Hi,
I’m a senior planning on going into molecular biology. I wanted to take Calculus BC at my school, but my school did not offer the class this year. I want to apply to Caltech: I have all the scores needed, research experience, blah. I know that Caltech has a VERY strong preference for students who have at least taken BC. Can I supplement this with the single variable calculus course on MIT OpenCourseWare?
Ask your guidance counselor to note that BC calc was not offered your senior year in his/her letter of recommendation. It can’t hurt to supplement the AB curriculum.
If there is a space on the application for extra information, write that you wanted to take Calc BC but that it wasn’t offered this year. This could be a backup to having it mentioned in the LOR.
But do take 18.01 with MIT Open Course, as if you end up at Caltech, I think Caltech assumes BC Calc or 18.01 knowledge so you NEED to get the knowledge before you go to Caltech, or life will be very very difficult. Don’t go there without learning calculus to the BC calculus level. You can use Khan Academy as well to learn calculus.
Anecdotally, a kid from my son’s high is attending Caltech and took calc AB as a senior. Also, calc BC is offered at his high school.
If BC isn’t available at your school- don’t worry. Though, I’d suggest maybe self-study Calc BC AP test to show Caltech you can handle it. But they can’t expect you take a course that isn’t offered…
^^^Don’t take the BC exam to show Caltech you can handle the work – admissions decisions come out well before any exam results. If you feel adequately prepared to take the BC exam you can do so for the purpose of getting college credit.
http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/content/academic-preparation-requirements says that Caltech requires “4 years of math (including calculus)” for frosh admission, but does not specify BC over AB.
If you are concerned that an admission reader may wonder why you did not take the most advanced math course supposedly available at your school, ask your counselor to note the non-offering of calculus BC in the year you would have taken it.
Caltech Ma 1a (the usual Caltech frosh math course) “will introduce the mathematical method through (One Variable) Calculus. By the mathematical method, what we primarily mean is the ability to express one’s self with absolute precision, and then to use logical proofs to establish that certain precise statements are universally true. We assume that the Caltech freshman has reasonable familiarity with single variable calculus as a computational system, but we emphasize explaining, or testing, why things work and how to justify one’s propositions.” See http://www.math.caltech.edu/~2014-15/1term/ma001a/#des for more information, including lecture notes.
Caltech is AMAZING. I mean what other college offers the proof version of single variable calculus as the basic class?
Its truly a special place for math kids. Thanks for that explanation @ucbalumnus. I think it will help students understand just how tough Caltech is for the freshman year. But if you make it through, its actually easier in year two, in some ways. The Caltech quarter calendar keeps one very busy as well.
Harvey Mudd’s Math 30G or 30B “Focus on mathematical reasoning, rigor and proof” and assume that the student has had calculus in high school. https://www.hmc.edu/mathematics/program/mathematics-course-descriptions/
Well, not exactly the same, but Reed math courses start with 111 (single variable calculus) followed by 112 (introduction to analysis). Reed considers AP calculus credit (5 on AB or 4 on BC) to be duplication of 111, so it is possible for a Reed frosh with calculus in high school to start in introduction to analysis. https://www.reed.edu/math/courses.html
I don’t know how unusual this practice is in STEM universities. The AP scores acceptable at WPI are 4 or 5. An acceptable score on AB exam covers the first two courses while an acceptable score on the BC exam covers the first three courses.
@“sh.elite” What math are you taking this year? It’s a little unclear because of some of your previous posts.
Calc AB this year supplemented with 18.01 MIT OpenCourseware would be good preparation, and you can note that in the “additional notes” part of your application. If your math teacher has previously taught AP Calc BC, you might ask them about some work on the side so that you will cover all the material.
Over the summer before freshman year, Caltech provides incoming students with an online class called Math 0. It is a good introduction to proofs that prepares students for taking the freshman math sequence at Caltech. Many incoming students do not have much prior experience with proofs.
You can state on your Caltech application that you plan to take the Calc BC test. But, if you do that, Caltech will expect you to actually take the test and send the scores in July. Yes, this is despite the fact that they don’t offer any credit based on AP tests. It’s an Honor Code thing. You’ll need to read up on Caltech’s Honor Code anyway if you are applying, because there is an essay about that.