How important is Multi variable Calculus and Linear Algebra in 12 th grade for a girl

Perhaps that is what the interviewer expected, but that is not what CMU says on its web site:

https://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/academic-requirements

No division (including SCS, CoE, and MCS) requires calculus. They list stuff like:

Which apparently suggests that the expectation is that the student takes the highest math readily available (but hard minimum of precalculus, not calculus). Of course, that may not be very helpful to the OP’s daughter, who finds more advanced math available, but rather inconvenient in terms of commuting logistics and interfering with other academic course selections.

Good point, and thank you for clarifying.

I’d do history, FL, and stats. It is good for a STEM kid to be exposed to statistics in case they decide to go into Data Science. I also believe in prioritizing high school level classes (including AP/IB) over college classes while still in high school.

There’s the public speak, often designed to welcome, rather than exclude. But then there’s the reality of the fierce competition, when choosing this kid over that one.

And stem kids who do DE are often driven in that direction, fulfilling math-sci interests. Nothing says they have to stick with the hs curriculum when it limits them. But they do need the acadrmic rounding the top colleges expect at this level.

Since we know so little about OP’s D, we can’t begin to offer comparative advice. She has some highlights, but that’s all we know.

Daughter is already taking AP foreign language and AP English in 11th grade, she was allowed to excel in those subjects too. technically with AP foreign language she has completed the four years requirements, but not in history. Even though she was recommended for AP Us History, due to scheduling conflict and double period requirements, she cold not take AP US history and therefore she choose to take an Honors History class.

School offers one course in Foreign language that is beyond AP foreign language, I guess when we meet counselor will ask his input too. So far despite my daughter being in a public school, her counselor has been very helpful source and have helped daughter since junior high when she was allowed to excel in multiple fields. We owe lot of her success to him as he has been very helpful and understanding gentleman.

If she is in AP foreign language now, are there any higher levels available that she could take in that language? If not, then the schedule issues regarding foreign language may not be important.

You do say repeatedly to check what highly selective colleges actually write when determining one’s fit and match for them in making application lists and writing applications. Why distrust them in this particular case of expectations of academic preparation?

As discussed in another thread, post-calculus math while in high school is not the norm even in super-selective colleges.

It should also depend on whether or not your student will get any credit for the extra math classes at the institutions she will apply for. She may end up having to repeat those classes in college.

UCB, my comment was in response to your quote. CMU may not" require" past precalc but the competition raises the bar. And that’s about course prep, not the broader “what we look for” beyond stats and rigor.

Sorry, but what is the rush? I never understood why high schoolers tend to take high-level math courses. If she decides to major in math then she’ll be taking some proof based courses the first year. Does she really want to do that? Those courses tend to be time-consuming and very hard. My friend almost failed abstract algebra (I think it was real analysis, not sure) last semster. She can take AP stats. That class will always be applied in any major.

In high school, the highest math course I took was intermediate Algebra. Now I’m about to take calculus 3 at a university. I’m not trying to discourage but think about it. You have to travel to go and take the class. Those hours of driving she could be doing homework or hanging out with friends. You only in high school for four years.

If she’s serious about taking calculus 3 and Linear Algebra, then look at a community college or four-year school. Sometimes they offer those course online only. The only con is that you have to take the final in person.

@anxiousenior1 No, the question should be what is the next logical step in this person’s education. Worrying about whether or not she gets credit is jumping the gun.

No, it’s not. While there is of course “intellectual fulfillment” and these math classes are the “logical next step in this person’s education”, you have to consider the practicality of it, especially with the hours of driving that will add up.

I agree with @anxiousenior1. No need to take courses if they won’t count towards credit for her eventual degree.

I would not suggest Calc 3 online or linear algebra online. Both are difficult and better learned in a lecture class. If the logistics don’t work, stick to high school courses. My D did Calc 3 online because the in person sections didn’t fit with her high school schedule. It was a frustrating experience as the book was just awful. I had to get her a tutor to teach her the material. Next semester she juggled everything to take Differential Equations (linear, like Calc 3 didn’t fit) on campus, and it was a much better experience.

“No need to take courses if they won’t count towards credit for her eventual degree.”

That’s simply not the thinking many of us advocate. Nor is it the attitude top adcoms want to see.

And the fact she’d need a ride to DE classes is no showstopper. (It’s such limited thinking.) How do you think the majority of kids get to DE?

Since OP is only giving dribs of info, not much we can say, efficiently. Eg, if OP now reveals the daughter is in AP foreign lang, now we can tell her that’s enough.

I wasn’t arguing against considering transportation issues; I was arguing against considering getting transferable credit. There are so many credit acceptance policies for incoming freshman it is impossible to guarantee credit. Moreover, more elite schools are generally stingier about awarding outside credits to freshmen yet may offer unique opportunities otherwise.

In my earlier response, I suggested a top provider of online math classes where OP could find challenge without transportation issues.

If she needs a car ride that would make her skip HS classes, is there a possibility for her to take MVC and a foreign language class in the Fall, and Linear Algebra with a History class in the Spring? This way she has all the requirements covered AND advanced classes AND the math she loves… while maximizing campus time v. car ride time.
However if she’s in AP foreign language and doesn’t want to continue, she’s fine. If she wants to continue she can do so either at the HS or at the college.

Spring of senior year for history may not cut it.

But see, OP now says that though APUSH conflicted, she did take honors. That’s fine. But I wish we knew how many history, so far. And which. Then we could better respond.

Some high schools and local colleges arrange for the DE courses to be held at the high school.

Some high schools are conveniently adjacent or very close to a nearby college, so that commuting and scheduling problems are less difficult.

Some high schools and local colleges coordinate scheduling for DE students to be able to take college courses with less schedule interference against high school courses.