Does NYU Poly require Calculus?

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<p>That would be correct.</p>

<p>But my math average needs some help, by next semester. It’s at only 80, well a decimal short of 80… My worst average in my core 4 classes and second worse in all, only foreign language kills my average.</p>

<p>It doesn’t matter. Admissions people will look at the level of difficulty of your schedule as well and take that into account. You are honestly better off taking calculus. It will get you prepared for taking it in college so your college GPA doesn’t suffer. Statistics won’t honestly do anything for you until you get later and have to take the calculus based version, at which point it is only very minimally helpful.</p>

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<p>It is generally pretty worthless for subject credit. Almost all of the majors that require statistics typically require a course with a calculus prerequisite.</p>

<p>How is the school in general? Are there a lot of undergrad research opportunities? How well does it prepare me for grad school and PHD program? How are the professors? Work load? Highest math classes offered there? What about physics? Is it a place where I can geek out to the max?</p>

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<p>The rule of thumb said that if you want to get into a good school you need a good SAT (or ACT), and it is helpful if you also have taken the Subject tests, such as Math Level 2. </p>

<p>I would never underestimate the difficulty of any course, because there are also external forces that would prevent us from succeeding. Look how many AP classes you are taking. To do well in every class, whether it is considered easy or difficult, one has to be attentive. </p>

<p>You will be dealing with AP classes, managing and doing college applications which are very boring and time consuming, as well as reserving some times for rest and fun. </p>

<p>That being said - you have two options:</p>

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<li>Don’t take Calculus at all, and also drop AP Stat; AP Physics can be quite time-consuming. If you fall behind and you can get lost easily. Some people are not very good at solving word problems, because translating a word problem into mathematics (or basically interpreting the problem correctly) is essentially a skill that one has to develop. Hence, for some people, like myself, have to practice many problems in order to have a good grasp of the material, which means I would be sitting on the chair for a couple hours straight. I am not trying to scare you. </li>
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<p>AP Physics is a good preparation for your college physics, regardless whether it is calculus-based or not. It doesn’t matter. To succeed in any class, especially in Math and Science, one has to sit down and do problems. You have to invent your own questions based on sample questions, and investigate whether the usual approach would work or not. This can eats up half of your day. Having exposed to college physics (again, it doesn’t matter whether it’s calculus-based or algebra-based at this point) before entering your first semester of Physics (in this case, calculus-based Physics [Mechanics] will (1) allow you to be familiar with the kinds of questions that you would see in college physics, (2) allow you to find your weakness, (3) and also will allow you to determine whether you really enjoy physical engineering or not. Maybe you are a Computer Science mind, not a physical science mind. Maybe you find yourself in love with Physics and decide to study Physics instead of engineering.</p>

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<li> Drop AP Stat, and take up the challenge by taking the regular Calculus.</li>
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<p>While you can’t earn college credits for the Calculus, your high school teacher will cover almost everything you need to know. From my own experience, my teacher did not cover multi-variables, conics, series, and some specials topics such as modeling. Basically my high school Calculus covered everything that was on the AB exam and some topics in the BC’s. It helped me very much. I came in with good knowledge of what limit is, how to compute limits, how to do derivatives and anti-derivatives, and integrals (including the specials one, such as cosh, sinh, etc). Back then my teacher would give us 50 problems in class, and most of the class time was practicing; I could solve them in less than 10 minutes. How? Most of them are mechanical - in another words the more you practice you faster you can solve them. Those fifty problems aren’t all straightforward…many of them are pretty difficult to integrate / take derivative. </p>

<p>You are going to be a senior. Your Fall semester’s report is only used to show to the admission broad that you are not procrastinating, and even at the end of your high school career you are still taking every opportunity available to you in order prepare yourself for the higher education. If you think you are bad in Math, I am in the same boat as you. I can’t say I am now a better Math student, but I think you will improve your solving skill gradually when you are motivated to do the problems. Mathematics to most of us are just applications. Most of us don’t need to deal with theories at all. Even if they are theory, you have to do proof exercises, which is another very typical, yet, complex solving problems. </p>

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<p>What is important here is to realize that having bad grades aren’t the end of the world. Heck you can always transferred to NYU-Poly later, say, if you get into CCNY because it is the only school accepted you. Fine. </p>

<p>This summer you should focus on your SAT, and if you haven’t taken SAT Subject, I strongly recommend you to do so. Your Pre-calculus is bad, but many Pre-Calc topics are covered in Math Level II Subject test. I always say it is not difficult to get into NYU-Poly. It is a fact. But still, you are competing against some thousands of applicants. How do you stand out? GPA isn’t the only thing. </p>

<p>:]</p>

<p>I understand now, personally a part of me also wants to be in AP STAT because some of my friends (a lot of them, all took Calculus this year and half of them complained about it) are taking it senior year. So, there is like a social pressure on me, although one of my close friend (very smart in math), told me to go take calculus, he was willing to help me if I needed. </p>

<p>Anyways, I’m not the best math student and ironically my mother used to be a math teacher >.> For me, I can do math if I understand it but if something is changed, I get scared… Like in Pre Calculus, my teacher gave us a test and in the review, we never did a certain kind of problem, it was a problem involving limits(I think), which had Sin and Cos in some fractional function… I got that wrong. Like, if I understand how to do it, I can do it! But if you change how the question looks or is worded, I am usually stuck… or more usually, sometimes I forget due to my lack of studying >.></p>

<p>Any advice on that? I think I will also apply to CCNY, in order to keep my options open but NYU Poly is where I want to go. I have my appointment to the college office tomorrow regarding my future, in terms of college. </p>

<p>Thank You.</p>

<p>^ NYU-Poly’s math is SORT OF structured like that. At least, I have a suspicion that easy questions are disguised as difficult ones to trick you, and you have to problem-solve a lot to figure it out.</p>

<p>Well, I agree with jwxie; practice, practice, practice, especially this summer. Really try AP review books - they’re designed for the true newb and they build up to advanced concepts. I think you’ll be fine if you just sorta ‘get with the program’ so to speak and just get in the habit of practicing problems… on trains on the way to school, in between classes, during lunch, before you go to sleep, when you’re watching TV, etc. I’m trying to say that no one can ace exams with flying colors at Poly if they don’t know how to solve a problem from like a dozen different angles/perspectives.</p>

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<p>An AP course is an AP course. :s I’m not an admissions counselor, but I’m pretty sure someone sane can’t just say, “wow only <em>AP</em> stats? WEAK.” seriously? lol</p>

<p>I’m using statistics in my internship now…granted it’s a business internship. Still though :stuck_out_tongue: I’m an engineering major, but I guess you just never know!</p>

<p>davidthefat! hi! I love your post - yes, you can totally geek out to your heart’s content at NYU-Poly. There are actually quite numerous research opportunities at Poly; the coveted ones take place during the summer. About 12-20 professors say they need research assistants, and then they only end up picking a handful out of a bunch of applicants. What major are you looking at though? I want to be able to give you relevant information :slight_smile: I would have to say that the professors and classes are all mixed breeds, but they’re all experts in their fields, and all the classes are at least somewhat challenging and/or time-consuming. Anyway, if you’re looking into physics, try contacting Imhilion; he just finished his freshman year in the Honors program as a physics major</p>

<p>So man decision, so little time. Anyways, have trig regents today, wish me luck!</p>

<p>So nervous, plus my meeting with college office, so let’s see what they recommend for poor old me.</p>

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<p>False. Do you think the admissions committees for engineering are going to give you the same consideration for AP Music Composition as they would for AP Calculus? Not all classes were created equal in regards to difficulty, how well they apply to a given field and how much respect they are given by admissions committees.</p>

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<p>They may not say it like that, but they would say “He took stats but he had the opportunity to take calculus but passed it up. He does realize that calculus is an integral part of engineering, right?” You don’t want them to say that about you. Most good schools want to see that you took every opportunity you had to succeed. Taking a known easier class instead of one that is a core class for engineering curricula to get a head start definitely looks bad.</p>

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<p>That doesn’t really apply then, does it? We are talking about engineering here, not business. Sure, many engineers will use statistics, but it will be calculus based when you take it, so AP statistics is about as useful as non-calculus-based physics, which is only slightly. On the other hand, calculus is calculus. Seeing it in high school to at least get a taste, even if it is only AB, will be invaluable towards getting you started on the right track for an engineering program.</p>

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<p>They’ll know the difference between AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics.</p>

<p>They can just go to the AP forum and look for the “easiest APs to self-study” threads to figure out which to regard less.</p>

<p>If you’re not confident enough in your mathematical ability to chance taking Calculus AB/BC in high school (not everybody has this opportunity), then you are not cut out for either CS or CompE. Mathematics is the basis for any career dealing with computers.</p>

<p>Frankly, given your interests, you might consider “Information Technology” or “Information Systems” type programs (possibly in the college of business or liberal arts). Perhaps “Graphic design” with a digital twist?</p>

<p>What I tried to convey and failed: they will see the letters “AP” and they will know that it is an above average difficult course.</p>

<p>Also what I tried to convey and failed: they can’t assume you’re slacking off - maybe you actually want to take AP Music, AP English, or AP Stats. And by “can’t assume,” I mean I guess they could, but if they do, then they’re pretentious little kdklskf’s, huh?</p>

<p>The popular argument seems to be, “Nooo, don’t take AP Stats, they’ll think you’re slacking off!” What if you actually want to take it? So you shouldn’t take it because you’re scared they’ll judge you? No, if you’re judged or looked down upon on that basis, then why would you seriously want to go to such a close-minded school? I mean, again, you can, but whatever happened to the principle of things? Or integrity? It’s definitely a personal opinion of mine though, and I see people try and become what they think colleges want them to become, but I just couldn’t ever advocate it :/</p>

<p>Obviously you can’t compare music to math though… math is so much nicer :)</p>

<p>No. The bigger argument is that calculus will help you for engineering MUCH more. Admissions aside, you are doing yourself a disservice by taking stats instead of calc. Personally, I took both and stats was still a little useful, but not nearly a much as calc. Not even remotely close.</p>

<p>lol I know that, as I took both as well. I also suggested dukedom take calculus, which I posted here–> <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1163613-does-nyu-poly-require-calculus-3.html#post12805283[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1163613-does-nyu-poly-require-calculus-3.html#post12805283&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>My “AP is still AP” comment was in response to an earlier post saying that colleges would think you are slacking if you were to take AP Stats. I apologize for not quoting the parts I’m replying to - I have had trouble doing that lately.</p>

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>Anyways, I talked to my college advise giver and she told she didn’t see any reason why NYU Poly wouldn’t accept me. Even though they are part of NYU, their expectations are lower. I am a B student and have taken Physics and stuff, so I’m good to go. She asked what classes I’m taking and asked why I was taking so many APs cause college don’t really care about the senior year… </p>

<p>Anyways, all I need is some recommendations. My SAT scores didn’t come in yet but I had gotten a 1550 on my PSAT and she said based on my average and PSAT, I was good to go. CCNY is a safety school for me. </p>

<p>Anyways, I might take AP Calculus, switching out of AP Stat in the beginning of next year…I’m done with all my other regents :slight_smile: but sadly got a 75 >.> But my Physics teacher said that was good though, for some reason… I’m guessing it was hard and no one got a 100, a girl I know got a 95.</p>

<p>I don’t know if your guidance counselor is aware of how much Poly changed in just a few years. =/ I’m looking at the 2010 stats now (not even the 2011 ones - apps have shot up every year since 2008), and I don’t think I’m allowed to show you the data, but you really need to bring up that SAT if it’s out of 2400. :/</p>

<p>Wait, why aren’t you allowed? O.o</p>

<p>I’m not sure if I mentioned this but I know someone who got accepted to Poly this year. He had an 86 average but took Calculus (he told me he doodled on the AP exam though :/). He got a 1500-1600 on his SAT and got accepted to some program in NYU Poly. </p>

<p>I know someone else but he’s much smarter :stuck_out_tongue: he got in without a problem but that kids a genius who got like a 5 in AP Chemistry and 4 or 5 on AP Calculus… Took AP Stat exam this year and said it was a joke, lol. He was also the president of the math honor society, among other things.</p>

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<p>For a student who completed precalculus as a junior and intends an engineering or CS major, and can choose AP Statistics and/or AP Calculus for senior year, a student not taking AP Calculus (whether or not s/he takes AP Statistics) would be seen as “slacking off” compared to a student who takes AP Calculus (whether or not s/he also takes AP Statistics).</p>

<p>If you were an admissions officer and saw two transcripts from students at the same school, but one took APs in Calculus BC, English Literature, Physics C, and Chemistry, while the other took APs in Statistics, Environmental Science, Physics B, Human Geography, and Psychology, which would you think took the more rigorous schedule, and which would you think was “slacking off”?</p>

<p>Okay guys, I got my SAT scores for June. Hahah, ironically it’s pretty much the same as my PSAT with me scoring higher in math. Which is really weird because I’ve always considered myself a better English student than a math student. But here is the results:</p>

<p>Critical Reading 510
Math 520
Writing 520</p>

<p>Combined, that’s like 1550 right? I got an 8 on the essay, which is surprising but I’m happy, especially because I made my own story line up for the essay question. I’m going to retake it of course and probably go through a Kaplan SAT course.</p>