The highest level of math I will have completed by the time of graduation is pre-calc and stats (AP or regular). I am trying to take pre-calc over the summer so I can take AP Calc AB next year, but it is costly to my family and I am unsure if we can afford it yet. Would it look bad to not have had any calculus prior to college? Will it hurt my admissions chances at top schools like Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt?
What major?
Calculus is a college course. I doubt that this alone would hurt your chances. Still, students with Calculus and perfect grades/test scores might still be rejected from top schools.
I am planning on being a chemistry or biochemistry major. Although I know not as many schools offers biochem, so probably chem depending on what I can get into.
If it is a financial burden, do not opt for it. I would take AP Stats and have your pre-calc be honors, however.
The only pre-calc class we have is pre-calc and trig broken apart in two semesters, but it is still a year long course. It is honors, so I guess that is a good thing.
Calculus is not a required class for a Chemistry major at most schools, you may not need to take it ever.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/2015601-what-us-universities-explicitly-state-that-calculus-is-required-or-expected-for-frosh-applicants-p2.html shows that only a few colleges require or recommend calculus for frosh applicants.
A major in chemistry will likely require calculus, but you can take it in college. You will need a good precalculus background.
Know that the “typical” "normal’ math sequence in HS is Algebra, Geometry, Alg 2, Pre-Calc. “Regular” Honors kids often take Alg in 8th grade and then get to Calculus by Senior year. If you want to be an Engieering/Math major where you need to take Calc in college, this is ideal. If your major doesn’t, then you are on track.
The counselor at our private hs school really pushes Calculus if you are applying to competitive schools.
However, being able to get to calculus in high school is often mostly dependent on middle school math placement.
A few comments:
– If the summer class would be a financial burden to your family then don’t do it. There will be enough costs ahead when you go to college that you should not strain things unnecessarily now.
–One class won’t be the only reason you get into/don’t get into a college.
–The colleges you mentioned are reaches for most people. When the time comes be sure to have a list that includes reach, match, and safety schools that you would be happy to attend.
–IMO the main issue with not taking calc in HS is at many colleges most students in the college calc class would have covered the material in HS so what will be new to you will be review for many in the class. If you don’t take HS calc then I would try to prepare a bit in advance for calc in college before you start college (ex. Khan Academy has free online classes) and if needed, take advantage of tutoring, math center, professor’s office hours when you take the class in college.
My son, who’s interested in being a chemistry major, talked with the Chem Chair at Colby & a BioChem Prof at Bowdoin… My son asked a similar question, “Should I take AP Calc or AP Stats my senior year?” BOTH professors said the same thing, knowing Calculus and taking it in HS will help you more than taking Stats. But you’ll probably need to take both AGAIN once you get to college as a Chem/BioChem major.
I was a chem major stats was not required, my daughter is a chem major and stats is not required. Calculus through Calc 2 was required 30 years ago and today.
I cannot imagine where the poster above who said a chem major would not need Calculus is coming from. P Chem and Quantum would be impossible to understand without it. In addition you will be required to take calculus based physics.
How did you end up taking stats before pre-calc or calc, what is your math sequence without taking the pre-calc summer course, would you end up at pre-calc honors as your last course?
Yes, taking stats instead of calculus will hurt a STEM major at top schools. Calc is considered more rigorous.
That being said, taking a math class over the summer to jump ahead in math derails a lot of kids. Community college math classes are very fast paced over the summer and kids who aren’t prepared to spend a lot of time on homework don’t always achieve the grades they want. Conversely, high school level summer courses can be too light, leaving a gap in math skills that hurts later.
My advice is to the best you can with your high school schedule options, and if you really want a summer class, shop carefully.
More to the point, calculus is required for a chem major at JHU an Vandy, which are 2 schools the OP is targeting.
@skieurope I know the chem major at EVERY college needs to take calc, most through calc 3. But, is it required to have taken before getting to those schools?
A good majority of kids take or retake part or the entire Calculus series in college, even if they have taken it in HS. In most cases, colleges will force you to take/retake unless you’ve achieved a high score on the AP exam. So I would say no, it’s not required.
It may not look good for college apps, and/or you may feel you’re a semester or two behind other kids if you take it in college, and it may delay you in taking courses that require calculus, such as Physics. And obviously if you’ve already taken the course and are retaking it, the concepts become easier. So those would be negatives if you didn’t take the class in HS. But you can always catch up.
No, except for some of the very small number of colleges listed at http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/2015601-what-us-universities-explicitly-state-that-calculus-is-required-or-expected-for-frosh-applicants-p2.html .
No. With the exceptions that @ucbalumnus links in the above post.