<p>Ok so I have a bit of a dilemma. I plan on being an investment banker out of college and realize that I need to go to a top-notch school. I am currently an african-american sophomore in highschool with a 4.0 uw and a 4.16 w. I just took the PSAT and expect to do well because I am very good at standardized testing. The thing I'm worried about in the college admissions is that I am only in Geometry (because I didn't have my head on strait in middle school) and will be on track to take Pre-Calc my senior year. How will this affect my chances on getting into a top school? What can I do about this? Should I load up on electives the rest of the year and then double up on math next year? Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Pre-Calc is fine. But you should know that all students apply to Harvard as liberal arts majors. Harvard doesn’t offer a degree in business or banking. See: [Fields</a> of Concentration Handbook for Students 2010-2011](<a href=“http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k69286&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup106995]Fields”>http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k69286&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup106995)</p>
<p>Gibby,</p>
<p>Thank you for answering my question. Sorry I should have clarified myself better, I plan on doing undergraduate to MBA to career. Do you think that only being in Pre-Calc will hurt my SAT math score?</p>
<p>Pre-Calc and Calc are not covered on the SAT: [Topics</a> Covered in the Math Sections of the SAT - For Dummies](<a href=“dummies - Learning Made Easy”>General Study Skills & Test Prep Articles - dummies) </p>
<p>Not every admitted Harvard student has taken Calc in high school. See: [Harvard</a> Mathematics Department :](<a href=“http://www.math.harvard.edu/pamphlets/courses.html]Harvard”>http://www.math.harvard.edu/pamphlets/courses.html)</p>
<p>“Math 1a/b is the standard first-year calculus sequence. If you are thinking about majoring in math and have not taken calculus before, take Math 1 as soon as possible!”</p>
<p>Ok, first of all, although you don’t need calculus to get into Harvard, many (if not most) competitive applicants will have a high level of calculus. </p>
<p>As for the investment banking thing: how do you know you want to be an investment banker when you’re a sophomore in high school? Do you even know what an investment banker does? Also, Undergrad -> MBA -> Investment banking is NOT the most common path. To get a top MBA, you usually need PRIOR work experience. </p>
<p>Stop focusing so much on jobs that you likely will not even want to pursue by the time you finish college. Its too early. Just relax, enjoy high school, and good things will come.</p>
<p>“Ok, first of all, although you don’t need calculus to get into Harvard, many (if not most) competitive applicants will have a high level of calculus.”</p>
<p>^^ If this was true, Math 1A/B would only have a few students enrolled, which is not the case!</p>
<p>“Stop focusing so much on jobs that you likely will not even want to pursue by the time you finish college. Its too early. Just relax, enjoy high school, and good things will come.”</p>
<p>^^ I agree!</p>
<p>Gibby, I’m not extremely knowledgeable regarding Harvard, but I’ve noticed (and heard), that at some other top colleges, students will take classes that they have essentially “already taken” because they think it’ll be easier then skipping it, or simply because they aren’t really prepared. I may be wrong though.</p>
<p>^^ See: [Mathematics</a> | FAS Registrar’s Office](<a href=“http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/mathematics]Mathematics”>http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/mathematics)</p>
<p>“Our policy is that a student who takes and passes any calculus course is not normally permitted to then take a more elementary course for credit. A student who has passed Mathematics 21a, for example, will normally not be allowed to take Mathematics 1a, or 1b for credit. The Mathematics Department is prepared to make exceptions for sufficient academic reasons; in each case, however, a student must obtain written permission from the Mathematics Director of Undergraduate Studies in advance.”</p>
<p>My understanding of the above policy is that it applies to AP Calc courses, as well. A student who scores a 4 or 5 on AP Calc BC, for example, would only be allowed to take Math 1a/1b with written permission from the Math Department.</p>