<p>I really don't want to take a math class next year, as there are other AP and advanced classes I'm interested in taking, and math has always been my worst subject, so I'd rather focus on other things I like. The problem is, while I've talked to a few smaller private colleges who said it wouldn't matter if I didn't have four years of math, I know Madison wants four years of math, and I'm sure Minnesota is more comparable to Madison.</p>
<p>Right now I'm in Accelerated Pre-Calc (the advanced math track), but I'm definitely not taking AP Calc next year. My school doesn't offer normal Calc, so that leaves me with Stats. The thing is, Madison doesn't even count that as a math class, but they still would rather you take it than nothing math-related at all. However, I'd like to avoid taking math next year at all costs (even if I have to take it in college then) and I'm interested in whether that would matter for Minnesota. These are my credentials aside from math:</p>
<p>32 ACT
3.92 GPA
4 years of Key Club (service organization, if you aren't familiar with it)
4 years of newspaper, 2 as an editor
4 years of Forensics (as in public speaking), 1 as a captain
3 years of Mu Alpha Theta
Top 5% of my class</p>
<p>This year my AP classes are AP Lang and AP Psych. Next year I plan to take AP US History, AP Lit, and AP Spanish. Besides math (assuming I don't take it next year) I will have met the recommended number of years for everything else.</p>
<p>So... what do you think? Would math be necessary my senior year or not?</p>
<p>First off, I’d like to say you’re pretty much accepted to the U. Your stats are much higher than mine and your ec’s are much more impressive, so expect scholarships as well. I got into CBS with small stats, and this year at the dean’s reception the dean said that there were around 15 applicants for every seat (for CBS). Now as for math, it depends on what your major would be. If you want to go into an English major at CLA or something like that, I don’t really see why. You could probably do math at the U and be just fine. If you want to go into CBS or CSE, it’s a completely different story. For engineering, there are calculus-based physics classes and more, and so you pretty much have to take calculus unless you want to be behind the majority of people. In CBS you only need to take up to calc 2 or statistics after calc 1 for most biology majors, but that does not mean you shouldn’t take calculus. My AP Stats teacher stressed that just because you did well in Stats in High School does not mean you will do well in college, as for they are very different. The reason I would say take calculus (for CSE or CBS) is so that you can hit the ground running and be prepared and know what to expect right off the bat. If you decide to take AP Calculus AB and BC, then that’s even better because I think you will get 10 credits (not sure, check their website). I think that’s all I have to say, either way good luck.</p>
<p>PS. Math is not exactly my strength either. I’m taking normal calculus right now, and the teacher weights our grades 90/10 for tests and everything else, so your entire grade is basically your test scores. I’m doing fine right now at an A-/B+ halfway through the quarter. Statistics I took last year, it has nothing to do with calc, almost 0. It is just your basic algebra and some stuff we learned in geometry, but it is a different math all on it’s on. Go ahead and try it if you want to, it will become useful (more for some majors than others).</p>
<p>Okay, well that’s good to hear. Thanks!</p>
<p>And as of right now I don’t know what I want to major it, but definitely something in the College of Design or Liberal Arts… nothing math/science/engineering related. Maybe social sciences but not physical sciences.</p>
<p>Check to make sure it isn’t a requirement, and your chances of getting accepted will probably be higher if you take calc, not sure though. Good luck.</p>