How important is it to take math for four years in high school?

Question

It's only mandatory to take it for three years, but of course colleges would prefer four. But how much does it really affect the applicant?

Answer 1

You should definately do it.
Especially because some majors at Universities will require you to take one more and the course will be 1,000 harder and faster than at highschool. I strongly recommend it. You can do the work now or you can do the work later but harder.
And you know, if you say I'll just do it later. Its easier to take math courses one after another so you're fresh on the subject. I hate math, but I was in advanced math, just chug through it, take all 4 years and get it over with. Because if you only take three in HS and than skip a year or two before you take the next level course, you'll be playing catch up because you will have forgotten most of what you've learned! And if you didn't take math, only do so because you have another interest that relates to the major you want (i.e. music or art or biology, etc) [however warning most sciences will require you to have all your high level math courses completed as pre requisities later anyway so you still might as well take it now] because on a college app. it will look bad if you just take a random easy elective like P.E. or Elementary Drawing. Hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

Skipping the 4th year of math is VERY tempting, substituting PE or something but if your going to an Engineering school then ABSOULTELY not. If your going the liberal arts route, then it depends on your other grades. Bottom line, you probably should so you wont forget it and it will be current when college freshman calculus kicks your butt. I took general calculus as opposed to advanced as a compromise. Good luck!

Sorry, i forgot, most schools number one thing they look for in a candidate BEFORE grades is did the applicant apply himself and take the HARDEST courses his.her school had to offer or did they take gym instead of math. Hint, hint!

Answer 3

Take the math. If you were an admissions officer and had to choose between a student who took math all four years, and may not have gotten straight As, and a student who took blowoff courses sr yr, and did get the straight As, which one would you choose?

If you have the ability, take AP Calculus. If you score well, you may not have to take math again in college. If your HS offers stats, you could take that instead. But keep in mind it is not the blowoff course other seniors might think it to be.

Answer 4

It is not a necessity, especially if you are applying to a school in which to will be studying a non-math related major. I was an English major, I did not take four years of math in high school, and I took absolutely no math in college. All you really need to do is take the amount of math required to graduate from your high school.

Answer 5

It doesn't affect you too much if you aren't going into anything requires much math in college. Most colleges require some pretty tough math (Even for non-math majors) for those who aren't math-oriented so be careful. Your best bet is to just tough it out and have the option later on, rather than be behind if/when you need it.

Answer 6

It depends on what your major is. If you're planning on majoring in a math or science related field, your best bet is the four years of math. If you're planning on being an English major, then 3 years of math should be fine. If you're unsure, check with your guidance counselor at school.

Answer 7

It really depends on what you want to do.

If you intend to go into any sort of technical field the more math the better. On the other hand, if you decide to get a degree in something like English literature it will probably be less important.

Answer 8

It really depends on what you want to do.
You'll end up taking the math courses you skip in college if
you want to do ANY engineering or science jobs.

You might not need it if you take up philosphy, language,
art - but these are not the high paying disciplines these days.

I suspect you don't need it if you take up accounting
(though clearly you will need statistics in a big way).

Answer 9

i don't know about affecting the actual application process but when you get into some math in college you will wish you had taken all you could in high school. especially if math is not your strong suit or you simply do not like it and find it difficult to motivate yourself to do the work.

Answer 10

Very important. Math is in pretty much evrything we do. Colleges look for more than whats mandatory.