<p>So far I have taken Honors Geometry and Honors Algebra II. Next term I'm taking my last math class. I'm currently signed up for a 6-week online course at a community college for Elementary Statistics. However, I'm considering scrapping that in favor of self-studying Pre-Cal. So, I have a few questions...</p>
<p>1.) Would Pre-Cal look infinitely better than Statistics?
2.) Would it make a big difference if I take regular Pre-Cal or Honors Pre-Cal?
3.) Would getting an A/A+ in Stats look better than possibly getting a C or B in Honors Pre-Cal?
4.) Is taking Honors Geometry, Honors Alg II, and either Stats or Pre-Cal good enough to get into Princeton? While it is only 3 years of math (as opposed to the 4 they recommend), I have taken 6 years of social science that might balance it out? </p>
<p>Honors Algebra 2 is a course usually taken in a Sophomore year, with the most talented students taking it as Freshman. You simply cannot stop there.</p>
<p>Pre-Calculus is the finishing point for an average student who took four years of math. You have to get at least there.</p>
<p>Yeah, I took Honors Alg II during sophomore year. I didn’t take math junior year, and now I have to finish it up next term. How big of a difference would it make if I took Pre-Cal or Honors Pre-Cal?</p>
<p>^You think that would be a big advantage to me (not in comparison to other applicants, obviously, but as an advantage to my record personally)? Like if I took Honors Pre-Cal and Elementary Statistics concurrently?</p>
<p>I’m just not sure if it would be too difficult for me, since math is difficult for me in general. But even if I were to, hypothetically, get a B or C in Honors Pre-Cal for instance, would it really matter since the colleges won’t see the grade until the final transcript? Would they rescind my admission if I got those grades on my final transcript?</p>
<p>^But you only have to take 1 quantitative reasoning course at Princeton if you’re going for your A.B., right? And couldn’t that course be in something a little less math-centric like Logic (Philosophy)?</p>
<p>^randombetch and Saugus, I don’t believe what you say about Calc BC. I don’t believe that “most” people, many of whom came from mediocre high schools like mine which do not offer Calc BC, take the class. Engineering majors, maybe, but I doubt it.</p>
<p>I think the concurrent enrollment is a good idea, Eiffel.</p>
<p>Only 50% of Princeton’s student body came from a public school (50% public, 40% private, 10% religious/other), and probably less 10% of that are mediocre enough to not offer Calc BC.</p>
<p>Only 26 students are enrolled in Math 101 (first semester of calculus) this semester lol. Think about that.</p>
<p>I have never met an engineer who didn’t start off with multivariable calc/linear algebra.</p>
<p>I have never met someone who was enrolled in a course less than 103 (meaning that person has at least taken AP Calc AB).</p>
<p>A majority of the freshmen I met last year and this year who are taking math are taking Math 201 which means they at least had taken Calc BC, and many of them had already taken multivar at a CC. Many people who take Calc BC in high school retake it by taking Math 103/104 at Princeton.</p>
<p>^Interesting. I can easily believe that the majority of students have taken Calc AB, but I didn’t know BC was that commonplace. But are there a bunch of people (perhaps the less mathematically-inclined) who are not taking a math class at all who would otherwise be enrolled in Calc 101?</p>
<p>Interestingly, the only other kid from my school applying to P (besides me, of course) is applying as an engineering major. His highest math level is Calc AB. It’ll be interesting to see how this turns out for him (first choice = MIT, which probably almost expects multivariate calc during senior year).</p>
<p>Yeah, this goes back to my question: you only have to take 1 quantitative reasoning course at Princeton if you’re going for your A.B., right? And couldn’t that course be in something a little less math-centric like Logic (Philosophy)? So, there might be a lot of people who haven’t taken Calc and have no reason to.</p>
<p>^Yes, there are many alternatives to taking Math courses.</p>
<p>And there definitely are a bunch of people who never take a “real” math class at Princeton. But even among those people, I’d say at least half of them have taken a minimum of Calc AB in high school.</p>
<p>So, final question: I will be taking Honors Pre-Cal next term if my counselor allows me to do independent study or makes room for me in the class. I’m considering doing the Stats course online too, but I’m scared that I will be overwhelmed with Pre-Cal and my other classes as it is…Also, would it seem strange that all of as sudden I’m taking 2 math classes even though I’m not applying for any math/science major? Or would it just look like I’m trying to get 4 years of math in at the last minute? Or would it look good? </p>
<p>Thanks for all your help so far, guys, and sorry for all the questions.</p>
<p>The number of people who haven’t taken calculus of some kind in high school is very small. The number of people who haven’t taken pre-calc or something equivalent I would bet is near zero.</p>
<p>You’d be surprised at how many kids take Algebra 1 in 12th grade without failing any class. There are intermediate classes like Analysis of Function that are popular for average students. Although, they’re the ones going to community college.</p>
<p>^^I was referring to people at princeton, not people in general. Obviously lots of people don’t make it to calc in high school, but most of those people don’t end up at Princeton</p>
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