I’m in the IB Diploma Program at my school in GA and I’m in Math Studies SL right now. I’ve already taken Pre-Calculus, but my teacher did not recommend me for anything other than On-Level Calc or IB Math Studies since I had a low A (she required 95). The teacher for On-level calc is a total nut job this year and my friends in it are not doing well, and I’m not super strong in Math at all.
I really want to go to GA Tech, but my best friend in AB/BC and taking GA TECH DL next year is telling me that I have to take Calc to even get a chance at GT.
So, my only options next year are On-Level Calculus and AP Stat. What should I do?? Otherwise, I have a 4.07 GPA right now and will get it up to a 4.4 this year… I do a lot of clubs, I take two foreign languages, and I may be in the Governor’s Honors Program if I make it through interviews in French.
The only other option is to change to On-Level Calc this year and take IB Math SL next year…
If you are not super strong in math at all, why are you seemingly two grade levels ahead (completed precalculus in 10th grade)?
Calculus AB is a slower gentler introduction to calculus than calculus BC or calculus in college, so you may want to take that. If you remain in IB math, then IB math SL or HL (not math studies SL) would be a better choice if you need to take more math in college.
If you don’t like math, why are you interested in GTech? It’s super math intensive, not just the math classes but any class that can have a quantitative slant.
You do need IB Math SL (not math studies) for GTech but I don’t think GTech would be the right school for you based on what you said of your profile.
Do you live in Georgia?
If you read gt admissions profile 95% of students they accepted had calculus in high school. Furthermore because your hs offers calculus and you chose not to take the most advanced math when your classmates did its an uphill battle.
Do not take AP Stats as a math class. Find a calculus class for certain. AP Stats is not a college class and not accepted for credit at most colleges. A few weaker schools will take it but most will not. What do you want to major in? I see a lot of Georgia kids want to go to Georgia Tech because its better than other public options in your state. Georgia Tech offers an an architecture program, Computer Media, a business college, international studies and other liberal arts majors at Georgia Tech, but be careful about math requirements. I know premeds at Tech who got into the best public medical school in Georgia, so thats another path for Tech students. Not every student is a math wonk, but many majors require problem sets for all four years, so beware what you choose as a major!
IB Math SL is less calculus than AB Calculus. BC Calculus is a whole year of college calculus, and AB is one semester of calculus. IB Math SL is trig, advanced algebra, and some single variable calculus, its more of a math survey class, but it is harder than IB math studies, as I understand it. AB Calculus might be OK for you, if you study hard and get a tutor. That would prepare you better for what you will need to take in college, if you want to be an engineering major. Again, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you take AP Stats. Its a worthless class, that is not going to prepare you for college, its just a very beginning class that does not even scratch the surface of probability and statistics. You might as well use Khan Academy to learn Stats, rather than the AP Stats class.
I got waitlisted at GT last spring. It didn’t work out like I wanted and the freshman class filled up but look at it this way: I got waitlisted at Tech and my highest high school math was precal. They could’ve just denied me, but they held onto me for awhile instead.
AP Calc isn’t really as vital as everyone makes it out to be. I understand that it’s definitely a huge plus and if I did have it I may have gotten accepted for real, but it’s still an overrated piece to the average GT app. Blast through those extracurriculars and find someone who knows you well for a recommendation! Try to differentiate yourself from the masses!
It depends on your major and the highest math offered at your school. Needless to say 95% of last years class had calculus in high school. So while there are obvious exceptions to the rule if you want to go to tech take calculus if you have the opportunity.
I’m taking AP Calc next year. The AB teacher gave me a packet to prep for the class over the summer so I won’t crash the first semester. A lot of people in IBMSL are taking AP stat next year and I really didn’t want to go that route. Thanks for the comments.
For years I have advised students to take calculus in their senior year, or just review using Khan Academy, MIT Open Course 18.01 or Coursera on line, the summer before college. That review will literally save you a lot of agonizing catch up work, at GaTech. The on line classes are no credit and include tests. The MIT 18.01 is a great way to review calculus, as it covers topics that are beyond BC Calculus just like GaTech does, so you will be really well prepared for Calculus 2 or 3, if you review using on line classes. They are a great way to review and learn during your 12th grade year as well, especially if your calculus teacher in high school seems weak. Just watch the math lectures at night, on Khan or MIT Open Course.
I just got accepted EA about a month ago (32 ACT, 3.75 gpa, instate female) and never took any calculus. Took pre-calc last year and AP Statistics this year. It’s possible!
@jwbbb7 Over the summer, you should take Khan Academy calculus to prepare for calculus 1 at GaTech. The reason its tough to get introduced to calculus at GaTech, as you will have many other tough classes in freshman year to contend with, as well as trying to learn calculus for the first time. Students who have taken calculus already are at an advantage to you, so be sure to catch up with your peers, by reviewing calculus before you get to college.
Use this website and work through at least Calculus AB, or do Calculus BC. You will then be familiar
with the concepts and be able to pass freshman year at GaTech. Its not going to be easy for you at all,
as physics assumes you know this material. Almost every other student has already taken calculus at least once,
if not twice in high school.
AP Stats will not help you very much. Please review mathematics with Khan Academy.
If you are planning a non mathematical major, you may be able to get away with not doing this, but study your intended major requirement about mathematics. If you want to study CS, EE, Mechanical engineering, physics, or industrial engineering, which is largely operations research, you will need to bone up on calculus right now.
There are a lot of college drop outs. If you don’t want to be one of them, start right now to learn calculus.
You should be co enrolled in your senior year. Yes, they let you in, but will you be able to complete a degree, remains to be seen. Sorry to seem so negative, but calculus is key to most of the classes you may take, and you have no idea
if you even like it, let alone can do it. Try it now, to be sure what you are getting into.
@jwbbb7 : congratulations! that’s awesome and it shows both your work ethics and potential. So, now, you have to step up and… take calculus on your own. Basically, intro to calc at GTech is a calculus class on steroids that’s hard even for kids who too calculus in HS. You MUST start studying for it. Start with Calculus AB on Khan Academy, then in the summer go to the OCW class on MIT’s website and work through as many lessons as you can, as GTech’s class will be similar (but with a killer curve). You got in: you CAN do this!! Congratulations again (Gtech is seriously hard to get into.)
@jwbbb7 And Congratulations and welcome to the GaTech family. Aerospace is another very mathematical major at GaTech. Don’t panic, but do start to watch lectures on calculus and borrow a textbook if your high school offers any calculus class. Read it and try to do the problem sets on your own. Ask the high school calculus teacher
to help you, also. You can also maybe arrange to sit in on some calculus classes for the spring, its late, but you may
absorb some of the concepts, even jumping in in the middle of the class. Don’t waste your senior year, with no really hard math class, just get cracking on it. At GaTech you have to learn to learn on your own, but there is support.
Congratulations again (Gtech is seriously hard to get into.)