For the past following month of September, I have gone through an AP Stats course, as planned from what I wanted in my senior year schedule . From this past June of 2015, my high school is now providing students with a gateway to AP Statistics (if they didn’t want to take Precalculus) after completing Algebra 2. One of these students was me, for I did not plan to take Precalculus in my senior year (I have taken Algebra 1 in freshman year, Geometry in sophomore year, and Algebra 2 in junior year). I decided to take AP Statistics this year because many of my friends who already took the course spoke highly of the teacher who taught it, which was great, due to the fact most of my high school math teachers are either lazy or just do not teach the students at all. The other reason why I wanted to take AP Stats is because I am planning to major in Liberal Studies/Elementary Education and receive my teaching credential after or do both in a combined program, so precalculus is not really “mandatory” for me, especially the fact it is another rigorous math course.
However, so many seniors decided to take the same road as me to AP Stats, that another teacher was added to teach the course. Sadly, I have gotten this teacher with a lot of my other classmates, for this teacher showed a great impression in the first week of school, but after 2 weeks, she has shown many lazy attitudes, does not try to teach or explain thoroughly to the class on the concepts, and grades horribly on quizzes/tests especially on group quizzes (she doesn’t randomize the groups well either). I have gotten through so many of such AP and honors teachers like her, that I do not want to suffer and worry through my last year of high school due to her unorganization and personal complaints. I have dropped this course this week for this Friday would be the last day to drop a course without penalty (colleges that I will apply will not see). I have thought about this decision personally, for I did not want my parents to be involved. Now that I have dropped AP Stats (as several many other students did as well due to the similar issue), I have thought about what colleges like about students completing the “3 year but 4 years recommended of math.” I am worried if colleges will not like the fact that I did not take a math course in my senior year.
I have told my parents the decision I have made with dropping AP Stats and my mom is very disappointed and mad at this decision (they do look at my perspective and reason but since they are my parents, they wanted to know ahead of what I was going to do). My mom thinks I no longer have hope on getting accepted to a college due to the fact I am going to complete high school with only 3 years of math with Algebra 2 as my last math course. Please help!! (I am applying to many Universities of California <except for="" berkeley,="" san="" diego,="" and="" l.a.="">; Cal State Universities; and University of Oregon; I am a California resident).
Geometry + algebra 2 are the minimum math requirements for frosh admission to UC and CSU, although UC admissions readers will likely be more impressed by completion of higher levels of math.
In any case, many campuses have quantitative reasoning or similar graduation requirements, so you may have to take a math, statistics, logic, or math-based science course in college. You may also have to take a math placement test before enrolling in a math or statistics course, which may result in having to take one or more lower level courses before you can take one that fulfills the graduation requirement.
Yes, it might have some impact on your application. I understand why your parents are upset. I would be too. Have you talked to your guidance counselor (GC) about how this will impact his or her rating of your transcript in their letter of recommendation to colleges? GCs are expected to rate the academic rigor of your transcript compared to what the school offers and what other students at your school take. Schools want to see the ‘most rigorous’ academic schedule checked off. If dropping AT Stat means you aren’t getting the ‘most rigorous’ rating for your academic transcript, it might be an issue. Ask him/her how dropping AP Stat impacts your ‘rigor’ and how the UCs would view this.
You have four options today (I assume it’s this Friday that you have to add or drop classes): One is to stick with AP Stats and realize that you are going to have to teach yourself most of the material (assuming you can’t rearrange your schedule and get the better teacher.) That’s not an unusual situation for many students with a poor teacher in a subject they need to take. The second is to take the pre-calc course so you get that 4th year and a better teacher. Another option (and you would need more time to research this than you have) is to take math or stats online - Stanford and Johns Hopkins both offer reputable courses that are self-paced. Not cheap but some school districts and colleges accept completion of these on-line courses for credit. (My D did this when she couldn’t fit calc into her schedule senior year.) Or, fourth, you don’t take the class, deal with your folks disappointment, and take the consequences (whatever your GC says they will be.)
For top schools, it will be a black mark but, not insurmountable. I know a student who took a no math Sr year and was admitted to UCD, UCI and is attending Santa Clara now.
Your large block paragraph was a tough read. Perhaps you hid a GPA and SAT/ACT in there - but, i couldn’t find it
UCs do not use counselor recommendations or reports. However, an admissions reader will likely notice that the OP’s math selection (stopping after algebra 2, with or without AP statistics, even though precalculus is available) fits a common profile of a student who fears math.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Paragraphs are your friend; I have paragraphed the OP to help make reading easier.
To answer your question, not taking math is not an insurmountable obstacle, however, I would refrain from laying the blame on your teacher; nobody will buy into that argument.
I do know that taking a math class is important, however taking precalculus or AP Stats would have no impact on my major, for I really look forward to taking a liberal studies/elementary education or education in reading/literacy major, but would it still impact it even though I am taking AP classes currently that are related to my interested major?? I do slightly regret my decision for I have stopped at Alg. 2.
Here’s the thing: when colleges put together a listing of required/recommended subjects for HS preparation, they are doing so with the goal of having candidates who will be the best academically prepared at their university. They do no care that an applicant prefers X over Y. Colleges do not expect, and in many cases do not want, applicants to be specialists in HS.
Will your application automatically be rejected? No. Will you be at a disadvantage in the admissions process? Probably, and no amount of rephrasing the question will change that.
It is not about taking only classes that will be important to your major in college. After all, you have college for that. But it is demonstrating that you are a well rounded person, who takes “academic risks” and who challenges himself. Clearly, regardless of your major, stopping your math curriculum at Year 3, and with Algebra 2 at that, is not sending the right message to the admission officers. While it is not a deal breaker for all, it will be a deal breaker for some, and it will put you at a disadvantage for others. If you can help it, why would you like to put yourself in that situation?
I’ll give you a similar, real-world, example. My daughter took Honors Algebra 2 in 9th grade; took; Honors Pre-Calc in her 10th grade; currently taking AP Cal BC in her 11th grade. She desperately wanted to take AP Stats in her senior year because she felt she exceeded the math requirements already, and she wanted Psychology/Cognitive Science as a major (and Stats was more important rather than even higher level calculus). Her guidance counselor discouraged her highly from carrying out this plan and told her that if she does not take Honors Multivariable Calculus, she is sending the wrong signal…that she was not challenging herself enough, and that she was “coasting in her last year”. She told her that the elite schools will see through this and it will put herself at a disadvantage.
So, while my daughter is in a slightly different situation, you are both in a similar in a certain way. It is about sending the right message to the admissions officers. It is about showing them your love of learning, your fearless attitude, and that you are not a slacker. It is not about the subject matter per se…
If your depiction is true then life is handing you an opportunity. Many students put the responsibility for their learning on the teacher. And we can debate whether this is “right” or not. But step back and look at the bigger picture. A lot of people essentially outsource responsibility for not just school but for their life, doing what they’re told but that’s it. They expect teachers and profs to own whether they learn or not, in college they expect by satisfying the degree requirements they’re lined up for a good job or grad school, in the workforce they expect raises and promotions for doing what they’re asked by the boss. And then they’re surprised that others get good grades with lousy teachers, pull ahead of them in the job hunt because they had college internships or get into top grad schools because they have great recs, end up on the fast-track at work by figuring out what others who get ahead have done.
So what can you do? Start by owning your grade in Stats. Your teacher is a resource but you own the learning. Lousy resource? Well, there’s Khan Academy, free iTunesU videos, Coursera, to name a few. There are workbooks where you can practice such as “Statistics Problem Solver.” There are websites with forums devoted to AP classes. You can set up a study group with friends from your classes. And more ideas you can think of, I’m sure.
You are applying to UCs, which are large publics. Truth be told, it is going to be up to you at a UC to get to know some profs for good recs, to visit the career center to find out about internships, to visit TAs with questions about the material, and so on. If you expect someone else to pave the way and deliver the outcomes you want from college its no more likely to happen than in your Stat class. Starting this year to take ownership of your future is the best thing you can do; you may end up thankful this teacher prodded you into doing it!