<p>BC calc as a senior is a very reasonable place to be for HM. HM is not just about the numbers in admissions either. I would venture to say that solid scores and grades put you in the running, and then all the other qualities that are difficult to quantify come in. What kind of person are you? How will you fit into the community? What do you bring to HM? I would also strongly suggest that you show your interest. Visit the school if possible, and if not, talk to a rep who is on the road.
Pragmatically, it would be good to have the ‘holy trinity’ of bio/chem/physics on your record as well.</p>
<p>Also, some students take the SAT II exam really early (like 8th grade) and get scores in the 750-780 range. I don’t think schools would look down on that.</p>
<p>Just revisiting this thread…
sbjdorolo has it right. The kids I know about took the SAT 2 math in 8th and 8th grade. The curve then was also tighter. I know that missing 1 to 3 questions got you 750 to 770.
Those kids are all quite able to handle HM level math. Most started taking graduate level math courses as high school seniors (while handling a solid academic load in other areas as well.)
That being said, if you are a high school SENIOR, and have been beating your head against the wall, trying to break 700 on math 2, you could easily find HM too difficult.</p>
<p>Do you really mean that they were taking graduate level math courses as high school seniors? Perhaps you meant intro college level math classes. A student who is taking
graduate level math classes in high school is unusual.</p>
<p>I mean they were taking graduate level math courses as high school seniors. It’s very unusual, indeed. But, then, they are pretty unusual kids. Now, some of the courses are dual undergrad/grad - which means that undergrads and grads are in the same course , going to the same lectures, but the grad students will do additional work.
Most of them took calculus as high school freshman, and went on from there - some are/were exploring more ‘laterally’ so they would do something like: advanced calc, diff eq, linear algebra, two semesters of analysis, stat and probability,number theory, abstract algebra, and historical math. Most of the grad level work, I believe has been higher level analysis, topology, and more number theory.</p>
<p>Does Mudd get students like this every year?
What math classes would a student take freshman year if they had already taken
analysis at the level of math 131, math 132 and algebra at the level of math 171, math 172?
I would assume that someone who had taken math at this level would also have studied
a good amount of linear algebra, multivariate calculus and differential equations.</p>
<p>To have taken math at that level before college would be extremely extraordinary… to be honest I doubt it would be at the same level as those classes unless taken at some other top notch university. Before that level they probably would have taken Discrete Math (Math 55) so the next in the math major core requirements would be Applied Analysis (Math 180). After that you need one computational math class, intermediate probability, and then all that’s left is electives and clinic. The most advanced freshman I knew of during my time was in Abstract Algebra (Math 171) his first semester, and I believe that year or the next he was top 200 Putnam? Mudd gets someone like this every couple years I would estimate.</p>
<p>They are a very unusual bunch. They generally manage to take the AIME, and one has gotten to the USAMO more than one, and done well on it. I don’t think they are typical students, but I imagine that Mudd sees a few kids like this. They also are not all going to Mudd. I imagine.
But this is NOT intended to be boasting or scaring off potential Mudders! Most Mudders will start somewhere in calculus, in part because not many kids have access to math past that in high school. I suspect that any of ‘our kids’ who go to Mudd will repeat some classes as well.</p>