<pre><code>* 4 years of math (including calculus)
* 1 year of physics and 1 year of chemistry
* 3 years of English (4 years recommended)
* 1 year of U.S. history/government (waived for international students)"
</code></pre>
<p>Does this mean that you have to do physics and chemistry, (I will be doing physics, but not chemistry). I am not lacking in science classes though, I will have completed Biology, Biology AP, ROP Biotechnology, and Physics before I graduate.</p>
<p>Also, will having a low math level hurt my application?
I will have taken Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II/Trig, and Precalculus by the time I graduate.
So no calculus... will this hurt me?</p>
<p>well it means you need to have taken physics and chemistry by the time you graduate.<br>
Doesn’t the math requirement also say “4 years of math including calculus”? I think that means in order for your application to be even considered, you need to have taken calculus by the time you graduate.</p>
<p>I would strongly recommend taking calculus before coming here, or else you’ll probably get absolutely wrecked. Caltech core requires that you take 5 physics and 2 chem courses, and the chem courses you take assume you’ve completed AP chemistry. I think not having calculus and chemistry will hurt you a lot, as Caltech admissions seems to put a lot of weight on whether or not an applicant can survive Caltech core requirements.</p>
<p>Also as a heads up, we don’t offer biomedical engineering as a major.</p>
<p>I’m not a student at Caltech (nor will I be) but I know a lot about it. I really don’t see how you will be admitted without taking calculus and chemistry. Not only does it seem to be a “prerequisite” of sorts for admission, but not many of the other top math/engineering schools will admit you without calculus as well (based on what I’ve seen, all the students that get into the top engineering or math programs have at least taken calculus).</p>
<p>When it says 4 years of math, does that mean 4 years in high school? I have only taken 3 years of math in high school (Precalculus, BC Calculus, and Multivariable Calculus with Differential Equations). My high school does not offer any more math courses. Should I take math at community college?</p>
<p>Not to jack your thread, but I have a related question. What if someone’s school doesn’t offer AP Physics? At my school, the highest level of physics is Pre-AP.</p>
<p>I think Caltech would be flexible with someone like you that is clearly qualified (not that I’m saying you would definitely get in). Linear Algebra as a senior would help though.</p>
<p>If you took the intro physics course, that would suffice. It says 1 year of physics, not 1 year of AP physics. And since your school profile that your GC submits contains AP classes offered at your school (right?) than Caltech will know that you couldn’t take AP physics. Again though, it might be beneficial to independent study (not entirely difficult- this was what I basically did, because I learned next to nothing IN class) AP physics material and take the AP test or take a course at a local college.</p>
<p>You cannot get a degree in biomedical engineering at Tech. However, next year will be the first year where bioengineering is offered as an undergraduate major. There are several different tracks within the major, so anyone interested should take a lot at the department website (be.caltech.edu) and see if their particular interests are represented. The major will likely evolve a lot in the next few years though. It’s a broad field. </p>
<p>No calculus will probably kill you. I really do not mean to sound negative or discouraging, but you need prior knowledge of calculus to get through core. I cannot speak from experience since I placed out of Ma 1 (Tech’s first year math sequence: one variable calculus, linear algebra, and multivariable calculus), but all of my friends with relatively weak math backgrounds (mediocre AP Calculus at public high schools) struggled through Ma 1a. Even my friends with strong backgrounds who could have placed out struggled. Tech mashes all of the regular two term single variable calculus into one 10 week term and then adds proofs. You would not want to take that class if you had never taken calculus before. It would be Hell. </p>
<p>My honest advice to you is not to apply to Caltech. It’s very unlikely that you would be admitted because it’s hard to say how you would fare in core, which admissions is very concerned about. If you are serious about majoring in engineering though, I would highly recommend looking at your nearest community college offerings. At CCs and 4-year universities, precalculus is a one semester course. You could take it (and maybe chemistry as well) in the Summer II session or in the fall and then take a semester or two of calculus before college. It would definitely improve your application to engineering schools and would bore you less than the standard math sequence. Also calculus is fun. =) Good luck in your college search!</p>