<p>Ok, so I know the MIT website says that it is recommended you take math at least through Calculus BC to be competitive, but what is really needed to be a competitive applicant? Do most admitted people go beyond AP or IB level (Diff. Equations, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra)? Can you still be a good candidate even if you take BC during Senior year? </p>
<p>My problem is that I have been screwed over and can't take Calculus during my sophomore year (at least, that is what things are looking like; because I am younger there is a policy and a local JC that I am not eligible to take Pre-Calc. over the summer; w/e it's a long story). That being said, I feel like I am being totally held back. Even though I would already be taking BC senior year, do you guys think it would be possible to take more advanced math/physics courses in college concurrently? I would be done with Physics C by that time and physics is my area of interest. Hopefully I could work with some professors at UC Davis. I also want to go to SSP or RSI during my next couple summers. </p>
<p>I just feel a bit frustrated because I can't do what I planned to do. Any other thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>Wow, don't stress if you can't take calculus during sophomore year. It's generally a senior class, but a lot of people do take it during junior year. At my school, it's actually quite rare for a sophomore to take calculus. I don't think that it'll be held against you if you can't take DiffEQ/Multivariable/Linear Algebra. Just explain that long story about the policy at your school on your MIT application and you'll be fine. Colleges can't punish you for your school's policies.</p>
<p>One of mine took BC senior year. The other took it junior year, but that left no math to take senior year. Because of other activities he couldn't take a math class at the local college and didn't want to do an online course, so he just took AP statistics senior year. Don't worry about it.</p>
<p>yeah , don't worry about it. just do the best that you can.
You can explain a little bit in your app if you want to, but you are better of using that space telling them other interesting things about you.</p>
<p>btw RSI is really hard to get into. You'll need to have a really good SAT score by the middle of junior year and some really impressive awards. i think the acceptance rate is less than 10%. If you can get into RSI, then you can get into MIT and Caltech .
SSP is a bit easier to get into, and I heard , also a lot of fun</p>
<p>I got in with just AP Calc AB taken senior year. Course sequences in my first HS were not the best and I was a course behind in my new school. Just try to do well on the SAT II Math test. You should have no problem with level 2. Good luck!!!!</p>
<p>I just took AP Calc AB my senior year, and I was coming from a high school where people also took BC and some even did Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations.</p>
<p>I didn't even feel like taking it, but my junior year when MIT reps came to my school, I asked someone, I think it was Ben Jones, "do I reaaally have to take calculus?" and he said "you'll be at a disadvantage if you don't" so I decided to take it. I did really well in the class in the end and got into MIT early. True story. xD</p>
<p>I took Calc BC as a junior, but there's no math class for me to take as a senior, as I'm a year ahead of my peers. I can't take college classes due to a combination of inconvenient college scheduling and unsafe college locations (either an hour-long commute in rush hour traffic or downtown at night in one of the country's least safe cities). I'm taking Physics C as a math-y kind of course. Should I do anything else?</p>
<p>thanks. it just seems like the majority of people accepted to MIT have done a great deal beyond AP. i guess i know it won't affect me to much if at all. thanks guys. i like hearing from people who have been in the same situations :) it makes life a bit easier.</p>
<p>
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it just seems like the majority of people accepted to MIT have done a great deal beyond AP
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</p>
<p>That's just not true. Actually the number of students who have done truly amazing things is really quite small. However, these are the students that everybody hears about, which tends to skew the perception of what makes up the (wholly fictitious) "average" MIT student. Every year I meet nervous applicants worried that they hadn't split the atom while in High School and fretting that this would put them at a competitive disadvantage. It won't.</p>
<p>That isn't to say that admissions isn't highly competitive (a 4% admit rate for internationals is certainly challenging) and every year I meet brilliant, talented and accomplished candidates who do not get in. But of the candidates that I have met who have gotten in, only a very small minority did significant study beyond the AP.</p>
<p>What level of math is considered <em>standard</em> for MIT acceptance depends on geography. In some area's, it's rare that a kid takes calculus in HS. If you're in an area like this, then you don't need to panic.</p>
<p>In some locations, most people applying for admission to MIT have taken calculus their sophomore year. If you're applying from this area, unless you have some hidden trump card on your application, it'll be hard to stand competetive with your peers (though you are not directly compared one-on-one with people in your school, but MIT keeps tabs on schools and knows what kind of progression is normal for applicants).</p>
<p>At our school, kids are suppose to take calculus their senior year. It is fairly common for students to take calculus their junior year, and it is not unheard of for students to take calculus their sophomore year. Students who take calculus earlier than senior year will often go take Multivariable Calculus and/or Linear Algebra at the Harvard Extension School for high school credit--it can be used for college credit as well.</p>
<p>I'm taking Calc BC at soph but I wouldn't be fussed if I had to do it as a 11th grader. But it does give me an opportunity to do Vector Functions in Calculus, Linear Alg and Honours Math (Number Theory, Chaos and other absurdly hard stuff). I do hope quite selfishly that it will give me an advantage but I doubt it.</p>
<p>I think math level is helpful insomuch as it sets you apart from other applicants and those in your local area. </p>
<p>I'm taking AP Cal BC my sophomore year... which is coming up soon. In my county, all of two people have EVER taken AP Cal BC. (This is because it is only being offered online.) AP Cal AB is a Junior-Senior only class for all but one person in the history of my county before me. </p>
<p>As for post-AP Cal BC I plan to do one of the following:
Harvard Secondary+State magnet:
Multivariable Calculus
Linear algebra and Differential equations
Graph Theory
Combinatorics and Game Theory
Number Theory
+ Three Trimesters of instructor led independent study</p>
<p>or
Harvard Secondary+Private University (First one to do this in my county--ever):
Multivariable Calculus
Linear algebra and Differential equations
MAT 300 Discrete Math
MAT 356 Calculus IV (Weird, I know)
MAT 410 Elements of Modern Geometry
MAT 420 Mathematical Modeling and Data Analysis </p>
<p>With that I'll finish all the math classes they require for a B.S. or B.A. in math.
However, I'll probably supplement this with EPGY courses: Modern Algebra, Point-set topology, Number Theory, and Logic. </p>
<p>Ironically, I haven't determined whether I'd like to pursue math or the humanities.</p>
<p>exactly same position as you algiqinf except my school luckily offers even Multivariable calculus and linear algebra etc. And also like you, I'm not sure whether I should do math or humanities. I doubt I'll do EPGY courses as I think I'll find my high school more then rigorous enough for now! Its impressive you're taking it online though, I wouldn't have bothered till like Year 11 if I was you.</p>