College Acceptance

[th3kuzinator]

If you're making algebra mistakes on the SAT math, that will definitely carry over into AP calculus. I agree that the SAT has more "puzzle" type questions than AP calculus, but overall at least 80% of the questions on the SAT are straightforward (there will be 1-3 tricky ones at the end of each section).

Oh, I see what you are saying. Well yeah if you make algebra mistakes on the SAT math, then you will probably make them on the calc test. What I thought you meant was that if you get SAT math wrong then this will carry over to the Calculus test which is simply untrue.

I realize that you are a SAT tutor and that the general format for that test is to list 1-3 tricky questions at the end. But for someone who just took the test in October (and has taken more practices tests than I could care to count) it really seems a lot less than 80% are straightforward on the math section. The whole SAT seems like a puzzle to me, while the ACT seems like a more legit reasoning test. But I digress.

Also just wondering, what is in Calc 3? Sorry, I'm a math major so I'm curious

That is the Calculus Courses name after Calc BC iirc.

It goes Calc AB (calc1) to Calc BC (calc2) and then they just name it Calc 3. I have been told Calc3 really starts to integrate math with science and it uses many types of physics concepts to integrate with Calculus. As I got a 5 on the AB and hopefully do well on the BC this year, I plan on taking calc3 my freshman year.

As opposed to calc3, I think there are also courses such as multi-variable calculus and differential equations that come after calc BC which have more to do with number crunching & computer science.

I think I may want to major in engineering so calc3 is a must.

 

[ballin4life]

Oh, I see what you are saying. Well yeah if you make algebra mistakes on the SAT match, then you will probably make them on the calc test. What I thought you meant was that if you get SAT math wrong then this will carry over to the Calculus test which is simply untrue.

I realize that you are a SAT tutor and that the general format for that test is to list 1-3 tricky questions at the end. But for someone who just took the test in October (and has taken more practices tests than I could care to count) it really seems a lot less than 80% are straightforward on the math section. The whole SAT seems like a puzzle to me, while the ACT seems like a more legit reasoning test. But I digress.



That is the Calculus Courses name after Calc BC iirc.

It goes Calc AB (calc1) to Calc BC (calc2) and then they just name it Calc 3. I have been told Calc3 really starts to integrate math with science and it uses many types of physics concepts to integrate with Calculus. As I got a 5 on the AB and hopefully do well on the BC this year, I plan on taking calc3 my freshman year.

As opposed to calc3, I think there are also courses such as multi-variable calculus and differential equations that come after calc BC which have more to do with number crunching & computer science.

I think I may want to major in engineering so calc3 is a must.

I meant what is covered in Calc3?

Also I took multivariable calc/linear algebra after Calc BC and it was not number crunching or computer science related at all, but obviously it depends on the school (also I was taking the Honors class ... thinly veiled brag ).

As for the relationship between higher level math and SAT math, well, as a Math major at Stanford, I'd be surprised if another Math major here got <700 on the Math SAT. Although higher level math in many ways is NOTHING like SAT math, I still think that it is a prerequisite in many ways.

On the other hand, I have a friend who was a great math student in high school and got an 800 on the SAT Math (and Math II subject test) and I really think he would struggle with my math classes. So in some sense I see it as necessary, but certainly not sufficient for doing well in higher level math (and again I'm sure there are some exceptions, but I'm speaking in generalities).

 

[th3kuzinator]

I meant what is covered in Calc3?

Also I took multivariable calc/linear algebra after Calc BC and it was not number crunching or computer science related at all, but obviously it depends on the school (also I was taking the Honors class ... thinly veiled brag ).

As for the relationship between higher level math and SAT math, well, as a Math major at Stanford, I'd be surprised if another Math major here got <700 on the Math SAT. Although higher level math in many ways is NOTHING like SAT math, I still think that it is a prerequisite in many ways.

On the other hand, I have a friend who was a great math student in high school and got an 800 on the SAT Math (and Math II subject test) and I really think he would struggle with my math classes. So in some sense I see it as necessary, but certainly not sufficient for doing well in higher level math (and again I'm sure there are some exceptions, but I'm speaking in generalities).

It seems you are way more qualified in the math department that I am. I apologize for assuming anything different. Maybe it is just my standardized test taking skills (I have never been to a public school) which are really atrocious in general.

It appears my teachers were wrong about what the math courses were about. They did say it had been 10 years since they had taken the class, but I had no other information to go on. Linear Algebra was another name that was given to me by my math teacher. I might consider taking that as well eventually.

I did really well on the SAT2 Math 2C, but struggled on the SAT1. I don't know what is up with that! Honestly, I can't find any correlation between SAT math and math I may need to know for any type of career. I find it to just be an inane puzzle.

Although it annoys me about how much weight colleges put on that one single test score, it amazes me how competitive the current college process is. I hear the Ivy league schools like to brag to each other how many 2400s they turn down each year throughout the process. Last year to be in the top 10% of my class (my school does not have GPA, they just send the top 10%), you could not have gotten 1 single B throughout your freshman to junior year.

Which brings me to another question. Is all the current hype and hysteria about getting into an Ivy or overly prestigious school even worth it? You are getting the same basic education everywhere you go. The only differences I can plainly see are the alumni networks and perhaps a little name recognition. But is it really worth it?

 

[ballin4life]

Name recognition, name recognition, name recognition.

Going to a top school helps a lot with getting jobs.

Also there are more opportunities for research and better upper division classes if you go to a top school.

At the intro level though, there's not much of a difference in terms of material. It's the basic lecture + tests format. At upper levels you start to get into smaller classes where you can really work closely with super smart/knowledgeable professors. That's true to some extent at most places, but Ivy League schools tend to pride themselves on being research institutions, and I'd say they offer more opportunities along those lines.

Um, and I'm not trying to disparage your math skills or anything. Believe me, I know plenty of people that "hit the wall" with math at Calc or Pre-Calc. Even my friend who I was talking about that got 800/800 on the Math SAT/SAT IIs struggled initially with Calc (first semester was one of two Bs his entire high school career).

Yeah and I did find the SAT II in Math to be easier than the SAT Math. But that's definitely not the case for many (I tutored someone who scored quite well on the SAT Math but needed help with the SAT II). Overall though, I thought the problems on the SAT II were more straightforward in the sense that if you knew the concept tested, you would get the right answer almost every time.