<p>I’ve heard that at a lot of top-level schools, it’s a requirement (or practically a requirement) for an individual to have taken math through Calculus to be competitive. Well, I’m really not good at math. At all. I’m decent at algebra, but my school only offers AP calculus and I doubt I’d survive that class. To make matters worse, to take AP calc at my school you have to go through the honors math program Junior year (which I’m about to start), which I’m afraid would drag down my GPA what with all of the other APs I’m taking and whatnot.</p>
<p>So, since Brown is my first choice, I thought I’d ask you guys. I mean, I don’t intend to major in anything remotely related to math, so is it really necessary for me? Is it necessary for anyone? I mean, I’m not horrible at math - I could probably do okay in the class. However, it could mean a GPA of, say, 3.6 instead of 3.9.</p>
<p>The whole requirement thing sounds like bull to me. Just to give you some perspective, look how many introductory calculus classes Brown is offering this semester: </p>
<p>It’s the most popular math class. Anyway, I firmly believe that calculus should not be taken until college anyway because high school teachers are inept at teaching it. And the subject, taught properly (with proofs and all that), isn’t appropriate for most high school students. They don’t have the maturity to study it yet. It’s really a class that should be taught by a good professor. </p>
<p>I think you <em>should</em> take some math beyond your standard precalc simply because it’s a useful thing to do and it teaches you to think in new ways. But, given how much anxiety it seems to be causing you I’d say maybe wait until college.</p>
<p>The fact is that calculus is typical for applicants to selective schools. Those applicants will have taken the most rigorous schedules possible and this includes getting to calculus. So you will have a weaker schedule than your fellow applicants. It doesn’t matter what your major is intended. Brown doesn’t admit based on your major anyway, it can change. Fact is that applicants to the top schools usually have a strong schedule and a strong gpa.</p>
<p>For some students applying to some schools it might be good advice to take slightly easier courses and have a higher GPA. However, at schools like Brown schedule difficulty is a major factor and nearly all applicants will have both a rigorous course schedule and high grades.</p>
<p>It is generally not a good idea applying to Brown level schools without having gone through the typical, rigorous schedule path available. Calculus becomes a virtual requirement less because of content and more because in virtually all high schools being a top student means taking calculus.</p>
<p>I have had adcoms tell me directly that a weakness on particular applicants “not getting in” was “no calculus” (presumptively offered at those students’ schools.) I think the gist of advise here is that if calculus is offered at your school, and you don’t think you can hack it with at least a high B/ low A (and if that is your only non A grade, that might not be so bad for Brown if everything else looks great) then you will definitely be a weaker candidate. Then you need to be realistically looking at schools that are a bit more likely for admission, and maybe with some help with a counselor, deciding if an A in a lower level math class will be better for you than B’s or lower in Calc for admission to those schools.</p>
<p>I agree with all this advice. However, I’ll add that if an applicant offers something Brown really wants (oh, like a quarterback with a great arm), the lack of calculus will be overlooked.</p>