<p>Hi everyone-
You've been so helpful before so I'm back for more advice. I got a 29 on my first try ACT and will be taking it again in April. My college counselor suggested I must have AP calculus for engineering schools. Please keep in mind I go to a small school in Manhattan that only offers 4 AP classes. I'm currently in one (not math or science). My grades in math and science have never been below 92. I'll be taking pre-calculus next year, getting 95-100 this year in math and physics and did the same in chemistry. </p>
<p>My question to you is if I need to take calculus during the summer as she suggested. I have plans to do other things (some academic, some travel) and wonder if it's necessary to drop my plans to take calculus in order to get into AP calculus next fall at school. Please keep in mind I'm reading college websites that state pre-calc is a pre-req, which I'll have completed. I'm really torn as to what do do. Spending the summer taking a class is still no guarantee and I'll be giving up what I consider a rewarding summer in order to do so. </p>
<p>Is it that important that I take an AP calculus class next year? As stated I'm doing great in the classes I have. Unfortunately my school is small and compared to others on this site who have been taking AP/honors classes since 9th grade I don't compare but it's what my school offers. I've been looking at RPI, Univ of Del, Lafayette, Lehigh, McGill, and others. My GPA so far is an 89 and ACT 29, until April when it should go to at least a 30, really expecting a little higher. </p>
<p>If I understand you correctly, you are in precalculus as a junior, so you should be able to take calculus (presumably AP) as a senior. What exactly is the problem? Or do you mean to say that there is no calculus course in your high school, or they offer only a course that covers less than the AB syllabus?</p>
<p>In any case, only a few colleges actually require entering freshmen to have taken calculus in high school. You have to be ready for calculus in college at the minimum as an engineering major. Being able to start in a more advanced course than first semester freshman calculus does give you a bit more schedule flexibility, though.</p>
<p>What kind of cost constraints and financial aid situation do you have?</p>
<p>As a New York resident, shouldn’t SUNYs like Stony Brook be under consideration?</p>
<p>Sorry if I wasn’t clear. I will be in pre-cal next yr as a sr. Stoneybrook is definitely on my list-it just seems like everyone wants ST and I’m looking at all options.</p>
<p>You don’t need to take AP calc to be admitted to engineering programs… it just all depends on your schools environment. So if you excell everything your school has to offer you can make it :). i think many engineering schools would love to have you!</p>
<p>I’m just wondering if I must take calculus before college. I realize many kids do but it isn’t always an option. My counselor made it seem like I must. $$ an option. Hoping for some aid.</p>
<p>It’s not a must. But many people do since that’s just the way it is lol. Like people who tend to be good in math and science tend to take much more advanced classes and do engineering.</p>
<p>I do think it is important to take Calc (not necessarily AP, though) before getting to college if you want to be an engineering major. You will find very, very few people in college engineering programs who did not take Calc in high school. You don’t want to be struggling with it when you get there.</p>
<p>Could you self-study pre-calc this summer and still stick with your plan? Use something like The Art of Problem Solving pre-calc book? Although if your school offers regular calc (not AP calc), you might consider that next year if you are self-studing pre-calc. Just to allow for any gaps.</p>
<p>The answer is generally no, unless college is Caltech, Harvey Mudd, or engineering at WUStL.</p>
<p>However, at the minimum, you must have a strong knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, so that you are ready for calculus when you get to college.</p>
<p>Depends on which college you want to goto. Top colleges look for applicants with a lot of AP classes and stuff but colleges like University of Delaware don’t. It will help you a lot if you take AP Calculus but I don’t think it will break your application for those colleges…29 ACT is good enough for University of Delaware. I am pretty sure you will get in…</p>
<p>I would strongly consider taking some kind of calc (even if it isn’t ap) next year. My S didn’t take calc in HS and when he took calc as part of his business program he had a very tough time – it sounded like virtually everyone in the class had calc before and it was review for them while it was all new material for him. He spent a lot of time at the university math center and made it through and did OK but it was a very difficult semester because he always felt like he was working from behind. I’d imagine that most engineering students would have some level of calc in HS so you would likely be in the same position if you don’t get some background in the subject before college.</p>
<p>Thank you Xtreme and happy. It’s nice to hear what others (probably much more experienced) have to say. It is really appreciated! I will be taking pre-calc next year and feel I’ll be ready for calc freshman year. I’m hoping to get my ACT over 30. My concern was lack of AP classes which unfortunately is somewhat out of my control. I see people starting in 9th grade and get freaked out. My school is competitive and the course work is hard, it’s just really small and AP courses are not offered like they seem to be at other schools. There are no honors classes. I will take your advise intparent. Thanks again all!</p>