<p>Hey all. I am taking Pre-Calculus (traditional) right now. I will finish it by the end of the year. I really do not like math and do not want to take Calc AB AP next year. If I wanted to get into a UC college or any other good universities how would they look at that? If i dropped math after my completion of my sophmore year. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>You need to take 3-4 years of math. Plus, I believe the math2 SAT II is required now. (Anybody?)</p>
<p>If you drop math, your chances at a UC also drop.</p>
<p>I see. Well, in our highschool course planning guide it says that UC's require 3 years of math, and they recommend 4 years of math. It also says that 7th and 8th grade courses for math are acceptable. It implies that the 4th year of math is Pre-Calculus. </p>
<p>Even though I still have done my 4 years of math, do you think colleges (especially UC Berkeley) will look down upon it?</p>
<p>I don't really want to go on to Calc AB AP. =/</p>
<p>Any other ideas?</p>
<p>They won't instantly throw you to the reject pile, but it cause them to wonder why you didn't take it. Most of the students who apply from your school will probably have taken advanced mathematics. I know how you feel- I didn't want to take calc, but I did, and at times it was pretty bad, but I think it paid off. Basically, you're making a bet now, and no one can really predict the outcome. Is your application so strong that you think you can get into Cal without taking much math at all? Isn't there some mathe requirement? If you fulfill that, and think that you're set, and want to take this small risk, then fine. You know that it will probably increase your chances of getting in, but maybe your happiness is more important than that. </p>
<p>What do you want to study in college, and what do you want to do afterward? How many students get into Cal or schools of similar level every year? Are your stats, records, and ECs of similar quality? How about if you take away math?</p>
<p>Well, you have to suck it up. Take the classes you need to take, get the grades you need. Calc AB is just slopes and areas of graphs, it's not difficult.</p>
<p>Hmm... Ah that sucks. </p>
<p>Well about like math requirements etc...</p>
<p>I have taken </p>
<p>Algebra 1 - 7th and 8th grade
Geometry - Summer between 8th and 9th grade
Algebra 2 - 9th grade
Precalculus - 10th grade</p>
<p>I know I do not want to do anything with math in the future like occupation wise. In college I would like to take the smallest amount of math possible. I definitely do not want to major in math. There are about 10 or 11 kids who are in my position and are going on to take Calc AP AB. </p>
<p>In college I want to do something similar to physiology. Or something of that nature. I am not too sure.</p>
<p>Do any of you know what level of mathematics kids stopped at their senior year before going to Cal. Like on average?</p>
<p>My junior course load is the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>AP Chemistry</li>
<li>AP Art History</li>
<li>AP Spanish</li>
<li>AP Psychology</li>
<li>AP Lang. and Composition</li>
<li>US History</li>
</ol>
<p>I would have to take out AP Art History if I took Calc. </p>
<p>On average do people who go to Cal as a freshmen take and finish Calc AB AP? </p>
<p>Thanks everyone.</p>
<p>If you want to go into physiology (even though there's no such major.. the closest majors would probably be physics or integrative biology) or any sort of sciences, you would most likely need a minimum of Math 16A (such is the case for integrative biology), which is similar to Calc AB. </p>
<p>All the Cal-acceptees from my high school for the past 3 years took at least Calc BC, but in general our school's students don't really have an extremely strong application in terms of standardized test scores and AP courseloads. You may be able to "make up" for the lack of Calc AB from those fields, as well as, of course, your extracurricular activities committments and personal statements. </p>
<p>I'm a first-year right now, and most of the people on my floor have taken up to at least Calc AB. Personally, I would take it even if I wasn't confident in math/dislike the subject. My roommate took Calc AB her senior year, and was in Math 32 (which is Pre-Calc) last semester because she isn't too confident about her math skills. I think the application reviewers may want to see some sort of math after Pre-Calc.</p>
<p>Either way, good luck! :)</p>
<p>Take a Calc sequence at a community college.
+ Easier, most colleges have direct equivalency to UCB, thus can be used to fulfill whatever requirements
- Grad schools frown upon cc classes, CC GPA is not included in GPA</p>
<p>This is an old thread, but I think you've technically only taken 2 years of math. Somehow I don't think it counts if you took it in middle school.</p>
<p>My suggestion is to take AP Statistics as a substitution for Calculus BC. It's pretty easy.</p>
<p>^ I took AP stats in place of AP Calc BC because of school budget constraints causing schedule conflicts, and here I am :). AP Stats is also more fun and "more relevant to everyday life."</p>
<p>Also I had the coolest math teacher ever.</p>
<p>Ever.</p>
<p>I would definitely not drop math if you are considering a science major. You could possibly get away with it as a humanities major, but if you are considering any science you should definitely take calculus. Otherwise it looks like you are taking the easy way out, and your high school transcript is the most important factor when applying to colleges.</p>
<p>If you drop math, don't go to a UC period.</p>
<p>u dont want to only reach bear minimum u want to reach for something higher then what a little chart says SO just keep MATH and do it up to senior year like AB OR BC, then u wont even have to worry about Math in college.. If you drop math now u will still take Calc in college unless u get a 4 or 5 on AP tets in AB or BC</p>
<p>do not drop it!!!
that is</p>
<p>i hated calc too ( i took it my sopho and junior yr), but it's really much more bearable than you'd think</p>
<p>drop math soph year---> no uc acceptance</p>
<ol>
<li>Calc AB is really not that difficult. It's some work, but it's not too hard a class by any means.</li>
<li>As stated above, if you don't take math AT LEAST three years during high school, your college chances will suffer.</li>
</ol>
<p>I'm a junior currently in Honors Precalc/CalcA and not exactly enjoying it...</p>
<p>Would it hurt me to take AP Stats next year instead of AP Calc BC?</p>
<p>Alg I taken in 8th grade DOES count for a year of math for admission purposes (but not gpa). Thus, Pre-Calc is considered year #4 in a traditional math sequence (Alg I, Geom, Alg II, Pre-Calc). Thus, you can stop at Pre-Calc if you wish. But, depending on your major, Calc for life science & humanities (econ, and some 'ologoies') students may be required in college -- better to take in HS, IMO. Otherwise, definitely consider AP Stats, which only uses Alg I.</p>
<p>Ejp...It won't hurt you. I took both AP Stats and AP Calc BC, and I'd recommend the first, because it's easier. hehe (My scores tell me the same thing: I got 5 on Stats and 4 in Calc BC.) </p>
<p>Just take AP Stats, unless you need to take calculus at university. If you do, then I recommend you take Calculus, because most students who take calc in college have already in high school, and thus it makes the material easier for them.</p>
<p>i don't know
i took ap calc ab and bc
and am currently taking ap stats- it's a lot easier and i certainly enjoy it
but the general feel of it is- at least at my school, people look down on ap stats as a really easy class
and i can't help but think that colleges might feel that way too</p>