Hey guys! So math's not exactly my jam, but I've been hearing mixed things. Do a lot of colleges require you to have taken calculus in high school, or can I get by with just pre-calc? Worried it might affect my chances at some schools.
Each college has its own set of requirements and preferred coursework, but calculus is generally not a mandatory high school course for college admissions. However, the most competitive colleges tend to expect applicants to have taken the most challenging math courses available to them, and this often includes calculus.
If calculus is available at your school and you're aiming for top-tier universities, it is often advisable to take it to show that you're challenging yourself. It signals to admissions officers that you're prepared for college-level math. On the other hand, if you're considering colleges that are not hyper-competitive, pre-calculus might be more than sufficient, especially if you've demonstrated strength in other areas that align more closely with your intended major.
It's always a good idea to look at the admissions pages of the colleges you're interested in to see what they recommend. If math isn't your strong suit, consider focusing on areas where you excel to develop your 'spike' as colleges appreciate depth in a particular area or unique talent as much as they do academic rigor.
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