How Fundamental Is Calculus?

<p>thanks for the advice calmom! I didn't mention that had I been allowed to take Calc, I would have by all means. It just turns out, through a long story that starts from my sophomore year, that I was bumped off the "track" to taking calc in my senior year. Also, maybe I didn't make it clear, but again, I simply was not at the right math level to take calc; it just wasn't allowed, so it wasn't my choice or anything NOT to take it.</p>

<p>It's just that my not taking Calc in comparison to other seniors (im still not sure on whether colleges compare you to your classmates?) would seem to me a bit negative, but not "Fatal" or anything. </p>

<p>Of course there are kids who get into HYPMS without having taking calculus, but in my mind, when the "best and the brightest" get into those schools, I myself personally assume many, but not all of them, have taken the hardest and highest-level courses, calculus being one of them (if their school has it). Again, I don't know if HYPMS and other schools compare you to your peers from the same school, but if they do, then my not taking calc will hurt me somewhat. </p>

<p>Btw, it's great that your daughter got to do the things she really loved and cared about, and didn't try to manipulate her schedule so that it would please the admins. Off the subject, i didn't know there was an AP Russian. I thought the AP Russian program was supposed to come out in a year or two ?</p>

<p>My daughter was in one of the classes that is piloting the AP Russian course and exam, so she took an "AP Russian" exam in the spring at the same time as other AP's, but the exam was not administered by College Board and there was no fee. I believe the exam was administered by AATSEEL (American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages) and my d. has yet to hear what her score on the exam was. The exam is also unique as it was done by computer, and there were some serious server problems that took placed during the exam, although apparently it did not affect my daughter -- but others at her school had problems sustaining a connection. So there may be technical issues that delayed or invalidated the test results. In any case, it is unlikely that the College Board will certify this exam as official, but the class did show up as "AP Russian" on my d's transcript, and I'm sure her high school weighted the course grade. </p>

<p>As to your situation: the colleges DO look at what your high school offers, and if there are others from your high school who have stronger transcripts, who also apply to HPMS -- then you may not fare as well, simply because the colleges aren't going to take that many from a single high school. Also, your school g.c. can't very well write that every single student is the 'best and the brightest' so on a purely academic measure, the kids who have the tougher courses are going to end up with better recs. </p>

<p>But you can't do anything to change that, which is why I say its best to focus on your strengths. My d. was waitlisted at a couple of colleges that were actually less selective than the colleges which admitted her, so it is very possible that they were looking at weaknesses in her transcript. </p>

<p>But of course my daughter also had good safety schools to apply to! Try to look beyond the Ivies. I think if you are true to yourself in terms of the colleges you pick, then you will do much better than if you are trying to fit yourself into a mold of what you think the colleges are looking for. It is important to make sure the application explains any perceived deficiencies in your record, but at the same time the primary focus should be on your strong points.</p>

<p>"I don't know about CalTech, but Harvey Mudd doesn't require calculus."</p>

<p>Incorrect. On HMC's admissions website it clearly states that Calculus is required:</p>

<p>"Before enrolling at HMC, students must have completed yearlong high school courses in Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics. A semester long college course may substitute for the high school course"</p>

<p><a href="http://www.hmc.edu/admin/admission/faq_prospective.html#courses%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hmc.edu/admin/admission/faq_prospective.html#courses&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>If you really want to understand statistics you are going to need calculus first. Any statistics involving continuous data (real numbers) almost certainly at some level involves probability density functions, which are defined in terms of integrals. Doing very basic things like calculating the mean or variance of a continuous random variable involves integrals. If you take a statistics course that doesn't require calculus, be prepared for a lot of hand waving and magic formulas. Really you'll be learning applications of statistics not the theory of statistics itself. Whether that matters for law school or your career, I don't know, but if you are actually interested in the subject it's something to consider.</p>

<p>thanks calmom, i'll try to focus on the good things!</p>

<p>My son also was not able to take Calc in HS due to way other math classes and courses worked out. He got into UVA (early admission) which is highly rated by everybody (US News & World Report lists it as second best public school; Newsweek deemed it a "new Ivy" ; and even Washington Monthly's iconoclastic rankings had it as # 20 in nation) although it's not HYP. </p>

<p>As for law school, I do not know of a single accredited one that requires it.<br>
Statistics will be handy for anything - especially evaluating signficance of statistical evidence at trials independently of your experts . Bottom line:
If you are worried about it, talk with your guidance counselor as most colleges have an evaluation form for him/her to fill out that asks whether your courses were hard/medium/easy for your school as well as space to explain why Calc was not in the cards for you.
GOOD LUCK</p>

<p>Calc is probably not necessary; I'll agree with those who favor taking stats instead.</p>

<p>Just remember, one of the main purposes of a math class is to teach you how to think logically and solve complex problems. This is especially true if your intended field does not require mathematics. So just make sure you're getting that out of your math classes.</p>

<p>Steven Sample, President of the University of Southern California, believes that all educated people should be fluent in 2 lanuages - English and calculus. His rationale is:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Those fluent in English can communicate clearly and coherently about literature and the arts and humanities. Those who speak calculus can learn practically any science or technology with relative ease

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I only have the words in print so I do not have a web reference.</p>

<p>Guess us old baby boomers who never had calculus or even needed it (not once in 33 years of litigation), will have to start considering taking CSL:Calculus as a Second Language in retirement. :)</p>