I’m OOS, and a sophomore currently. I’m taking Geometry this year, not honors, and pulling an A-. I have a 3.83 GPA, but math has never been my strongest subject. Do I have a shot at LSA for political science, or is my math going to hinder me?
As someone who is going to umich this fall, who didn’t take AP Calc(due to bad teachers) who is planning a double major in bio/math, I can confirm that you’re okay. However, I’m in state. As long as the rest of your courses are challenging, you should be fine
Thanks. Are there any specific classes that could help me or EC’s?
No AP class is required. All majors will lay out a plan which does not assume you have received any AP credit.
Math is crucial for engineering but not so much for LSA. Try to bring up your GPA thoigh. UMich considers GPA and course rigor to be most important.
billcsho…depends on what program in LSA. Remember that S is for Science. MANY LSA majors have strong math requirements. In fact…getting credit for AP Calc is harder in LSA than in the College of Engineering. CoE takes 4’s, and the LSA takes only 5’s for AP Calc credit.
Mathematics as a major…is LSA.
Physics, Chemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, MicroBiology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biomolecular Science…are all LSA majors.
Math is a HUGE part of some LSA majors.
Just sayin’
Granted…a political science major might be able to skate without stong Calc…but saying Math isn’t crucial at LSA…is terribly inaccurate for many of its majors.
@MaryGJ - I don’t believe the CoE and LSA credits are that different. Both only accept 5s for AB calc, and both give some credit for a 4 on BC and more credit for a 5. If the LSA student is going on to take more math, additional credit is awarded upon completion - making the credits awarded in LSA the exact same as CoE for the same score. See https://admissions.umich.edu/apply/freshmen-applicants/ap-ib-credit.
@MomOf2TeenGirls The AP credit policy for certain subjects are different between CoE and LSA. AP Calc is one of them. In general, the CoE has much better AP credit policy than LSA. In LSA, AP Calc would only get you half credits until you take the next level and received a C or above.
@billcsho - Agreed that the policies are different per the web page I linked. But in CoE most (all?) majors require taking the next level math and all CoE students must obtain a C in every math class prior to declaring their major. In LSA, math and many physical and biological sciences also require additional levels. If the LSA student gets a C at this level (as is required in CoE), they get the same credits. So I still think the AP math credits CoE and math/science LSA students end up with are pretty much the same. LSA students in majors NOT requiring advanced math do get less credit.
@MomOf2TeenGirls Indeed, vast majority of majors in LSA do not require higher than Calc 2. So only for those who take the next level Calc in LSA may get the AP credit like CoE. For most students in LSA, it is different. Nevertheless, they keep changing the AP credit (and transfer credit) policy.
MomOf2…I just reviewed the guidelines and they’ve changed since my daughter’s been in. When she was a freshman, CoE was taking 4’s on AP Calc AB for credit, and LSA was taking only 5’s. (I remember this being an irritation, because my kiddo wanted to start with Calc Two, and would have at other schools, including, ironically, UMich’s school of engineering.)
I see that they both require 5’s now.
As it turned out, it was probably a good thing LSA required her to start with Calc one, since Calc at Michigan is pretty challenging. Was an easier, better way to start Freshman year rather than trying to tackle Calc two…when organic chem was also on her plate.