<p>Yes, I am a junior taking Algebra II/Trig. Next year, I will be taking Pre-Calculus and that will be the end of my math courses for high school. How will taking only Pre-Calculus instead of Calculus or AP Calculus effect me for college admissions?</p>
<p>Which colleges are you looking at?</p>
<p>I want to go to a top 20 liberal arts school. I am going to retake my SAT, so hopefully, a top 20 national universities school.</p>
<p>I would say it depends on what you’re replacing that class with. If you’re replacing it with a BS class like foods or something, it would probably be a really bad idea. But if you’re gonna take another equally challenging class, I don’t see the issue with it. It also depends on your major. I’m going to a t20 LAC, and I know people who haven’t taken calc. I even know someone who got into Yale and didn’t take calc.</p>
<p>My Schedule Next Year Is:
Pre-Calculus
Physics
AP European History
AP US Government and Politics
Honors Living Shakespeare
Physical Education
Religion</p>
<p>Intended Major will definitely not be math or science.</p>
<p>I think you’ll be fine, I really do. As long as you keep taking challenging classes in other subjects.</p>
<p>If you are not planning on majoring in anthing that will require much upper level math, you will be fine.</p>
<p>The fact that you’re taking Pre-calculus now probably was determined by your performance in middle school. Since colleges don’t really take into account anything that happens in middle-school, it shouldn’t hurt you, even you are planning on majoring in things that require upper-level math.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, that’s just not true. If you’re only taking up to precalculus in high school, you simply won’t be prepared for a math-intensive major, regardless of why.</p>
<p>You’ll be fine since you’re taking other demanding courses, especially at liberal arts colleges, and as long as your application is solid otherwise. I was accepted to Oberlin and Grinnell without pre-calc.</p>
<p>^I agree that LACs may be more forgiving, since they tend to be more forgiving of statistical blips in general, assuming outstanding personal qualities. </p>
<p>But how does this schedule look in the context of your school? Will your GC still mark off “Most Rigorous Courseload” on your recommendation? Are more advanced classes offered? </p>
<p>And I assume you’re not going into math or science…?</p>
<p>Well now that is the problem: My courseload is only “Very Rigorous” or could even only be “Rigorous” at my school.</p>
<p>Hmm. That could very well be a problem for top schools.</p>
<p>You should be fine. I’m only taking pre-calculus, not honors either, this year (I’m in the 12th grade) and I got into Wesleyan, which is a top 20 liberal arts college. It seems that they will be pretty happy that you’re taking four years of math at all and as long as you do well enough in it, you should be okay. When I asked an admissions officer there about me only taking Algebra II and not doing the best in it as a junior, he told me to take pre-calc as a senior and do as well as I possibly can. I followed his advice. It isn’t like you’re slacking off, and the rest of your classes seem fairly difficult.</p>
<p>Take a precalc course over the summer if you are that worried. I am almost positive there are community college online pre calc courses if you have a busy schedule.</p>