Hi all, I am a prospective student athlete at MIT. I took BC Calc last year and the coach at MIT told me that in order to show the admissions office that I am challenging myself I need to take a higher level math class. After being unable to dual enroll to take calc 3 a counselor suggested that I take Linear Algebra although I would have to teach myself most of the material. It seems to be very challenging and I don’t know if I will be able to keep taking it. Do you think not taking Linear algebra to take AP Stats will be detrimental to my application? Thanks
It is. Compared to Algebra I anyway. Compared to MVC? YMMV,but IMO LA is less challenging.
I’m just going to flip the question back. The math only gets more difficult. It Linear Algebra is problematic, the why do you think that MIT is the place for you>
Remember that the coaches there (with the exception of Crew) only get 20% - 25% of their recruits admitted. Is it worth doing something that seems beyond your comfort zone for those odds?
Can you look at other options? My kid is taking MVC online this year. The class starts on Monday (tomorrow), through John’s Hopkins CTY, and is NCAA approved. They offer Linear Algebra too if I remember correctly.
I tried to take MVC but the class at the university was full. The reason I am taking this class is because it does not cost but to respond to skieurope. The reason that I say it seems challenging is because there is no lecture component to the class. I am basically expected to learn from the book with an opportunity to ask the prof questions once a week. To reply to NJFL123 the coach told me that I am in his top 3 recruits so my worry is not the amount of pull he will give me but whether admissions will still be impressed by my app.
Try using Khan Academy in addition to reading the book, to learn Linear Algebra:
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/linear-algebra
You need four years of high school math, and if you want to study computer science, math, physics or EE, it will be good to be exposed to linear algebra.
Multivariable is harder than linear algebra, for most students, but in college, you will have other students to help tutor you, so it IS harder the way you are taking linear algebra, I assume, on line and alone at home.
Even though lectures will be available when you get to college, you might be surprised at how “useless” they might be, it all depends on the instructor. Also, college level math, almost never grades the homework in larger freshman classes like linear algebra and the calculus sequence. A few colleges do grade homework, but mostly you are going to have to preform on math tests to pass math in college.
So its good to challenge yourself to learn math on your own, no matter what college you land at, this struggle with math will have helped you. Also check if your linear algebra professor offers office hours, and use them. Force yourself to start the homeworks early and go in for office hours regularly.