Math Dilemma... Milton Friedman won't be so happy?

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>Hey guys, I hope you’ll view this as a less conventional chances thread. You see, I’ve had this math dilemma throughout high school which I have found to lower my chances of getting into my dream schools severely. </p>

<p>A brief profile: Junior, Asian, Male, NY
Intended Major: International Relations (aspiring Woodie Woo graduate), economics concentration OR Econ and IR double major
GPA is a 4.13 out of 5 (5 = H = 1st place in an honors class, 4.3 = A+, 4 = A, 3.7 = A-, 3.3 = B+, etc.)
So it’s essentially an A
I’ve taken all all honors and AP’s with the exception of Freshmen year art, Sophomore year Film, and Junior Year Latin. I’ve taken a total of 4 AP’s: APUSH, AP Eng Lang, World History, and Physics B. </p>

<p>SATs: 800 Wr, 800 Cr, 690 Mth ----- retaking to get a better math score, I know I can at least break 700 (reasoning is that I really need to shake off my image of incompetence in math).
II’s: 770 World, 770 US, 700 Bio Molecular, 640 IIC (!!!)</p>

<p>ECs/Awards:
President of Junior Statesmen of America (passion in politics), regional assisstant director of debate
President of Model UN (I’m extremely passionate about this activity as well as IR, and will probably write my common-app essay for fav activity on it). CMUNCE 2005 Best Position Paper Award, UNAR 2005 Outstanding Delegate
Weekly School Newspaper (one of few in the nation) - Junior year News Editor, Senior Year Opinion Editorial Editor
Mock Trial - Attorney
Amnesty International - Treasurer (Free Tibet! :slight_smile: )
Filmmaking
National Honor Society member (this is really pointless at my school - basically you’re recruited if you have above a 3.5 (Approximately a B+/A- range) GPA, but the NHS leaders are pretentious Bahstahhhhds (coincidentally, the initials of my high school are NHS - Niskayuna High School).
National Merit Semifinalist
Reel Teens Film Festival 2004 Finalist
National Latin Exam Gold, Silver
National French Exam regional placed 11th, placed 15th in 2005
French Department Honors certificate
NCTE Writing Competition nominee (awaiting results).</p>

<p>Okay, here’s my dilemma: I’ve demonstrated through both grades and SAT scores to have poor math skills. Now, I know being an IR intended major sort of mitigates the amount of damage that does, but I don’t want colleges thinking I’m incompetent in quantitative reasoning. Furthermore, I’m Asian. I kinda just wanna know what my chances are like (I’m not so confident anymore, given my math weakness), based on your own personal experiences or speculations. Here’s a breakdown of my math grades:
Freshmen year Geometry Honors - A
Sophomore Year Trigonometry/Algebra II Honors - B
Junior Year Precalculus Honors - B-
Senior Year AB Calc (I intend to work my ass off to salvage any mathematics dignity I have for at least the first semester) </p>

<p>Do I have a shot?</p>

2

<p>They want you to be successful at their college. If you were a math major, but demonstrated poor math grades (although yours aren’t bad, really), then they might question your admittance. However, you’re in international relations, and through your ECS and other grades, you obviously would be successful in that field.</p>

<p>I think you’re fine. Write good essays.</p>

3

<p>Wait, you want to major in International Relations are are worried about Bs in math?</p>

<p>Seriously, calm down before you have a heart attack at 29.</p>

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<p>Well, to put it into perspective - I’m at the bottom of my math class. It’s sort of unsettling when your math teacher gives you dirty looks, if you know what I mean.</p>

5

<p>If being at the bottom of your math class equates to a B-, you’ve got other things to worry about, namely discussing why grade inflation isn’t hurting you. O_o</p>

<p>Anyway, I don’t believe that being deficient in math will do anything as long as you aren’t going into a field where math skills are important. Exception if you turn this deficiency into a plus and write about how you struggle with a subject you love but can never quite grasp/are too advanced to study in high school for (Albert Einstein excuse), etc. Chances are that’s not the case… so move on. Do what you can with studying and extra credit, and show Chicago how great you are in other areas.</p>

6

<p>****…</p>

<p>dont worry about the math. a B- is really not so bad (ok so right now I would be unhappy with a B- but I’m only doing real work in 2 out of 7 classes…7 more days). Your GPA clearly has not been hit hard by the math (and 690 on math is not a bad score either).</p>

<p>Personally I would say…dont try too hard in calc the AB test isnt going to get you anything usefull at chicago (especcialy if you arent very good at math) and considering you dont think yourself very strong in that area, you will almost definately be taking calc your first year of college. Don’t drop lower…but you dont need to pull off an A+ or anything. If you are worried, get a TI-89 and learn how to use it. You still need to know how to set up the problems for tests and the such but the 89 can tell you whether or not your setup was right so you can try it again.</p>

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<p>Why do you keep taking honors Math if you are having a difficult time with the subject? Consider switching out, and taking math at your own pace. Colleges will understand. Hell, I didn’t even take math this (senior) year, and still got into UChicago</p>

<p>P.S. B- is the lowest grade in your honors math class? All this grade inflation is ****ing me off. </p>

<p>Cesare</p>

8

<p>I got a 670 on SAT 1 math and i still got into chicago, and i’m going to go into the sciences. SAT 1 math is, IMO, pointless. try to improve your SAT IIc score, it’s more important.<br>
Oh, don’t ask your math teacher for a rec letter if he/she gives you dirty looks… :wink:
as fortune said, write good essays and you’ll be fine</p>

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<p>i had a lot of trouble with SAT math, too, even though i’m fairly decent at math when i try (aka i study A LOT). anyways, i pushed my SAT I up from 710 to 740 by just doing a lot of practice, because generally i just am lazy and make stupid mistakes. i was planning on taking IIC after precalc, but bombed practice tests, and took it after calc, in which case the tests were a lot easier, and i got an 800. so, don’t worry so much. SAT I math is for lame-os.</p>

<p>…and i got into chicago too.</p>

<p>however, if you think you might be an econ major, keep in mind that you WILL continue taking math, especially at chicago.</p>

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<p>ya, don’t worry about your satI math score.
690 is pretty nice. (satI math is not a real math anyways; it’s reasoning;;:wink:
anyways, it will be really nice if you can raise your satII math score.
I mean, considering you are gonna be an IR major, you really don’t need to do that. but, if you are really concerned about your ‘incompetence’ in math, raising satII score would be better than breaking 700 on satI math score.</p>

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<p>and…
dude, inspite of my incompetence in English, I got accepted.
(I got 650 on v section. I tried really hard to break 700 too, but failed)
what that means is that you have a good chance with 690 on math.</p>

<p>anyways, your resume looks awesome, great scores, a lotta EC activities/awards. It really makes me feel incompetent :-)</p>

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<p>You and I are kind of similar. Both juniors wanting to attend UChicago. I have one B in my math record, but that was a bloody hard class. The math teacher was picky for all things. I also want to be an IR major and take Latin (latin is my life though). I’m asian too. Wow, creepy. Although your SAT scores own mine. I think you should calm down. You’ll be fine with a 690 in my opinion as it is. In fact I don’t think a retake would be advisable since you could be putting your other scores on the line. Also, keep in mind UChicago does’t require SATII scores so you don’t even need to send those. You should probably retake them though for your other schools.</p>

<p>Otherwise, sit back and enjoy life a bit too. You are a high schooler. Contact me! You and I are in a similar boat.</p>

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<p>hehe dude it;s ok chill. i got into uchicago with a 640 in math2c. :wink: same innit? but then again, u chicago doesnt require SATII scores. i have a HUGE math problem, and had to redo pre-calc in school. hello remedial class. haha…</p>

<p>but here’s the thing, apparently econs at uchicago is VERY math-based and calculus-heavy so you might want to think about that when u apply. it’s one of the reasons i chose not to attend uchi this fall. i still wonder if ive made the right decision. <em>sigh</em></p>

<p>but back to the point…what u should do is to do an additional SAT II subject since colleges only look at the highest three. </p>

<p>have fun, good luck, i think u have a great shot at all your schools. adieu.</p>