because I have gotten a math tutor, but I still have a C+ in the class currently. I might end up with a B- in the class because I am improving a lot now and I still have a test + final left, but I am still worried about the effect my grade will have on my STEM GPA and my regular GPA.

Does anyone have any advice about my situation? I don't know whether to retake the course during the summer, because I understand all the concepts, but my teacher says that I make a lot of dumb mistakes on tests, which isn't helping my grade much.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all so much.
 
Onward and upward - maybe look ahead at the next math course and work ahead. Learn as much of the material as you can before the class starts?
 
toboldlygo said:
Hi everyone! I'm back with another question about academics this time.

Background: I'm currently a freshman in high school (I'll graduate in 2022). For high school, I transferred to a really competitive high school (in Silicon Valley no less). I've done my best to adjust quickly, and I had a 3.8 GPA first semester.

However, I am really struggling in my math class, Geometry Honors. I am doing better now because I have gotten a math tutor, but I still have a C+ in the class currently. I might end up with a B- in the class because I am improving a lot now and I still have a test + final left, but I am still worried about the effect my grade will have on my STEM GPA and my regular GPA.

Does anyone have any advice about my situation? I don't know whether to retake the course during the summer, because I understand all the concepts, but my teacher says that I make a lot of dumb mistakes on tests, which isn't helping my grade much.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all so much.
Click to expand...

JMPO, but I would not worry about a single B- on your transcript as long as the grades in your sophomore, junior, and senior years are good and show upward progression. However, if you understand the material but are continuing to make "dumb" mistakes on the tests; you may want to spend some time reviewing your testing skills - you'll continue to fight an uphill battle if you don't figure out strategies to help minimize the "dumb" mistake syndrome.
 
My DS is also a freshman in H.S. His grades are good overall but also has like a B- in one class, an AP class they gave him as a freshman (I don't think at first he had adjusted to high school.) I always tell him "don't worry about the past, worry about the present and future, which you can do something about." You have PLENTY of time to get those grades up.

Also, in my experience, Geometry is not necessarily indicative of a student's math ability in general. I was a C+/B- student in math but, for some strange reason, I was an idiot savant at geometry and never got a problem wrong. I also know people, that are generally pretty good at math, but just don't get geometry. Again, don't worry about Geometry. Concentrate on your future courses. (Also, I don't think Geometry is the basis for any higher math -- math guys, correct me if I am wrong - - so now you are done with Geometry. Focus on Trig. and Calculous)
 
My DS got a C his freshman year in a competitive school he transferred into and it gave him the incentive to push harder the following years. It was an opportunity to explain how he grew from there during interviews. He is headed to the USAFA.
 
FMHS-79 said:
toboldlygo said:
Hi everyone! I'm back with another question about academics this time.

Background: I'm currently a freshman in high school (I'll graduate in 2022). For high school, I transferred to a really competitive high school (in Silicon Valley no less). I've done my best to adjust quickly, and I had a 3.8 GPA first semester.

However, I am really struggling in my math class, Geometry Honors. I am doing better now because I have gotten a math tutor, but I still have a C+ in the class currently. I might end up with a B- in the class because I am improving a lot now and I still have a test + final left, but I am still worried about the effect my grade will have on my STEM GPA and my regular GPA.

Does anyone have any advice about my situation? I don't know whether to retake the course during the summer, because I understand all the concepts, but my teacher says that I make a lot of dumb mistakes on tests, which isn't helping my grade much.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all so much.
Click to expand...

JMPO, but I would not worry about a single B- on your transcript as long as the grades in your sophomore, junior, and senior years are good and show upward progression. However, if you understand the material but are continuing to make "dumb" mistakes on the tests; you may want to spend some time reviewing your testing skills - you'll continue to fight an uphill battle if you don't figure out strategies to help minimize the "dumb" mistake syndrome.
Click to expand...
Yeah I definitely need to work on checking my work, so I'm working with my tutor on basic problems that I might mess up on.
 
GaitherDad said:
My DS is also a freshman in H.S. His grades are good overall but also has like a B- in one class, an AP class they gave him as a freshman (I don't think at first he had adjusted to high school.) I always tell him "don't worry about the past, worry about the present and future, which you can do something about." You have PLENTY of time to get those grades up.

Also, in my experience, Geometry is not necessarily indicative of a student's math ability in general. I was a C+/B- student in math but, for some strange reason, I was an idiot savant at geometry and never got a problem wrong. I also know people, that are generally pretty good at math, but just don't get geometry. Again, don't worry about Geometry. Concentrate on your future courses. (Also, I don't think Geometry is the basis for any higher math -- math guys, correct me if I am wrong - - so now you are done with Geometry. Focus on Trig. and Calculous)
Click to expand...
That's really reassuring, thanks for the reply. I used to consider myself "good at math" since I took Algebra 2 in 8th grade (I did geometry over the summer, so I didn't need to go so in depth into the subject), but once I got into a "real" geometry course I've been doubting my math skills a lot. I know I'll work a lot harder next year.
 
dah19 said:
My DS got a C his freshman year in a competitive school he transferred into and it gave him the incentive to push harder the following years. It was an opportunity to explain how he grew from there during interviews. He is headed to the USAFA.
Click to expand...
Congratulations to your son!
 
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