Is it bad not to take math for 2 years?

BingCold · January 2006

Hey all, i was just wondering if it's bad if my friend didn't take math for junior and senior years (although he already has 5 years of math: algebra1, geometry, algebra2, precalc, and calc AB). Instead he focused more on AP sciences, which is what he intends to major in in college. Thanks for the input!

nom de plume · January 2006

He has sufficient explanation for his math credits, especially if they appear on his transcript and if there are recommenders and counselor reports that justify his being studious and adept in the courses. I see no difficulties for your friend if he is challenging himself enough in school with the other APs. The course difficulty and mild precocity speak for itself.

BingCold · January 2006

yea thats what i told him, that he has enough credits (or more than enough) for math, and he is pursuing ap's in his area of undergrad

eulenspiegel · January 2006

Calculus AB isn't very good for a science major (except maybe biology). Calculus BC at least, plus maybe AP Statistics (a little lightweight) is the standard background at many top schools. Many freshmen will have had some Multivarible Calculus and Linear Algebra, perhaps at a CC or by distance learning.

Pongo · January 2006

i think that's ok, especially if you school doesn't offer anything higher than AP Calc. Our school doesn't really, unless you want to pay 1000 bucks to take calc 2 from a community college. still, i don't know much about the math/science side of things...

nom de plume · January 2006

Many freshmen will have had some Multivarible Calculus and Linear Algebra, perhaps at a CC or by distance learning.

What? Where are you getting this information and what colleges are you looking at? The term "many" is misleading. Though yes I agree that BC is good prep for science majors... The MC/LA/DQ is not the norm.

I think it's more appropriate to say that if he is taking the maximum APs available or near it he will be fine. He seems to have a good reason (I can't say this with complete confidence since I don't know his academic history) for taking this path and I hope his reasons were addressed in his counselor report and in his essays so that it does have some reason behind it (that he wasn't lazy or whatever to do BC or MC/LA/DQ if given the opportunity afterwards).

It's already a given that one might not be able to take every single AP a school offers due to schedule problems or a variety of other reasons. The situation may or may not be exaggerated at more technical universities.

eulenspiegel · January 2006

Not taking math at all, in any form, for two years in high school and stopping short of Calculus BC (which a good student could even self-teach after Calculus AB) is a joke for a physical science major at competitive schools.

nom de plume · January 2006

Alright Eulen - you do make more sense than me.

I was just hoping BingCold would define the person further and the AP pathways the student took. Instead I provided unnecessary digressions into the general process of how someone with APs is evaluated for the quelling of any anxieties. The concerned student has already applied and is probably worried enough.

BingCold · January 2006

yea sorry for the delayed response... he took (counting this year) four ap scienes (bio, phys c, chem, and environmental bio: all 5's), ap calc ab, ap us and euro hist, ap eng, and ap gov. hes indeed interested in bio, chem, or biochem.

eulenspiegel · January 2006

Physics C is impressive and almost a math course! This is a very impressive start for bio and not so bad for chem. Still, if he is not a senior, doing something math-like would be good. It's not too late to self-study Calculus BC. For a senior, never mind.

BingCold · January 2006

ok thanks, i'll let him know. any other feedback?

nom de plume · January 2006

I think it is impressive for him to have taken four AP sciences where two are math-based.

Physics C is offered at few high schools. Wish him good luck.

hideANDseek · January 2006

you don't need to pay 1000 at a community college. you only need to pay like 20 bucks.

eulenspiegel · February 2006

From the Washington Post:

More than 500 students in the Montgomery and Fairfax school systems, the region's two largest, are taking multivariable calculus.

sarahjhansen · February 2006

they don't even offer calc BC at my school...

Hazhulkhen · February 2006

Those statistics are due to two schools:
Montogomery Blair (Montogomery) and Thomas Jefferson (Fairfax)

cimmoresque · February 2006

there are a few at the non-TJ fairfax schools, actually - I know there are students at Westfield, Chantilly, Centreville, and Oakton who are taking Multivariable.

Tetragrammaton · February 2006

But TJ is the only school where it's not too uncommon to find freshmen taking BC Calc. I'd say about half of TJ grads have MultiVar/Linear experience, and a good number have taken even higher classes (Differential Equations, Complex Variables, and Numerical Analysis).

I'm betting that without TJ's numbers, Fairfax schools wouldn't stand out.

chocolateluvr88 · February 2006

I know in Montgomery County there are over 30 people this year taking multivariable calculus at both Wootton and Whitman. I assume numbers for other schools in the area such as Churchill and WJ are similar. It is not just Blair and TJ.

Hazhulkhen · February 2006

Not just, but the vast majority.

bobbobbob · February 2006

might i suggest ap stat or ap calc bc...

colleges want you to be good all around, not just in one field.

Is it bad not to take math for 2 years?

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