No (official) Math Class Junior Year

Applying to College
1

Hello, I am a junior who moved during the summer after sophomore year. I had taken AP Calculus BC during my sophomore year. The reasoning behind this was because I took a course similar to Algebra ll my freshman year, and ended up learning close to nothing. I felt like I knew most of the topics in Precalculus as well, and I didn’t want to have a repeat where I was just sitting in math class all day not learning anything. So, I talked to my math teacher, who also taught Calculus in a nearby college, and after a few months of meeting with him and learning topics in Precalculus, he told me that I would be able to take AP Calculus. I also took an online Precalculus class over the summer to solidify the material and prepare myself for Calculus. The school I was at didn’t require one to take AP Calculus AB before taking AP Calculus BC, and I had the impression that taking AB would be a waste of time as all of the topics taught in AB is also taught in BC, so I ended up taking AP Calculus BC. I did well in the class and got a good AP exam score. The school didn’t offer more advanced math classes, so I worked with the school to set up a plan for my junior and senior years; I would take online math classes using a free period(MIT OpenCourseware would be an example resource).

However, my family received news that we would be moving to another place(different state) during the summer after my sophomore year. We ended up moving to the new place 2 weeks before the first day of school, and when I was enrolling into the new school, the only math class I hadn’t taken was AP Statistics, but the classes were full. There were options for taking a class in a nearby college, but I was hesitant to take that option because I didn’t like the idea of having to rely on my parents for transportation(no driver’s license nor a car I would be free to use as my own) or spend more than 1.5 hours in transportation(bus) each day I had to take a 1-2 hour class. I was looking for online options for a math class, but there were only a few that the school would give credit for. I ended up missing the deadline for signing up for fall classes in the nearby colleges, and I ended up taking an online math class that is WASC accredited, but one that isn’t traditionally a school math class(a course in discrete mathematics) so one that my school won’t give credit for. I am also a peer tutor for an AP Calculus BC class, but it just says “Peer Tutoring” on my transcript.

I am planning to go in STEM, and I know that not officially taking a math class during my junior year will be a knock on my curriculum, and it will lead to a predicament when I need a recommendation letter from a math teacher. I can take a class in the nearby college I mentioned earlier in 2nd semester, but the same problems remain and I am going to be a lot more busy in 2nd semester, so it doesn’t seem to me like a viable option. If I explain to colleges about this situation and the fact that I tried to challenge myself amidst these circumstances, would it completely mitigate the lack of an (official) math class during one’s junior year? Also, what are some options for letters of rec. from a math teacher, given a situation similar to this?

Lastly, this is my first post on CC, so please remind me if there’s something that should me done about this post, such as posting it in a more relevant sub(?)forum.

2

If this course is for credit and a grade at a real college (as implied by “WASC accredited”) or high school (less likely, but similar in terms of “WASC accredited”), then you are taking an official math course this year, even though it will not be part of your regular high school record.

When you apply to colleges, you will include all courses from all high schools and colleges attended (either by sending transcripts, or including them in the self-reported academic record, whichever the college uses), so you will not be “missing” a math course for this year, for colleges that care about such things (as opposed to some that consider completion of calculus BC as (more than) sufficient by their standards).

Note that if you later apply to transfer to another college, or apply to graduate or professional school, any college courses taken while in high school will need to be included in your college record for such an application.

Discrete math is commonly a college sophomore level math course that is most commonly applicable to computer science.

In terms of a recommendation letter, would your calculus BC teacher from your previous high school be willing to write one for you? Or the instructor of the online discrete math course?

Note that which state you are in can matter, since different states’ public universities can have different policies with respect to requirements, recommendations, etc… For example, in California, no recommendations are needed to apply to in-state public universities, all use self-reported academic record, but UCs, CSUs (except CPSLO), and CPSLO are somewhat different in what they want to see in your record.

3

As long as you’re fine to graduate your high school without credit for a math class, you should be OK on college applications with an accredited on-line course.

My D is taking Physics at (MSASC accredited) CTY this summer and while her HS won’t give credit/a grade, she will go directly to AP Physics C. This is fine with us - I have no concern that a college will be bothered not seeing H Physics on her HS transcript.

This is even less an issue with post-standard HS curriculum Math…

Is there a college that specifically requires a math teacher for a recommendation? I haven’t run into one. Previous BC teacher is an option, or choose another teacher and explain in the application comments section.

4

The class that I am taking is not affiliated with a specific high school or a university; it is provided by a separate entity. The name of the provider is AoPS, Art of Problem Solving, so I am not sure on how that affects whether it is official or not.

Also, after some research, I realized that many schools don’t require a letter of recommendation from a math teacher, just from a math/science teacher, so I think that it won’t be as big of an issue as I first thought.

Thank you for the reply, it was very helpful!