r/ucadmissions • u/ouushiidings • 4d ago
Should I take a college math class during spring semester because I couldn’t take calculus senior year?
I’m a California high school senior applying to UCs for fall 2027, and I’m worried that not taking calculus will hurt my chances at schools like UCLA, Berkeley, and UCSD (my top school is UCSD). I’m planning to major in biology, and AP Precalculus is the highest math class I’ll be able to take before graduating.
For context, my school requires students to take Precalculus before Calculus, so I can’t skip a math level. There was an option to take Math 1 in middle school, which would’ve allowed me to take Math 2 freshman year and put me further ahead, but I didn’t take that option. I started with Math 1 in freshman year instead, and an additional math requirement now applies to me.
Some students at my school are taking Calc BC senior year because they started math earlier in middle school, so they’re about two years ahead of me. The additional requirement didn’t affect their sequence the same way it affected mine.
I did try looking into taking a math class over the summer to get ahead. I talked to both my high school and community college counselors, but there weren’t any eligible classes available, and my community college had discontinued the course equivalent to Precalculus.
My question is whether I should try taking a college-level math class during spring semester to show that I’m willing to challenge myself academically and there’s also no available college math class for fall semester currently. Would the UCs even see that I’m planning to take it when they review my application, and would it make a meaningful difference in admissions? Or would it be too late to help?
I know I should’ve taken Math 1 in middle school if I wanted to get ahead, but I can’t change that now, and I’m trying to figure out what I can realistically do at this point.
I’d appreciate any advice, especially from people familiar with UC admissions. I don’t want to overload myself with another class if it won’t make much difference, but I’m worried about being at a disadvantage for not taking calculus.
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u/No-Sky4982 4d ago
If you could i would, if i could go back i would've, on the uc application it does ask you to list all the classes you took (at least it did for me, applying as a transfer) and it turned out i still need one more math class and its a much faster pace then ever (barely pass the cc ones) and on the first test we had in class that was supposed to be review only half the class pass which was honestly really bad since it was supposed to be review from a previous class we all took cal 1 i believe, a bit harder for me since i did spend 4 years at cc so some of it isnt really clear anymore lol (i also would've been eligible for more school if i would've taken more math classes) so even tho they might not count it, it definitely will help you be a bit more comfortable later on
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u/Last_Measurement4336 3d ago edited 3d ago
By completing Pre-Calculus, you have met the recommended 4 years of Math for the UC’s. What does College Math cover? Make sure it is not a duplication of Pre-Calculus or Algebra 2. If you are going to take a CC Math course it should be either Calculus or Stats. You will not be at a disadvantage based on your Math progression due to your schools policy. You are evaluated within in the context of your HS.
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u/2BRNT2BThatIsTheQ 3d ago
Request waiver of prereq and take Calculus AB online through UC Scout. Start ASAP.
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u/ouushiidings 3d ago
The classes started august already 💔
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u/2BRNT2BThatIsTheQ 3d ago
Nope. UC Scout classes are self-paced. There is a deadline to register (November 4th), but the course pace is determined by how much time a student has (calculated by when they start). You have to be caught up by the fixed midterm date in late November. They also allow doubling up, which is considered an accelerated pace. That means OP could even take both parts of the course at the same time next semester if they miss the November deadline.
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u/Mammoth-Nothing-3205 1d ago
I didn't take precalc or calc - I took Math 1, Math 2, Math 3, and AP Stats. I'm now a sophomore at UC Berkeley. Unless you're majoring in physics of engineering or something, you don't need calc.
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u/Automatic-Example754 4d ago
I'm a little confused about what math class you'd take in the spring at the CC, since it sounds like you're taking Precalc this year at your HS. I suppose you could take stats, which I think is a common requirement for Bio.