<p>I am a sophmore in high school, and have run into a problem with my math class. Over the summer I taught myself AB Calc so I would be with a "better" group of students and not have to just show up every day to get the high A. I talked to the math teachers and the guidance counselor at the end of last year and they said that it would not be a problem. After two weeks of school, I was called to the guidance office and was told that the principals were kicking me out of BC Calc and putting me in AB Calc since I did not have an official AB credit. I asked for an idependent study, but they would not approve that either. The BC teacher said he would give me the work so I can take the AP BC exam at the end of the year, regardless of whether I was in his class or not. </p>
<p>So my questions: will not having AB or BC calc on my transcript hurt my chances of admission into MIT or other comperable school? Would it be worthwhile to drop AB Calc and take Problems and Statistics, since I have to take an official math credit? </p>
<p>Either way, I will be doing BC Calc as my gifted independent study (I will probably take Calc III for the 2nd semester, since it should not take a whole year to learn the material (probably around 30-35hrs per class))and will take the AP BC test at the end of the year, but the class will not show up on my transcipt. Will the AP test, assuming that I get a 4 or 5, "count" as taking/understanding the class? Is there a way to test out of math classes at MIT or comperable school?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I cannot take a class at a college due to time constaints and not being allowed to leave school early for it. Next year though, I will probably be taking my science (chem and physics) and math classes at Penn State Harrisburg.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice</p>
<p>You can include courses you studied independently on your MIT app. Many MIT applicants self-study for classes/AP tests their schools don't offer (or offer only with significant red tape), so this is a pretty normal thing.</p>
<p>It is possible to test out of classes at MIT, either via a score of 5 on certain</a> AP tests or by taking an advanced</a> standing exam.</p>
<p>Would the independent studies carry the same weight in admissions as an offical class with a grade? I know the local colleges where I will be taking math and science next year do not care if I have the credits at all as long as I can pass the required class's final. Unfortunately, if I complete both calc II and III this year, I will have trouble finding local college classes to take as there are not usually enough students to justify a calc III or higher class. </p>
<p>Would it look bad if I take AB Calc and get a 99 or 100 the same year that I do an independent study on calc II and III? The principals at my school will not let me just take and independent study, so I have to take AB Calc (AP) or Prob and Stat (this is a low level class, but one that I have not done). Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I am considering early admission after my junior year. But if I do not get accepted early due to my low SAT verbal score 620 (will retake this year-hopefully a 700), what would be a good course of action for my senior year? I do not want to apply to an easier school and then have to apply to MIT as a transfer student unless absolutely necessary. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>There is a place on the application where you can explain why you needed to take the various independent study courses -- MIT will emphatically not hold it against you that your high school kept you from taking the courses you wanted to take. Each applicant is evaluated "in context", and that includes the context of the classes your school permitted you to take.</p>
<p>I guess I just don't see the problem with taking an independent study -- many MIT applicants do formal independent studies (through their schools or through distance-learning programs like EPGY) or informal independent studies (such as teaching themselves using MIT's OCW). The admissions office is quite used to seeing independent studies on applications, and as far as I know, it's a good thing -- it shows that you were passionate enough about a given class to take it on your own.</p>