<p>I really want to get into Princeton, but (looking at math alone) will the math classes I'm planning to take be enough to be considered by Princeton?
Freshman - Algebra 2, Sophomore - Precalculus, Junior - AP Calculus AB, Senior - AP Calculus BC
Some of my friends are already taking Precalculus as a freshman. Will this have a negative effect on my college application?</p>
<p>I don’t think one class will make such a HUGE impact on your college apps. Just get an A, do really well in AP Calc., get a good rec. letter with your calc. teacher. Overall, just do well.</p>
<p>I know multiple people going to ivies who are in AB or BC and that’s it. Relax and realize that you have an advantage here not a disadvantage. Realize that a small percentage of people even get to BC at all.</p>
<p>Lol. That is ridiculous. I will be a senior next year taking Pre-Calculus, because I wasn’t put into Algebra 1 in 8th grade, before high school even started</p>
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<p>You started high school two grade levels ahead in math, and will finish high school one grade level ahead in math. Which means that you will still be ahead in math.</p>
<p>The only thing you could possibly do better is take BC junior year and your HS apparently doesn’t teach it that way (where BC is a combined AB/BC course in one year). Very, very few US HS students take pre-calc freshman year, and doing so doesn’t get you into an Ivy automatically - in fact I can guarantee you some people gain entrance to Ivies never having had calculus in HS at all.</p>
<p>^True, students get into Ivies with Precalculus as their senior Math class. Others have calc Ab or BC senior year, and this would be especially important if you plan on a STEM major. (Many students get to engineering without calculus in HS).
Your schedule is rigorous. Don’t worry about it, focus on getting A’s in your chosen classes, and don’t make the mistake of the “everything but the kitchen sink” AP approach. Spend time doing fun things in the summer and to have a favorite TV show (as those may pop up in interviews or supplement)s. </p>
<p>No, you won’t have a good chance in getting into an Ivy School if you take precalculus in 10th grade or 9th, or 8th for that matter. That alone does not give anyone a good chance of getting into an Ivy School, as you put it. There are plenty of students who get accepted into an Ivy School without an accelerated schedule and even more not accepted even with.</p>
<p>Dude, you are a freshman. Your one Precalculus course isn’t what is going to get you into an ivy. Relax and just focus on getting good grades.</p>
<p>I’m 100% sure you’re fine. I know several people who got into top schools(including Princeton) who took Calculus BC, even Calculus AB, as seniors.</p>
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While I agree that good grades matter, I’d reword this: Focus on paying attention in class, getting your work done, being a positive presence in the classroom, and learning rather than just memorizing. I have had “A” students who I could barely recommend, because they were mercenary robots. I have had “B” students who I would warmly recommend because their minds were at work and they made the classroom a better place. If you learn for learning’s sake, you may end up finding the best college for you rather than shaping yourself for a college.</p>