<p>I hav been going back and forth about what math class I should take my senior year. I really want to take the steps to becoming a physician. unfortunately, I am not the worlds beth math student. I am a B student with an occasional,in math. Is it alright if I take college Algebra instead of calculus. I keep reading that it is important to take calculus while in high school, but I don't want to ruin my GPA over it. What to do?</p>
<p>It's better to take calc in HS, get a poor grade and then retake calc in college and get an A. A knock to your college GPA is a way bigger deal than your HS GPA.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that if I do poorly in any class my senior year, I will mose the full scholarship that I have</p>
<p>Well then you have bigger, more short term issues than college coursework and getting into medical school. Just realize that you will eventually have to take calc as it's required by a sizable number of medical schools. Generally the advice on this board has been to take a semester of calc and a semester of stats in college to make sure the math requirements are filled at the vast majority of medical schools, though there are several which require 2 semesters of calc (no one knows why).</p>
<p>if you're doing poorly in math, why become a doctor? use your sense!!</p>
<p>Most highly selective colleges wont even admit you without calculus, my daughter had to take an on-line math class in the summer between 10th and 11th to make sure she had room for it in her senior year. Getting a C in calculus will look better than an A in Algebra.</p>
<p>I don't do poorly in math i get a's and b's as final grades. I say I do poorly in that I don't get all a's. Furthermore, becoming a doctor is more than math, senses or not. I can overcome that stumbling block if I want it bad enough. I think I must stress that it is not a regular algebra class. While it is not at the level of calculus it is just a step below. Its more than a regular high school math class. I would likely do fine in calculus I just worry about it. From the horror stories I've heard about 2nd semester who wouldn't? Thanks for your ideas, helpful or not.</p>
<p>and just for the record, the reason I don't get a's in math is becasue I don't get enough time to study because I have to work so much; my family's poor another reason I am afarid of losing any scholarship opportunity I may get.</p>
<p>Stargirl90.....uhhhh......you make no sense.</p>
<p>I have an add on question, if you don't mind:</p>
<p>I was thinking the exact thing. I'm an upcoming Senior and chose to take AP Stats instead of AP Calc. Math isn't my best subject either :P</p>
<p>I heard college Calc is easier then AP Calc in High School. Is this true?</p>
<p>You see, I'm not good in math, so I don't think that I'll score high on the AP Calc Exam...so what's the point of taking AP Calc in HS, right, if I'm just going to have to take it in college again anyways?</p>
<p>...or is there? I'm very confused. Help!</p>
<p>ap calc is indeed harder than basic college calc
also: my advice is to take calc in highschool
u say u get b's in regular math courses, well calc is a bit different u might like it better.
for the past 2 years (freshman and sophomore) i hadnt lost a single point on any assessment in math, then junior year i took calc and found it much differnt way of thinking. so i did a bit worse, (still got an honors grade)
take calc, if its that much of a pain or threat, can u stil drop down to ur algebra course?</p>
<p>CryingIvy, if u take ap calc in highschool, and take it again in college, you will absolutely DOMINATE ur class and earn an easy A+. imagine taking a course you took sophomore year...again...knowing what you know now! youd demolish it. ok im exaggerating, but you see what im sayin :-)</p>
<p>MONEYINDABANK05:</p>
<p>Taking AP Calc in high school and getting an A (I took AB and BC, got 4's on both AP exams) is absolutely NO guarentee of "dominating ur class" in college. I got two B+'s for Calc II and III. Did those two B+'s sink my GPA? No - I still got into medical school - but I had to work my butt off for those B+'s.</p>
<p>nick da man 08, Do not afraid to take AP Calc. If you are OK with Algebra, it is an easy class and more fun. It was very easy A for my D. She did not spend much time on homework, nowhere close to what she spent on AP Literature or AP Am. History (these are killers). AP Calc exam was easy. She is pre-med starting college in a fall, 2007. You will need Calc in college and in High School Physics any way. Kids who did not have Calc had toughest time in my D. high school Physics class.</p>