My situation goes as follows: Math has always been difficult for me. I took Algebra 1 freshman year and got a C. I took Geometry sophomore year. For first semester, I have a D on my transcript. I decided to drop after the first semester in order to avoid getting another D. To make up for this, I took Geometry over the summer and finished with an A-. I am now in Intermediate Algebra-- I also take AP Econ (has some math). I will be taking Algebra 2 H next summer so that I can finish with Precalc my senior year. I have a few questions:
Should I take “Graph Theory” to add some meat to my transcript for math this year?
Should I find a summer precalc course and take that as well (to take calc 1 senior year)?
How much will my current math situation hurt my chance at getting into a top school considering the rest of my courses are AP or Honors-- and my grades are pretty good.
**Please only answer if you know what you’re talking about-- THANKS!
You will compete against kids with perfect 4.0 gpas and many with most rigorous schedules, plus an array of good ECs. They will have no C or D grades. And no B’s in course related to the possible major. Actually, in many cases, no B’s.
Finish senior year with precalc. Graph theory is a proof-based class, like geometry, which you were not great at. Doubling up on math over the summer is also risky, since you are not a great math student. Just take the one summer class.
I would have plenty of match and safety schools, and only apply to an elite college if you are otherwise a perfect fit, because your math grades will hurt you no matter what you do. The best you can do is finish at your own level, not the level you wish you were at. Having to explain bad grades from doubling-up and accelerating math is worse than just finishing with precalc.
Your transcript is far and away the most important piece of the application puzzle and yours will not compete well at the super selective level. You should really focus on getting a list of match and safety schools and hopefully can gain early admission to one that you could envision yourself attending. Then, you can start applying to Ivy or top tier selective schools against kids who not only took Calculus BC as a prospective social science or english major but also got A’s in the class and 5’s on those exams. The majority of them will still get disappointing news too.
Focus on doing well in intermediate algebra. If you do well, take algebra2 over the summer then precalculus at the slowest possible pace during senior year.
You should take the absolutely most rigorous schedule in other subjects, especially social science and humanities, perhaps trying to accelerate in those subjects, using community college and summer classes. You could try to take two foreign languages to the highest possible level as well as philosophy (perhaps more than one class, since philosophy can demonstrate ease with logic and abstraction.)
Start prepping for the SAT or the ACT right now, perhaps get a tutor, as the SAT/act math will be tough so you want to limit the damage as much as possible as well as work on other subjects tp demonstrate mastery for your strong points.
My daughter took AP Cal Junior year, got a 750 M SAT and did not get into any ivy. You have an uphill battle. Calculus is one corse in particular they will look at. Many schools list how many applicants took calculus and 5 years ago, it would not have hurt much. Today, it’s highly recommended at top 40 schools. Look at 40 to 80 for realistic chances. Yes, take summer courses to try to take it senior year if your goals are that lofty.
You say your other grades are ‘pretty good’. Pretty good is probably not going to cut it either, especially coupled with the C and D. If you don’t have a hook, your transcript needs to be stellar