Hey everyone! I’m new to CC (this is my first post woohoo!). I’m currently an HS Junior and I’m wondering if a school like UCLA, UCB, or UCSD would admit for a major such as biochemistry without having taken calculus, as I understand this is a very important subject for biochem and the sciences in general. I’m currently planning on taking AP Stats next year, as i feel that need to take another AP class and that I could perform MUCH better in this than in the dreaded AP calc. To lend insight… here are certain stats/facts about me that would also contribute to admissions
Gpa cumulative (next year will be…): 4.5 w, 4.15 (uw)
ACT (best so far, taken it twice): 30
Leadership: soccer team captain both junior and senior year (I also played club soccer up until junior year), Junior Class Vice President, next year I will he ASB President
Jobs: 6 months working at a Dermotology and Laser Clinic (clerical work)
In your HS, do the top students take Calculus? If so , I highly suggest you consider taking the class. It does not have to AP Calc, but getting some background in the subject will make college Calculus much easier.
You are applying to highly competitive schools so you need to present a highly competitive application. You do realize that Senior grades will not be used in admission decisions (only 10-11th) so doing well Senior year will help in maintaining your provisional admission.
Not necessarily… the top students take AP calculus. Regular calc I’ve heard is “a joke” at my school because it’s super easy. I was thinking maybe I could take calculus online somehow over the summer and take AP stats during school. Do you think this would work? Would taking calc vs. non taking calc be that big of a factor in admissions? I mean if they see that I do well in all my math classes wouldn’t they deduce that I’d be okay in college calc? Oh and when I said that’d be my gpa next year I meant end of the year this year … sorry!
@Gumbymom 
Forgot to tag you
@kt1215 - I didn’t take calculus in HS and have degrees in physics and engineering. It can be done.
By the way, how can you have a > 4.0 uw GPA?
@Muad_dib thanks! Tbh I’m not really sure haha. When I go on my HS account that’s what comes up for unweighted gpa. I think it’s because I’ve had a lot of A+ grades over the years
@kt1215 -Ahh, that makes sense.
Almost all majors at almost all colleges have curricula set up so that calculus in high school is not required, but those majors that require calculus assume that your are ready for calculus (i.e. know your algebra, geometry, and trigonometry well).
However, if calculus is available to you (i.e. you complete trigonometry and precalculus by 11th grade, and calculus is offered at your high school), it is best to take calculus if you will apply to highly selective colleges with intent to major in anything that requires calculus. Also note that if AP calculus is AB, it is a slower version of the material found in college calculus, so it may be a more gentle introduction to calculus than calculus in college will be.
@ucbalumnus
Thanks for the advice! I actually just switched my math class next year from calc to AP calc AB and talked with the ap calc teacher, so hopefully it’ll work out. 
Read the UC’s HS course requirements.
Also known as UC “a - g” requirements. Normally the UC bound kids, complete the a - g courses beyond the minimum UC requirements. For example, the minimum lab science requirement might be 2 years, but the competitive UC applicants will complete 3 years of lab sciences (i.e., Bio, Chem and Physics).