Math for Haas

<p>I got a 5 in Calc BC and I can waive the calc requirement for Haas. But my advisor at Calso insisted that i should start all over at 1A. She kept trying to scare me about my chances for Haas admission if I don't take math at Cal. She said it would make me look like I thought I was a superstar (these aren't even my words). I really don't want to take two math classes that I've already been through. Would that affect my chances for Haas? And my backup major is econ, and someone told me that you need to take higher math for econ and that math 53 and 54 are unbelievably hard if you don't go through 1a and 1b at Cal. Do you think I should do 1A and 1B?</p>

<p>i was in ure same boat got a 5 etc etc. i took math 1a,1b got A's. but i got lucky with my 1b professor if ure good at math and u know ure good. take 53 with hutchings</p>

<p>If you are a new freshman this year, you can not use AP classes to get out of your Math prereq.</p>

<p>
[quote]
If you are a new freshman this year, you can not use AP classes to get out of your Math prereq.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>really? :[</p>

<p>If you need to take math, take 16A, no reason to take 1a.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]

If you are a new freshman this year, you can not use AP classes to get out of your Math prereq.

[/QUOTE]

This is not true. You can use AP to get out of math still. The new rule is that you cannot use AP to get out of breadth classes.</p>

<p>You can still use AP to satisfy math/econ/english prerequisites. To quote Haas: Undergraduate</a> Program - Admissions - Haas School of Business

[QUOTE]

EXAM SCORE INTERPRETATION</p>

<p>Economics Micro and Macro
5 on both exams: Economics not required</p>

<p>English COMPOSITION and LITERATURE
4: English R1A not required
5: English R1A-R1B not required</p>

<p>English LANGUAGE and COMPOSITION
4 or 5: English R1A not required</p>

<p>Math BC: 5 Calculus not required

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>I was told that no classes breadth or prereq's can be passed out of by AP exams if you are a new freshman. Older students yes. I'd check with Haas to confirm.</p>

<p>No, I'm pretty sure that only applies to breadth. I know I can get out of math if I want to, but my advisor said that Haas wouldn't like it too much. Is that true? Would it actually affect my chances?</p>

<p>Your adviser is right. If you opt out of math, you'd need to take Math 53 in order to prove that you are indeed capable of higher level mathematics. In fact, i'd take 53/54 regardless just to improve your chances of getting in (they like rigorous courses, provided you get A's of course).</p>

<p>JP, where have you heard that? Also, if he "needed" to take Math 53 if he opted out of math, then why wouldn't he just take the 16 series math classes...</p>

<p>While it isn't spelled out implicitly, it is suggested that taking harder math courses rather than opting out of them is what Haas wants in their students. From the official FAQ:</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]

Question: How does the Admission Committee evaluate applications?
Answer: The application is broken down as follows: 50% Grades & Coursework, 35% Essays and 15% Resume/extra-curricular activities. In addition to reviewing applications for completion of minimum eligibility requirements and academic achievement and promise, the Admission Committee will review many factors, including performance in key prerequisites<a href="business,%20%5BB%5D%5BI%5Dmath%5B/I%5D%5B/B%5D,%20economics,%20statistics">/B</a>, grade trends, ***course load*, consistency of academic performance, leadership skills, interest in being an active member of the Haas community, knowledge of contemporary business issues, accomplishments as demonstrated by extra-curricular activities, as well as communication and analytical skills as demonstrated by responses to essay questions.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>If the OP doesn't take any math, Haas will have no opportunity to evaluate his/her quantitative abilities. If like some suggest, he take Math 16 instead of Math 53, the school will note the less rigorous course load that the OP decided to pursue.</p>

<p>Of course, it's not a requirement that you take 53/54, but trust me, you don't want to be doing the minimum if Haas is your goal. If you can pull off A's in those classes, they will boost your chances of admission. Given how competitive it is to get into Haas, you should take advantage of every opportunity you have to prove your abilities and learn skills that will help you succeed at higher levels.</p>

<p>Well, from talking to Haas admission advisors I've gotten the feeling that if you waived math, they would just not take it into consideration. As for the 16 vs 1 series, I've asked advisors before and they don't really consider the difference in difficulty between the two. Have you heard differently?</p>

<p>You're right Liquidus. The Haas website specifically says that they do not care whether or not you took the math 1 series or the math 16 series. I agree with you that it hardly (if at all) matters whether or not you take 1 or 16.</p>

<p>What I am saying though is that Haas considers 53-54 to be of a much higher caliber than both the 1 series and the 16 series. In fact, higher level economics and statistics require multivariable calculus and linear algebra. While these classes aren't a requirement for admission, they'll certainly help the OP get into Haas. If the OP wants to retake calculus, he should opt for the 1 series as it would better prepare him to proceed with the coursework in 53 and beyond.</p>

<p>Think of it this way. You don't need to take AP or honors classes in order to get into college, but taking them certainly makes admissions officers pay more attention to you.</p>

<p>First of all, I'm a she, not a he. It's really kind of weird to see yourself referred to as a he. :-) And second, thank you. I think I'll try Math 53, and if I find it too hard, drop and start at 1A.</p>