<p>I've been lurking some threads and saw that many schools require a calculus class to even be considered.. but what if your school doesn't offer calculus? Mine doesn't, now I'm freaking out! Will it hurt my applications?
We have AP Calculus, but you had to have taken accelerated Maths 1-3, which was not an option for me.
My other two choices are Advanced Mathematical Decision Making or Math four.
HELP?? :(</p>
<p>Your school does offer calculus if it offers AP Calc, you’re just not on a track to take it. Your best alternative is to take the highest level math you’re eligible for. That won’t make you the equivalent of the best candidates for the top schools, but it’s all you can do. </p>
<p>No school “requires” calculus, but they might prefer it. They all certainly want you to take the highest level you can successfully complete. All you can do is play the hand you were dealt the best you possibly can.</p>
<p>thanks for replying!
You had to be in GAT in middle school to be able to take advanced math in my high school, so I’m just kind of bummed that we offer no regular Calculus course. The top schools thing is what I’m most afraid of. Math has never been my best subject so I fear it may look like I got lazy since all my other classes have been Advanced or AP. I think pre-calc is integrated into math three, so I’m emailing tomorrow to ask if math four will count more towards a calculus equivalent class.</p>
<p>The whole 1-2-3-4 thing has never really been explained by anyone so it gets confusing when looking at what other states look for in a course load as far as Algebra, Geometry, Trig, Calculus go.</p>
<p>(I’m not looking to leave the southeast so it’s not like it’ll be a hit to my Ivy application. More concerned for Vandy, Emory, UGA)</p>
<p>My school doesnt offer calc either!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>These do:</p>
<p>[Eligibility</a> Requirements | Harvey Mudd College Admission](<a href=“http://newwww.hmc.edu/admission/apply/first-year-students/eligibilty/]Eligibility”>http://newwww.hmc.edu/admission/apply/first-year-students/eligibilty/)
[Freshman</a> Applicants - Caltech Caltech Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.caltech.edu/applying/freshman]Freshman”>http://admissions.caltech.edu/applying/freshman)</p>
<p>But yeah, most schools don’t actually require calculus.</p>
<p>The Harvey Mudd list also strange to me since no class at my school is year long with the exception of a few AP classes because we’re on a block schedule haha. But I’m hoping math four is what we’d equate to calc and thats why we don’t have a class explicitly called calculus, aside from the AP one. </p>
<p>Like how I’ve never taken a class called Algebra but I’ve certainly taken Algebra.</p>
<p>No calculus? Get ready for community college.</p>
<p>lol jk. Just take the most advanced math you feasibly can.</p>
<p>Okay, so CalTech and Harvey Mudd actually require calculus. I was referring to schools where mere mortals go.</p>
<p>This was an issue for my DD because during junior year one of her top colleges told her that they would not seriously consider her application without calculus. She had transferred high schools and the previous high school “tracked” students based on a test administered the first month of freshmen year (don’t get me started; they tell the students it counts for nothing then uses it to prevent them from taking advance courses). At new high school most students were ahead of my DD in math. Our solution since she wanted to be the strongest candidate possible: her high school allowed her to take pre-cal online this summer (she did it through the BYU online high school program). It definitely made it a “no fun summer” but to my DD it was worth it. As a senior she is now in AP Calculus and doing fine in the class. </p>
<p>Her friends at her old school have been told by colleges such as Boston College that without pre-calc or calculus “they are a serious disadvantage in the applicant pool”. Since only 3 years of math are required to graduate from that high school; my DD’s friends are taking pre-calc or calculus online during their senior year.</p>
<p>It’s definitely worth your while to do as itsv’s D did and find a way to learn the subject, even if it isn’t taught in your school. Calculus, although not required, is a highly important class for admission to selective colleges. Without it, you are certainly at somewhat of a disadvantage. That doesn’t mean you won’t get into selective schools, but demonstrating your ability to manage college level material is critical to gaining admissions. Not taking calc doesn’t help you in that regard, even though it isn’t available at your school.</p>
<p>I asked about this today and was told that yes there is calculus however I’m starting to wonder if it’d look better to be able to say I took a calc course somewhere outside of school, since math four is still integrated like the rest of the curriculum.</p>
<p>your guidance counselor will have to make sure to explain that Integrated Math IV includes Calculus</p>
<p>I’m assuming you mean on any out of state college apps?
why is integrated math so weird.</p>
<p>Yes, for out of state - and even out of district. Don’t assume all schools in your State use Integrated Math or mean the same thing by it.
On the other hand, calculus is not necessary for college, especially if you don’t intend to major in STEM. Although AP Stats is less difficult, it may be part of a well-thought out plan that you or your guidance counselor may explain: it’s very useful to social science majors and will provide context for the gen ed in math-for-humanities majors. Statistics is necessary in so many areas of your professional or personal life that it should be required 
In any case, college is not a continuation of high school, with sequences for all students. In fact, you don’t have to take calculus in college at all unless you’re going into STEM or economics/business, and in my opinion if you’re not going to study science, the non-calculus classes designed to make you understand how science and math impact the world in which we live will be much more important to you than one semester of calculus.</p>
<p>I can take AP Stats as long as I take AMDM! I guess that looks better than no AP maths. </p>
<p>I know all of Georgia adopted integrated math when I was in middle school but have now dropped back to specific courses for the grades below me, mainly because of not knowing what to equate it to in other states and it not being taught very well.</p>
<p>Integrated math is actually better but teacher need to be trained and guidance counselors need to indicate what each year stands for. :)</p>