Skipped Geometry

Applying to College
1

So I took the normal level math classes in
middle school, ending with Algebra I in 8th
grade. Then, freshman year, I skipped
Geometry because I was told it was not
necessary/required. I went straight to
Algebra II, then took Honors PreCalc, AP Calc
AB, and now I’m in AP Calc BC as a senior.
Will courses taken/not taken in middle school matter? The CSU website says that 7th and
8th grade math courses are taken into account, does this mean I’m screwed? Can I still get
into colleges with this?

2

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/csu-uc-a-g-comparison-matrix.pdf

For CSU, a C or higher in precalculus validates the missing geometry course and fulfills the math requirement for frosh admission.

For UC, you cannot validate the missing geometry course. You must complete geometry to fulfill the math requirement for frosh admission to UC. UC has “admission by exam” and “admission by exception”, but these are probably mainly granted for home school students, students at schools not offering all of the required courses, and students in other unusual circumstances outside their control, rather than students in regular high schools that offer all of the required courses.

If you really want to attend a UC but do not take a geometry course, you can start at a community college, do well there, and then apply as a junior level transfer.

Private schools have their own policies that you need to check individually.

3

Thank you.
I’m a senior, graduating this year. How do I fulfill the geometry requirement? Will I have to do it before I apply, or before I graduate? I don’t have the schedule space in my high school courses to take a geometry class at high school. Can I take it at a community college in my area? Will that count?

4

Generally Geometry is a high school class, you might be better of finding an on-line course. Contact UC and see if they will accept an on-line course or a credit by exam.

5

If you tested it out, it is perfectly fine. It is not clear if you just skipped it. Usually the GC should advise you the math track and would not allow you to skip a level if not tested out.

6

For frosh admission to UC, you need to take it before you graduate. Use https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/search/all to check community colleges and on-line programs to see if they have geometry courses accepted for the UC math requirement.

UC recently changed its policy recently to disallow validation of a missing geometry course with higher level math courses.

Here is a document on the UC policy on geometry: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/geometry-requirement-factsheet.pdf . It says the following:

  • "The omission of a yearlong Geometry course cannot be validated by advanced - level math courses (e.g., Algebra II/Trigonometry, Trigonometry, Math Analysis, Pre - Calculus, or Calculus)."
  • "Standardized exams (SAT/ACT, SAT Subject, AP, IB, etc.) cannot validate the omission of a Geometry course or an integrated course with sufficient geometry (e.g., Math II)."

Some more options for the OP listed there:

  • "The omission of the first semester of Geometry can be validated by successful completion of the second semester of Geometry with a letter grade of C or better." (i.e. you can complete just the second semester of high school geometry to fulfill the requirement)
  • "UC will accept a 'challenge' examination to demonstrate proficiency to validate the course omission if the high school awards both grades and units for the successful completion of a Geometry challenge exam."
7

@ucbalumnus It may depend on how the high school do the test-out. For many schools, the student would receive the credit by testing out. It is basically a self-study approach. The criteria for getting testing out credit is different from state to state (and possibly district to district). That is described on the page 2 of your document. In our district, it would be a lot easier to take a summer course then trying the test-out. One needs to get 90%+ in order to skip geometry or other math class.

8

Are you sure about the PreCalc thing? Am I good for CSU schools?

9

You are good for the CSU’s. It is the UC’s that are in question. I suggest you talk to your GC to see if you have received credit for the class and it is noted somewhere on your transcript. Also contact UC admissions to see what they have to say.

10

UC’s are very specific and picky. Other private schools and other state schools tend to just say 4 years of high school math getting to a certain level.

11

How are you going to be able to do well on ACTs and SATs without geometry though??? My kids took geometry in 8th grade and now in 11th/12th it’s such a distant memory they have both had to work on it again for standardized testing even though they are in BC Calc and beyond.

12

I learned Geometry through Honors PreCalc. Got a 2250 on the SAT.

13

Can you sign up for second semester geometry at least, if you are interested in UC?