<p>I am a high school junior and I have pretty good stats, except for the fact that I will not be taking AP Calculus as a senior. Instead, I am in trigonometry this year and I will be taking Honors Pre-Calc next year. I have been told that our Pre-Calc is much like college level calculus 1, but I am not sure that matters here. I regret my decision to not take honors math classes all the way throughout high school, but I suppose I cannot change the choices I made as a 14 year old. It really is kind of torturous though. :(</p>
<p>First, is there any way I can get into Brown or other Ivies? (I am from Southern Illinois US, I have a 31 ACT/2120 SAT-I am working on raising those in the fall, female, JewishAmerican/half middle eastern, AP classes in French, History, Gov, Bio, and English as a senior, class rank of 10/260, I had one B freshman year in Hon. Geometry, president of 3 clubs, frequent volunteer in my community, and state Lt. Governor for key club, summer internship with Lt. Governor of Illinois, total of 4 summer jobs throughout high school).</p>
<p>Also, is there anyway for me to make this look better to colleges? Can I accompany my application with a letter explaining myself? I could attempt to take summer Calculus at a community college, however that would have to be wait until after I graduated (I could ask my guidance counselor to write a letter explaining those plans when I apply). I am not sure what to do here.</p>
<p>Please help! </p>
<p>Thanks in advance! 
P.S. Giving hurtful comments to high school students is not helpful. There is a difference between honesty and cruelty. I would greatly appreciate honest responses, but no trolling. Thanks again to those who will take the time out to help me.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about how far you are in math. I know people here who didn’t take the hardest math their school offered (and numerous ones who didn’t take calc, either because their high school didn’t offer it or whatever): they were a different type of person, and excelled elsewhere. We pride ourselves on allowing students to choose their own way, and if you can show how your choices were that, you haven’t really hurt yourself. Keep in mind, one of the most offered classes here is Math 90, which is introductory calculus for those with no background in calc. Sure, it may have helped you (if you don’t bother showing compelling evidence as to why you shouldn’t have taken calc), but given that you have some unique story to tell, it probably won’t actually be the deciding factor. And other than that, relax, trust yourself and your own expectations/chance giving. I’ll say, I know people here with stats like yours, so it’s certainly possible.</p>
<p>Thank you very much! That is unbelievably comforting:)</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s a need for you to explain yourself. Just be proud of the accomplishments you have, and your application will be strong.</p>
<p>^That’s what I meant (didn’t explain it well). Explain yourself by being awesome elsewhere. If you are who you are, it shouldn’t matter that you didn’t do something, what should matter is how you shine where you do.</p>
<p>My best advice to you and anybody else getting your college resume together is to relax a little. Do what you want to do, let yourself be passionate about it, and go from there. I did pretty much everything that I could do at my school (which was about half the size of yours) because I wanted to, not because I was trying to produce some deific slate of achievements.</p>
<p>You do not need to build communities in Cambodia, cure the common cold, and graduate with a perfect GPA while running for public office in order to get into a good school. Relax. Be Quirky. Do what you love and it will speak for itself.</p>
<p>As far as the Calc course is concerned, you need to ask yourself the following question with whatever you want to do in mind: Does it matter? If the answer is yes, take it. If the answer is no, take it if you have a legitimate personal interest in the subject (this should have been a given if the answer was yes). Otherwise, don’t worry about it- it isn’t going to make or break you.</p>