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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]not taking calculus in HS will not hurt your child if she is not majoring in STEM. [/b]

FWIW, I took calculus BC in HS and studied Computer Science in college.  In my current job as cyber security engineer, I do NOT use calculus at all.  I don't think any software developers use calculus in their day to day job at all.[/quote]

You're really missing something here.  A large number of colleges expect it.  Not having calculus in HS will absolutely hurt a kid who plans on applying to competitive colleges. Not having calculus in HS doesn't hurt a kid who doesn't plan on majoring in STEM AND only plans on applying to very average colleges. [/quote]

Agree.  The fact is today calc is a high school class (at least for the college bound), the earlier math classes are geared toward completing calc, and the student who doesn't get there has lost the plot.  (Colleges teach calc, but it's a different course, and all the harder for someone who didn't have the HS version.)  Part of being an exceptional HS student is being well rounded in core subjects.

No one should tell a potential STEM major to skip AP English either.  Colleges look for that, no one believes it's a college level class, but it's a chance to explore the analysis and writing that college will require.  (That was the last quality lit class I had to take as a future STEM major, but all the more reason to take advantage in HS.  And skipping it could bite you in the butt studying STEM at a SLAC.) If a student decides against taking the culminating class, it's a weakness.  That may be the right choice for the individual, but it is what it is.[/quote]

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