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<p>I’m a junior right now. </p>
<p>I have my senior year somewhat planned out. During my senior summer, i’m planning to take calculus during summer school. The problem is, I kinda want to go to study abroad in Japan during that same summer. I hate how it conflicts. Is it worth it? Japan or studying Calc during summer?</p>
<p>I especially want to go to UC’s or private colleges. Would my application look bad if I say I only finished up to Pre-cal?</p>
<p>Tough one. The extracurricular experience in Japan would look great, but most students who get into competitive colleges will have gone well beyond Pre-calculus by the time they graduate. Most students get at least AP Calculus AB under their belt, while a good number of students take both BC and go on to take college level courses like linear algebra and multivariate calculus as seniors. I say go with the math, then again I may be biased, as I am a mathematics major. Still though, I think going higher in math will be the more beneficial option.</p>
<p>Go to Japan. If you ever need Calculus (and there are many majors that don’t), you can take it then.</p>
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<p>Actually, most do not. Completion of precalculus as a senior in high school is normal grade level in the US – a college freshman is expected to be ready to take calculus if needed, but not normally expected to have already taken calculus.</p>
<p>Only a few super-elite STEM-oriented schools expect a freshman to have taken calculus in high school (e.g. Caltech, Harvey Mudd, engineering at WUStL).</p>
<p>The sample four year plans for engineering majors at Berkeley assume no AP credit or other placement beyond first semester freshman calculus. Of course, students who can place into higher level math courses upon freshman entry will gain extra schedule space for additional electives, and more flexibility in when they can take required or optional courses.</p>
<p>I did not mean that the vast majority of all US students complete calculus. The vast majority of US students don’t attend an Ivy League school, a top 20 school like Johns Hopkins and Tufts, or a top state school like UVA. Being in high level classes is always going to boost your chances at schools. I go to a high school in Virginia, and the students who successfully get into UVA (where everyone applies), are ones who have went far in every discipline, math and science included, regardless of their major or career plans. Even if you have no interest in a math-related field, you are still showing colleges that you are taking a challenge and pushing yourself to understand material that isn’t natural to you.</p>
<p>I am aiming for the ivy leage schools as well. I’ll have to think about this. Thanks for the insightful responses. </p>
<p>Then again… I only live once in my life so why not have fun, you know?</p>
<p>Time to ponder about this. I still have a year.</p>
<p>I do have to say that Japan does sound far more enjoyable. Here is an interesting thread about the mathematics level of those accepted to NYU’s Stern (quite selective): </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/new-york-university/1290384-stern-students-what-highest-level-math-class-you-took-high-school.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/new-york-university/1290384-stern-students-what-highest-level-math-class-you-took-high-school.html</a></p>
<p>A good many of them ended high school without calculus. However, I really can’t see one getting into an Ivy without some higher level mathematics.</p>
<p>Go to Japan for the summer. It will almost certainly be a life-changing experience. Calculus usually isn’t. Top schools will understand if you tell that that you had to make a choice and this was the choice you made and why, and how that fits in with your personal goals. </p>
<p>If you feel you absolutely must take calculus, take it on-line in a self-paced course during the school year. Johns Hopkins and Stanford both offer this and there are probably many others.</p>
<p>M’s mom–one cannot succeed in calculus without an understanding of the topics of Pre-calculus, trigonometry primarily.</p>
<p>Adcoms at top schools like to see how you take on challenges and go beyond. You can get into an Ivy without calculus, if you are not planning on a STEM major in college. But, all your other ducks need to be neatly lined up. The decision also depends on the summer program- some are more fun than academic, some put you in dorms (where lots of kids speak English) and others immerse you in the experience by living with families. The decision should make sense for your major or your family background. I like M’s Mom’s suggestion of taking calc online, if that’s what it comes to- it shows you get the big picture.</p>
<p>When you say senior summer, do you mean this summer, the one between 11th and 12th grades or the summer after 12th grade?
If you mean this summer, why not just take calculus in 12th grade if you feel like not taking it would be such a hinderance? If you mean the summer after you graduate, that’s a tad late for consideration for Fall 2013 admissions.</p>
<p>I think you should have four years of math, but senior year doesn’t have to be calculus. What about statistics or some other math course.</p>
<p>Are you planning for a STEM major ? If so, take it your senior year. Also if you are looking to get into top colleges, you shd be taking the highest level of Math offered in your hs. Like my school counselor said, would you rather take it in hs with 30 kids or in college with 300 kids and tuition ?</p>
<p>You can take precalculus and try to self study for the AP calculus AB exam.</p>
<p>But if you’re not going into a STEM major, then I think the Japan experience is more worthwhile.</p>