<p>Okay, I am pretty nervous now. I am a pretty good student with good boards (32 ACT 2150 SAT), and I take challenging classes in all subjects but math. My question is, how much will this hurt me even if I am not planning on majoring in anything involving science/math. I am an incoming senior, and will have taken 4 years of math, but my senior year math will be pre-calc. I had the option of taking AP stat but that would have given me a 4th AP at a very challenging college prep school my senior year and I decided against it. Does taking precalc as a senior (even though I will have taken 4 years of math) going to ruin my chances at schools like Tufts, Colgate, Claremont Mckenna, Amherst, Wash U ect.? Please help, I am freaking out....</p>
<p>is there anything higher than pre-calc offered at your school? if there is, colleges might wonder why you didn't take the hardest courses possible...i really don't think its that big of a deal if you're not majoring in sci/math</p>
<p>yes there are higher math classes available...but I mean the rest of my schedule is all AP's and I have taken 4 years of science including Bio Physics and Chemistry....</p>
<p>Its not the students who choose what classes they are in at my school, it is a prep school with a middle school and whichever math class you are put in 7th grade basically determines what track you are on and you get behind and can never catch up, and they do not allow kids to take two math's or do summer school. So basically in 9th grade they put half the kids in pre-algebra and the other half in algebra and the kids in algebra get to calc the others do not...same goes with all ap's. To get into an AP it is an extensive application process with essays, reccomendations, interviews and the department meets and makes decisions on a student by student basis on who gets in and who does not, you can not just sign up. (there are only about 90 kids per grade at my school)...</p>
<p>It's too late to do anything now. Just do well in precalc. Colleges do not just look at your math classes. Your SAT is fine too.</p>
<p>but do you think it will be a massive hinderance?</p>
<p>what looks better ap stat or pre calc coming out of algebra II?</p>
<p>anybody else...you can read my above questions...</p>
<p>An incredibly intelligent friend of mine took pre-calc (not honors, but regular, despite having the option) as a senior. After graduating as valedictorian (of an exceptionally rigorous and well-respected HS), she went to Berkeley. She cared enough about learning and about challenging herself to take math courses all 4 years of high school, but also knew that the subject wasn't her strong suit and that, ultimately, pre-calc would be plenty for her. She worked her butt off to do well in the class. There's a lot to be said for knowing one's limits.</p>
<p>You'll be fine. </p>
<p>It's July...freaking out about your impending schedule should be the last thing on your agenda. Really.</p>
<p>(FYI, many might tell you that pre-calc will actually look better on a transcript than AP stats, which is often seen as a cop-out math class, despite the AP status. I'm not defending the point of view, just noting it.)</p>
<p>Pre-Calc is really important as a basis for higher math. If you don't have that you're gonna get owned in college...I'm surprised you didn't take Pre-Calc earlier (I took it sophmore year).</p>
<p>bump......</p>
<p>for those giving the Op a hard time, stop it</p>
<p>I am smart enough to understand the Math Track the OP was put on, my D was as well, and sometimes, imagine, there is NADA you can do about it...my other D was placed on the English Track and no matter how well she does, because she wasn't in Honors as a Freshman, she can't bump up to honors now,and it will be a battle to get into the AP class as there isn't enough space</p>
<p>So, to those that did precalc as sophmores, good for you....not every school has all the same options</p>
<p>My D is not a math person either, and in college she won't have to take any "higher" math, as she is doing pre-law and polticial science.</p>
<p>Relax, eat a cookie and remember, this site is filled with people that think if all your classes aren't AP you won't get in anywhere, and they are so wrong</p>
<p>Do well, and not taking 2 years of calc won't hurt</p>
<p>abank, there is no need to freaking out. I must admit, I do have days that I thought my D would not get into any good colleges and there are days that I'm quite confident she will get in somewhere. It's called college admissions anxiety and it does not always match to college admissions reality.</p>
<p>IMO...given your scenario...you will benefit from taking pre-calc versus AP Stats. My reasoning---you will most likely need to take calculus in college, and will have a stronger base of knowledge from which to work from. AP Stats -even with a 4 or 5 will not likely eliminate the need to take calculus in college.</p>
<p>I lucked out pretty well with having college prep pre-calc senior year, so dont worry about it.</p>
<p>To the OP:</p>
<p>It's not gonna make a difference. It really doesn't matter, at least for the schools you are applying to (they're mostly LAC--liberal arts colleges--and mathematics is not a huge focus).</p>