I’m signed up for Statistics as I’m heading into my Senior year but people keep telling me I should do Pre-Calculus. I enjoy math sometimes but I kind of struggle in it. I struggled with some mental health issues my Freshman year so I’ve worked hard to come back from F’s and reach A’s so at this point I’m kind of worn out and want to enjoy my senior year but don’t want to ruin my chances for college. I don’t plan on going to an ivy league or top tier school. I’m already taking AP Physics and a second year of foreign language which is a hard subject for me. I just want some advice so I don’t mess up. Thank you!
I’ve heard a lot of arguments for one over the other. I don’t think there are any clear-cut answers. It is far more important to do well in whichever one you take, then it is to take one over the other. Do you have any idea of your future major? Depending on your future major, it might work out better (slightly) to take one over the other. But ultimately, I don’t think the choice is a major deal, there are many successful college students and graduates from both camps.
My only thought is that precalc may help you with your physics class.
I agree, precalc might be more helpful toward the Physics class - I’m hoping it’s AP Physics I? AP Physics, even the algebra based version, is likely to be challenging if you’re struggling in math.
You’re not planning on applying to T20 schools, but you should check the requirements at the schools you are considering, to see if they indicate a preference.
Ultimately, I don’t think it’s going to matter much. You’ll have all the prerequisites you need to take college level math next year. It certainly doesn’t hurt to take precal, but you should be fine either way.
Precalc— esp if you have to take any math in college.
Another vote for precalc if there is any chance you will need to take a math course in college. Why pay a college for a high school math class when you can take it for free in high school. In addition, if you don’t take precalc, you may begin to forget things from algebra 1 and 2 by the time you get to college.
The schools I’m planning on applying to don’t really seem to have a preference. I guess I’m not totally awful at math but it’s a class I have to try harder in and doesn’t come as naturally to me as science, english, and history. I think I’m just kind of discouraged from it right now because my Algebra 2 class always moved super fast and my teacher wasn’t very good, he’s been teaching a long time and he would just do the problems for you without explaining them and make you feel dumb if you didn’t know how to do it. I think I’ll email my school counselor and see about doing pre calculus because I probably should just put in that effort to do well in it. Thank you everyone!
Some tips on what to do for pre-calc: