Hey guys! I am just wrapping up my sophomore year, and I have a few questions about college stuffs. I was wondering how my math schedule will effect my chances of college admissions at T20 schools (think lower ivies).
My math schedule so far is:
Freshmen year: Calc BC - B+ and a 5
Sophomore (now): Linear Algebra (A) and Calc III (A- predicted)
Junior: Real Analysis and Abstract Algebra I
Senior: Vector Analysis, Abstract Algebra II, Chaos Theory
How will these courses help with my college admissions (assuming I do ok in them)? Any feedback is appreciated, I know that it’s early to be worrying about admission in sophomore year, I’m just interested.
Assuming A grades, advanced college courses may help some. But you should not assume that a super-selective college is anything other than a reach. You also need to talk to your parents about what they will contribute, and you and they need to run the net price calculators on the college web sites.
Some suggestions on course selection:
A. You may want to include for college sophomore level math courses differential equations and discrete math before taking more advanced college math courses.
B. You may want to have some other course besides real analysis as your first proof-oriented math course. Real analysis is often considered one of the more difficult proof-oriented math courses, so something else (e.g. proof-oriented upper level linear algebra, abstract algebra) may be a better choice as your first proof-oriented math course.
C. If you want to go on to PhD study in math, a reading knowledge of French, German, or Russian is often a requirement (for reading math articles and research papers written in those languages). So if you are choosing between foreign languages in high school, or can take an additional foreign language as an academic elective beyond whatever one that you have already been taking to reach a high level, that may be a consideration.
Thank you for the help ! I don’t really want a PhD in math, I’m looking for a double major in Biochem and Econ but idk beyond that. I’ve taken several econ courses at a local college, and am taking science courses at the college this year and onward as well (Calc Based Physics and Chem 1 so far). I think I have a reasonable curriculum besides math, I’m taking all honors and APs where offered in all subjects. I’m taking Spanish currently, would you recommend I take on another language?
If you want to go on to PhD study in economics, you may want to include differential equations, proof-oriented upper level linear algebra, and real analysis among your college math courses, and add upper level calculus based probability theory and statistics as well.
Biological sciences will also make use of statistics.
@Hamurtle my dream school, and the school that both my parents, and one of my grandparents went to is a “lower ivy”. In saying that, I only meant higher acceptance rates, nothing more. I would probably choose Dartmouth over any other ivy. I was just trying to refrain from using names, without having people get the idea I was applying to HYP as my goal.
It’s good to have such advanced math skills at an early age as long as you can keep up with and understand the work. My son also took (or self taught when the course wasn’t available) many advanced math classes as well. When the AO talked to him about what impressed her with his app, though, it wasn’t the advanced courses, it was how he used the math in outside projects. He wasn’t just taking the classes to take a class, he was learning the material because he wanted to use it in projects or issues he wanted to try to solve. So if you can find some ways to use your math ninja skills in some actual real world problem solving, might be something to consider as a helpful EC. Good luck.
Take French or German at the college where you take math. Do include calc based statistics and probability. And absolutely find a way to have a positive impact thanks to your attention skills.
My three daughters took Multi variable calculus while in high school. Obviously you are more gifted in math, but I think high school is a great time where you can explore and figure out what do you want to pursue. I would advise in summer experiment in other subjects. My daughters pushed themselves deeper in subjects they developed interests such as history, English, foreign language, economics etc. You have a gift and therefore have a luxury to experiment with different interests.
When you will work in real life you have to relate to people. Excel in intra-personal skills, improve writing (being an immigrant this was our priority). I suck at it but still try to express my views in my broken language. Go and have fun with life as taking calculated risks will pay off.
@milee30 I am hoping to be able to tie in my math knowledge to my chemistry research. I’ve been doing lab research at the University this year on molecular chemistry, should I take a math class that is specifically optimized for chemistry?
No - my recommendation is no more classes; you have more than enough classes. I think it would be most helpful if instead you do some work outside school using your math skills in real world applications. Solve a problem, help a nonprofit optimize some process, use it in your own experiments… show you are ready to go to the next level. Taking classes is having knowledge fed to you; using those things you learned is the next level of engagement. S
The sophomore classes are fine, but I wouldn’t take abstract algebra and real analysis. Those are theoretical math classes with little applications, mostly more math majors, and heavily into proofs. You should take AP statistics or college statistics if you have not already done so. For more math classes, I would recommend discrete mathematics, an engineering oriented differential equations class, maybe a more advanced probability and statistics, numerical analysis, or an introduction to operations research.
Taking both Real Analysis and Abstract Algebra I will eat up your time as a high school student. These classes are considered to be very time consuming courses and one of the hardest courses as a math student. My advice is if you want to take these two courses, make sure to read “how to read math proofs” I can’t post a link since CC doesn’t allow. please beware.
@milee30 my top college requires 4 years of math, so not taking anymore classes is not an option unfortunately. I’m sure the college would frown upon going backwards or taking easier math courses just to fill the credit. Maybe I should take some statistic classes, or branch out into other parts of math instead of going into proof oriented math?
Calculus-based statistics and probability isn’t “easier”, nor are many of the classes suggested here, so don’t worry about it.
I think you should take 2 math classes at the college (one calculus-related and one statistics or discrete math?), along with one foreign language class (French or German), plus 3 classes at the high school (or 3 academic classes + 1 elective/fun class).
And find a way to make your skills and advanced knowledge useful to others.
Your top college requires four years of math, but I count eight courses there, and a semester of college is generally equivalent to a year of high school. No college expects an applicant to have completed 24 credits of college level math; only one or two expect the equivalent of Calc AB.
and a 5
! I don’t really want a PhD in math, I’m looking for a double major in Biochem and Econ but idk beyond that. I’ve taken several econ courses at a local college, and am taking science courses at the college this year and onward as well (Calc Based Physics and Chem 1 so far). I think I have a reasonable curriculum besides math, I’m taking all honors and APs where offered in all subjects. I’m taking Spanish currently, would you recommend I take on another language?