<p>Hey I always had this question in my mind and I always ask people that wouldn't give me a straight answer -- hence friends and family people that find doing college stuff in HS rather impressive.</p>
<p>I am an ongoing jr and I have already completed Calc 3 at a state university in my town. I did Calc 1 last summer and this year at school I took Calc BC with AP test (5 on both AB and BC sections)</p>
<p>Anyway I am planning to study something finance/economics related in college, so I am definitely looking at a rather decent school. At the meantime I'd like to continue learning more math -- despite the fact I hate math with a passion but I find some topics rather interesting.</p>
<p>By the way anyone familiar with these majors: what math path should I take? I was thinking linear algebra, since my Calc 3 wouldn't go on a day without saying "oh you won't understand this concept until you learn linear algebra."</p>
<p>-</p>
<p>I am also working with a professor and a graduate student this summer on a rather intricate research project. It's something microbiology related that regards degrading hydrocarbon spills with plant roots. I am going to compete in a somewhat prestigious "science symposium" that our local state college holds every year. I am already receiving a fairly nice amount of cash stipend (they call it "grant") for this.</p>
<p>I think the result of this would be great, and maybe I will also hopefully publish a paper in some science journal. </p>
<p>-</p>
<p>So would these kind of stuff help me getting into good college (heh such a cliche question on this forum, I couldn't phrase it any less cornier)</p>
<p>I am looking into UPenn, Stanford, Harvard. My SATs are definitely going to be above 2200 and my GPA is decent (top 3). I also do varsity sports and volunteer.</p>
<p>-</p>
<p>General progression for math:
- Advanced Single-Variable Calculus: sequences, series, bit of differential equations, power series, convergence tests
- Linear Algebra
- Several-Variable Calculus: Lagrange, multiple integrals, Green's Theorem, Gauss. These things use the concepts of linear algebra.</p>
<p>About whether these things will help you get into college. Well, that's not a very good question, really, because a lot of things will help you get into college. For example, breathing in a way will help you get into college because without it you'd be dead. Furthermore, taking advanced math classes shows that you're interested in the material and that you can take advantage of what your environment offers to pursue your learning. The real question to ask is how much it will help you. It will help, but it probably won't be the thing that'll rush you in. I don't know how much it will help you.</p>
<p>Taking and doing well in a college class while in HS is a lot like taking and doing well in a HS AP class. It's evidence that you're challenging yourself academically and that you're capable of doing work in a rigorous course. By itself it won't stand out, but it will make your overall application a little stronger. How much stronger may depend on the class and the school. In some circumstances it may also evidence a passion for a particular academic area, though in your case it sounds like that's not a fair inference.</p>
<p>The science research sounds a little more interesting and unusual, especially if it leads to your co-authoring a peer-reviewed paper while still in HS. It shows initiative and an academic orientation, and it's very good as an EC of sorts. Again, though, if you were passionate about science it would mean more to adcoms than if it's just something you happen to be doing, perhaps because you're well-connected or because someone told you it would help you get into a good college. </p>
<p>I've gotten the sense from talking to a lot of admissions officers while on a tour of colleges this summer that many of them have grown wary of applicants who are just "checking off boxes," taking on ECs and academic projects that are of no particular inherent interest to them but that someone told them would look good on a college application. They say they want to know who you REALLY are, what your passions are. If you're really passionate about finance and economics, then your academic accomplishments and ECs should reflect that. Arguably advanced math is close enough since it's foundational for some things you might do in finance or economics, though it sounds like the math per se doesn't hit the "sweet spot" of your interests. The science piece sound a bit further removed. I'm sure it won't hurt (except to the extent there's an opportunity cost involved), but it may not help as much as someone may have told you somewhere along the way.</p>