High school can be a tumultuous time for many students: social life, new learning environments, and suddenly being in a large group of students can be overwhelming. You have to adjust to new timetables, new friends, new pressures, and all the stresses that come with adolescence and self-discovery.
One of the bigger but less glamorous choices we must make in high school is whether or not we take academic or applied math courses. You will likely need some math credit to fulfill the requirement for a secondary school diploma in high school. It’s a decision that many students must make, sometimes as early as grade 8, depending on the province you are in. Being so young and making a decision about something as major as your academic pathway is not easy.
Choosing the right pathways in secondary school is important to your future. Make sure you understand the differences between academic and applied math.
If you have a child in high school or entering grade 9, you are probably wondering how to support them in making the right decisions. You likely want to make sure they have options in the future that will lead to prosperity and financial stability. This is why it’s so important to understand the difference between applied and academic classes and how to help your child choose the right one.
Making the wrong decision can lead to a lot of options being closed off in college or university. For example, to get into a mathematics program for your undergraduate degree, you will need to take the appropriate Calculus and Vectors courses. Some college programs in applied mathematics do not have a secondary school prerequisite, though you might want to have taken some applied or academic courses to ensure you are as prepared as possible. At the very least, most programs will require you to have a secondary school diploma, with which you will likely have to take a math course to obtain.
Applied courses are typically developed for students that are looking to either work directly after high school or attend community college programs. They are usually more hands-on, use real world examples, and focus on the fundamentals of a subject. Academic courses in high school are for students heading toward a university degree pathway, and are typically more theoretical and abstract in terms of content. Depending on your province, specific academic high school courses are required for admission, or an equivalent if you are coming from another province or country.
There are some good reasons to take applied math in high school. You might be surprised!
Who is Applied Math For?
The decision to take an applied or academic math course will depend on a number of factors that include the student’s academic goals, career aspirations, learning skills, and educational background.
Let’s say you are a grade 8 or 9 student that loves reading and analyzing literature. Your goal is to become a journalist or a freelance writer, and want to study English literature in university. Historically, your performance in math has been average to below average, though your Language Arts and History classes have gotten you your best grades. You might choose to take a combination of applied math courses and academic English and History classes to fulfil your secondary school diploma requirements. Why applied math? Frankly, you won’t need a specific math requirement to get into an arts or journalism program, and to be quite frank you probably wouldn’t be as successful in calculus. It makes more sense to focus on building foundational math skills so you can focus on getting high grades in courses more relevant to your post secondary goals.
The same might go if you are looking to enrol in a course in a community college. Many college programs do not require academic math, so if you simply want the math credit to get your diploma without the stress of learning topics like logarithmic vectors or derivatives, applied math may be the right way to go.
Applied math will focus on mathematical thinking and reasoning for everyday life and the workplace, like budgeting and calculating interest. The applied math curriculum will focus on subjects like data management, trigonometry, geometry, and essential algorithms and operations. You will have the math skills you need for home and work, and are more certain to walk away with a passing grade and credit.
Should you realize later that you do need the academic math credit, there are options you can pursue though it might take you longer to achieve your long term goals. You can take academic upgrading courses in college and some universities, or return to adult night or day school to get your secondary school credit.
Academic math has its pros and cons. Choosing academic math can lead to so many postsecondary programs and careers.
Academic Math
Those considering academic math courses likely know that it will be a more challenging class that will require more commitment and studying to get a higher grade. Academic math courses are designed for students who are looking to get into a university degree with a math prerequisite, like calculus. Universities will usually consider the grade you get in the course, so you will work hard to ensure your grades are competitive. In academic math, the focus is more on theoretical and abstract concepts that might be used to problem solve complex situations.
Let’s say you are a grade 8 or 9 student with an ambition to get into an engineering program. You would likely take academic math and English so that you have the baseline requirements to apply, and take some electives in a subject you enjoy, such as visual art or music. The same would go if you want to take a Mathematics major in university.
Students that take academic math may choose to take applied courses in other subjects they need to get a credit in to graduate, though they may choose to take all academic subjects if they prefer the challenge.
Which Math Class Should I Take?
If you are unsure about which math class to take, start by thinking about what your long term goals are and work backwards. Make a list of degrees or programs you might want to take later, visit the websites of universities that offer those programs, and find out what prerequisites are required. Once you know the prerequisites, you can easily choose which math courses will be best for you.
Many students in high school may be completely unsure of what they want to do after its done. For these students, it can be worth it to invest time job shadowing professionals in the areas you are considering, or simply learning what postsecondary programs and careers connect with their passions. If you know you can be successful in an academic math course - just take it - at the very least it will open up options for you that won’t be there otherwise.
If math has always been a subject you struggle to understand, you might want to start in an applied level course so you can have foundational skills and get what you need to graduate high school. Worried that you will lose options after high school, or have to come back after you graduate to take math? In many provinces, there will exist a course that will help you transition to an academic class.
Of course, students can always make an appointment with your school guidance counselor to make the right decision. Guidance counselors have a thorough understanding of high school pathways for students, and can help you weigh your options. Students and their families should not be afraid to ask for help from school staff and to advocate for their needs and goals.
There’s a lot you should know about academic and applied math classes before choosing your courses in high school. Make an informed choice about the math classes you take!
Will Math Tutoring Help Me to Be Successful in Math Class?
If you’re worried that you will have a hard time in the math class you choose, or simply want to get a grade that will strengthen an application to university, you will want to consider hiring a tutor. Sites like Superprof have listings for math tutors all over Canada, and likely plenty of tutors in your province that will have a good understanding of the secondary or high school math curriculum. Simply search for a “math tutor near me” in Google and you will surely see some options with Superprof!
On Superprof.ca, you can compare the profiles of hundreds of tutors to see what their areas of specialization are, and what they charge students. It is probably the best site to use when looking for a tutor, as you can easily skim through different profiles to find someone who you think you might work well with. When you and your parents find a tutor that can work with your schedule and budget, collaborate with them to design a program or system that enables you to get the results you want. If you are a fairly strong math student with good learning skills and habits, ask the tutor to enrich your program and give you detailed feedback on your problem solving. Superprof tutors will work with you to design the best services to support your learning needs.
Should you happen to be a student that is struggling in math but wants to get into a postsecondary program with math prerequisites, ask your tutor to create a program that will address any gaps of learning or understanding and to coach you through what you are learning in class at that time. There are literally dozens of ways you can work with a tutor to support your math learning - the best thing to do is identify what your greatest areas of need are, and communicate those ideas with your family and tutor.
Superprof is a great source for math tutors and is used by students all over the world. Tutors love being able to share their knowledge, making it a popular place for the best tutors to list their services for students. You'll also find dozens of useful articles on the subjects you are learning, and tips for how to be a successful student. Superprof tutors are in every province in Canada, so you are sure to find someone who will know your provincial math curriculum.
Should I Hire an Online Math Tutor or an In-Person Math Tutor?
When you are looking for math help, you probably want to make sure you can make all your sessions or that those sessions make the desired impact on your learning. For this reason, you should think about whether you want an online math tutor or someone to meet you or come to your home.
Online math tutoring is increasingly popular and convenient. There are so many great tools tutors can use to teach math virtually, that you may be perfectly happy to work in this format. Online tutoring is convenient, and you will be able to pick from a wider range of tutors from in or outside of your province.
In person math tutoring can also be highly effective if you find you are more productive when working one-on-one with someone else. Students generally benefit from having the examples shown in front of them, and having someone observe their behaviours and reactions to new learning. If this sounds like an option for you - look into it. You may be surprised at how enriching a real-life experience can be, especially if you are spending a lot of time on computers in your other subjects.
Find your online or in person math tutor on Superprof today!
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