Math tracking is done in 6th grade, to take algebra in 7th. I do think a kid should take calc bc if offered (rather than just ab). But I really can’t imagine that kids who take it in 11th are given a significant boost. That would be so silly to say that you can’t go into engineering based on decisions made in elementary school.

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a Junior and will be applying to VA Tech next year (computer science) He is taking AP Pre Calculus now and will be taking Calculus in his senior year. Will VA Tech want to see Calculus completed (with a grade) before he applies?

No. He’s fine.

My DS is a Junior and will be applying to VA Tech next year (computer science) He is taking AP Pre Calculus now and will be taking Calculus in his senior year. Will VA Tech want to see Calculus completed (with a grade) before he applies?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Highest they can do at their HS.

^ This aim for the highest track available and if your HS offers other engineering courses take those as well.

WRONG. All of LCPS offers up to Multivariable Calc. My son took it his junior year and on average there are 15-20 kids COUNTY WIDE who take it each year. I can promise you that VT engineering is full of LCPS kids who never took Calc 3. BC calc is more than sufficient in the NoVA area.

Anonymous wrote:Calculus AB or BC

When we toured for engineering, DS was told to finish BC with an A before applying. He got in to Purdue and Georgia Tech so never returned to apply to VT

Calculus AB or BC

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Highest they can do at their HS.

+1.
(For context, some rural VA school systems in SW VA do not offer Calculus at high school, so they can’t easily require Calculus of those students.)

Virtual Virginia offers it

Anonymous wrote:Highest they can do at their HS.

No. The expectation is Calculus, if offered. Higher level classes, e.g., differential equations and linear algebra, are a bonus, not an expectation.

Why do high schools offer so much college math? It seems like it hurts almost all of their students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Highest they can do at their HS.

+1.
(For context, some rural VA school systems in SW VA do not offer Calculus at high school, so they can’t easily require Calculus of those students.)

The key is what is needed for admissions and what is needed if you are accepted in preparation for the degree. So students should take the highest and hardest math offered (admissions) and if accepted then it's going to be important to be prepared for the degree - it likely means taking a math placement test and working toward math prep for the degree requirements with the knowledge you could be take longer in your degree sequence.

Anonymous wrote:Highest they can do at their HS.

+1.
(For context, some rural VA school systems in SW VA do not offer Calculus at high school, so they can’t easily require Calculus of those students.)

To be accepted you have to have completed Algebra II. But highly doubt that is enough since you would have a hard time placing into the first math class.

Recommendation is to have taken most rigorous. Typically that would mean AP Calculus 1 at a minimum.


This is the freshman math requirement class with info on what you need to do to place into it:

https://math.vt.edu/undergrad-math/courses/math-1225.html#:~:text=MATH%201225%20is%20a%20four,continuity%2C%20differentiation%2C%20and%20integration.

Anonymous wrote:Highest they can do at their HS.

^ This aim for the highest track available and if your HS offers other engineering courses take those as well.

Highest they can do at their HS.

Which high school math track is the admissions office looking for?