<p>I am going to be a freshman at Pomona College this fall. I'd like to take a summer class, either biology, chemistry, language, or math. </p>
<p>Could any one give me some advice as if this is worthwhile, and if so, what class should be most beneficial?</p>
<p>Any idea of what you want to major in while you’re here? Pomona will afford you many opportunities in the coming summers, are you sure you don’t want to relax for this one?</p>
<p>I am considering major in either Biology or Neuroscience. I’d like to do well on my placement tests so that I could be placed in more advanced levels of classes.</p>
<p>Thanks for helping me out here.</p>
<p>Hi Pomonakid,
Congratulations on your acceptance. There are only a few instances where you can place into a more advanced level. You’ll want to get through at least Math 31 which is Calc II so passing at least the Calc AB test would be helpful. You also need to pass a language through the 3rd semester so testing out of that placement exam or a 4 or 5 on the foreign language AP would also help. Our son wishes that he had taken the time to take the Chemistry Placement Exam to get into Chem 51 which is one semester as opposed to taking Chem 1A&B. He had taken three years of Chemistry in HS but did not score a 5 on the AP so assumed he should retake Chem 1. Once he got into the class, he wished he had gone the accelerated route. Don’t bother with biology as everyone has to take the same sequence even if you scored a 5 on the AP.
Hope this helps a little.</p>
<p>Math or chem. I’d say getting as far along in math as you can is a good choice for anyone.</p>
<p>Hi Brassmondey:</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. Could you explain a bit about why getting as far along in math is a good choice?</p>
<p>For math and chem classes, I have taken AP chem and AP Calculus BC, AP statistics in high school. Scores on both AP Chem and AP Calc are 4, and will take AP Stats soon. </p>
<p>My goal of taking a summer class is to mostly review a subject. I want to be placed at the correct level, so that I will do well in the classes. I don’t want to skip a level if I should not have.</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>If you’re going to be a biology or chemistry major, especially molecular biology, you’ll want a strong math background for the more advanced physical chemistry/mobio. Lots of math on a transcript (and success in those classes) is also a very strong indicator of analytical and quantitative skills, something that grad schools and employers look for. </p>
<p>My general advice to take advance oneself in mathematics isn’t specific to Pomona. Where will you be taking the classes this summer?</p>
<p>Thanks for the advices. I will be taking the class in a community college this summer.</p>
<p>Why not go travel? It’s the start to college! Give yourself a break and congrats on being a Sagehen!</p>
<p>Welcome to the family.</p>
<p>You’ll be working hard enough in the summers between years, trust me.</p>