<p>This seems appropriate, however. Regardless of how good you are at math, if you don’t know trig, placement into calculus is a mistake, like placement into Multivariable Calculus without an understanding of integrals is silly. From that standpoint, they can’t place you with disregard for what you know. On the other hand, some schools offer different levels (including different rates of acceleration) based on how good you are at math (I took geometry, algebra 2, precalc with trig, and BC calculus in 2 years through such an arrangement of courses). This would probably be preferable as a system, but the cost is inhibitive, especially if there aren’t enough students with the ability, background, or motivation.</p>
<p>Not skipping will not show a lack of motivation. It’s not expected that students skip classes. Doing so, assuming you get a solid background (particularly in trig, logs, and polar coordinates), would prepare you for further coursework, but doing so for college is not a good idea, especially due to the risk of dooming yourself to a less-than-stellar understanding of precalc. I don’t necessarily recommend against it, but I would ask guidance counselors and math teachers for advice specific to you.</p>
<p>Uroogla- It’s appropriate at this point, yes, but I was talking about in middle school / elementary school years. My elementary school only JUST BARELY failed to prepare me for Algebra 1, and I got stuck with a bunch of kids who couldn’t understand how to multiply fractions, and have been stuck with that same group of kids for my high school career (some STILL can’t multiply fractions). There are only 2 “speeds” you can go at, CP and honors, neither is fast enough… So many regrets.</p>
<p>Skipping precalculus is an option, but I think in order for you to prove to colleges that you’re good at math, you’ll need either really good recommendations from your math teacher that specifically talk about your mathematical abilities, or some involvement with math outside of the curriculum. This can include joining your school’s math club (or starting if one doesn’t already exist), and doing well on competitions, attending some sort of a math camp, doing some sort of research in math, or taking a high-level math class that’s also accessible, such as a problem-solving class at a local college, an honors calculus class where they prove all the theorems taught in calculus, or a class from [Art</a> of Problem Solving](<a href=“http://www.artofproblemsolving.com%5DArt”>http://www.artofproblemsolving.com). </p>
<p>But whether or not you reach multivariable or whatever math class or not by your senior year doesn’t really tell colleges as much as the things listed above, since there isn’t much needed to be ahead and still do well, besides being lucky in middle and being places in the right track. And so many people retake this class anyways once they get to college that it might not even be worth it.</p>
<p>I think you should either skip or not skip to prove that you’re good at math to yourself. Like an earlier poster said, taking calculus your senior year is par for the course, but it’s not uncommon for kids to go a year or two beyond that, so simply skipping ahead and taking calculus next year isn’t going to be all that impressive in and of itself. Now if you go ahead and skip and find that you excel at calculus as well, that opens up the door to do well on the AIME/USAMO/etc, which will be impressive. </p>
<p>If you find your math classes boring, you might as well go ahead and skip. Last semester I decided to take an analysis class since I was looking for a challenge and I also consider myself good at math. As it turned out, most of my classmates were sophomores. It ended up being a really hard class but I pulled a B+ in it, and more importantly, I learned a lot.</p>