<p>Steve- is that MA for the state? Many things were and are are different regionally. AP courses were popular on the east coast first, then spread to the midwest. In my day some schools did and some did not offer calculus- even in good school districts in a state with good public education.</p>
<p>Yeah, ha-ha, I was tested as a youngster and registered in the “gifted” zone on an IQ test, but we were only required to take two years of math in high school, so I stopped at geometry. I have no clue whether my high school offered calculus or not. Let’s just say that public education in Tucson in the 70s was pretty lame. (Or maybe I was lame…or maybe both)</p>
<p>wis75=no-I am in the Midwest, went to high school in the Midwest too. We did not have AP anything back then though. We just had “honors” classes and took CLEP tests in college to test out of various subjects. Since I had enough math in high school and wasn’t in a math related major in college, I was exempt from math in college, for example. Worked out to be the same as AP.</p>
<p>IJustDrive-St. Olaf is 3200 students and with Carleton just across town, the college life there feels a lot bigger.</p>
<p>She’s only a sophomore… it may be a bit early to really know about preferences of major (math vs engineering vs other) and college type. It’s doesn’t hurt to get sampler advise and assurances that there are ways to study math an indulge music passions too. </p>
<p>At this point my advise is for the student to sign up for the PSAT exams this fall. (They won’t count until junior year, but it will be a good way to assess SAT potential… and perhaps plan for some self-study next summer if close to the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff scores).</p>
<p>First, I agree with those who suggest it is really too early to start choosing schools to consider. A lot can happen in the next couple of years. And kids don’t always even follow the path of their talents: they also have to have interest and drive. Many students change their ideas of what they want to do, throughout high school and the first half of college. I would tell my friend to relax and let the daughter continue to explore her interests for another year before talking about college. </p>
<p>“talented in math and loves music…” This description really doesn’t give enough information, particularly about the interest in music. Is this girl training on a particular instrument, practicing many hours a day, playing in ensembles or orchestra, studying theory, etc? My hunch is no, but the description of her interest may just be purposefully vague.</p>
<p>If she is probably not headed to conservatory, there are countless schools she can attend and do music as an extracurricular, take some academic music classes as an elective or minor, and study privately. I suggest the book “Creative Colleges,” available online, which has lists and descriptions of all kinds of colleges, universities, conservatories and music schools with a variety of programs for the BA or BM, or for anyone else who wants to study music.</p>
<p>If she does want a double degree, Tufts, Oberlin and Bard have well-known programs for a BA/BM, and Harvard has a program with New England Conservatory for a BA/MM. MIT has a great music department, but no degree in music, I believe. Johns Hopkins/Peabody, Rice, Rochester/Eastman, maybe Vanderbilt, would have double degree opportunities.</p>
<p>Here is a good essay on the differences between double major and double degree and info on how to do music in a variety of ways while in college: [Peabody</a> Institute - Conservatory Admissions: The Double Degree Dilemma](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree]Peabody”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree)</p>
<p>Many, many schools will also offer a BA in music, which is usually an academic rather than performance degree (there are exceptions), and traditionally includes theory/aural training, music history, musicology, ethnomusicology, technology in music and composition. A BA major in music and a major in math could possibly be combined as a double major ( I don’t know how tough this is logistically); a BM generally would mean a double degree with a BS in math, and would mean an extra year at school.</p>
<p>Many students who love music don’t do anything formally in college, but participate in extracurricular music, take lessons or even perform in the community. In that case, they can go almost anywhere as long as there are decent opportunities for those activities.</p>
<p>If the parent can cover the landscape for math, in a broad manner, and put that together with a broad landscape for music (if relevant), then the parent will be ready to guide the daughter…in a year’s time! I think kids who are considered gifted in an area sometimes feel a little more pressured than other students, so all the more reason to keep things relaxed about the future, unless the student is demanding it herself.</p>
<p>And there are 3 more years to play music and see where that goes, too! Or maybe act in a play, take a sport, play chess, write for the paper, hang with friends, volunteer in a hospital, etc. etc…</p>