Hi, I graduated in May of 2015 and am currently applying to colleges while I am in my gap year. I have taken Algebra 1, 2, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus (All honors) but am worried since I have not taken Calculus and am applying to a major that weighs heavily on math (Computer Science). My grades are pretty good in math (3.7 UW, 4.2 W, Ranked 8/450) and my math ACT isn’t too bad 30, with a 31 composite. So how much will not having taken Calculus in High School hurt me? I am applying to top 30 colleges like Emory and WUSTL…
The course map for CS at most schools begins with calculus 1.
To check your knowledge of high school math needed to be ready for calculus 1, you can try these tests:
http://www.math.buffalo.edu/rur/rurci3.cgi
http://math.tntech.edu/e-math/placement/
https://math.berkeley.edu/courses/choosing/placement-exam
If there are any specific areas that you do not do well in, you may want to review them before you start college.
Emory is not the strongest school in terms of CS offerings. Here is a list of CS offerings at various smaller schools:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18866045/#Comment_18866045
@ucbalumnus I am prepared for taking Calculus 1 in college, just wondering if not taking it in high school will hurt me with admissions. And I know Emory isn’t the strongest in terms of CS, but I plan to do pre-law and therefore I do not want too rigorous of a major undergrad.
You may want to reconsider being a CS major. Regardless not taking calculus won’t hurt you per se. How challenging your overall course load is will factor into admissions.
If you want to go into patent law from a CS background, you may want to choose either an ABET-accredited CS major, or include course work specified in http://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/OED_GRB.pdf (section III).
http://lawschoolnumbers.com can show you how GPA and LSAT affects law school admission. It also has suggestions at http://lawschoolnumbers.com/application-prep/ugraduate .
@SaintSaens I am really good with computers and have even made a few programs, but if I find it too difficult to maintain a 3.5+ I will probably consider changing majors. It is a good alternative though as I enjoy it and the job outlook is great. Plus high pay and a chance to make it rich. My course load is filled with Pre-AP, AP, and Honors so hopefully that will combat the lack of Calculus…
@ucbalumnus I do not want to go into patent law, it seems boring. If I go to Law school then I would most likely go into criminal law. I took an LSAT with no prep whatsoever and got in the 90th percentile, so as long as I can get a decent GPA in CS I should be good.
Since you’re on a gap year, you should plan to study calculus with Khan Academy and MIT’s OCW program next semester.
So basically it should be fine