University admissions question for engineering and science people

[Schrodinger]

If you never took any high school physics courses but wanted to apply to a highly technical program, say like engineering or even physics... would a high calculus mark sway them?

Reason I ask is that I'd like to go into one or the other, but don't have any science credits I did score a 97 in HS calculus though. Calculus (and other mathematics) seems to be the core for many undergraduate programs so I was wondering if it would still show "potential".

 

[Reel]

You can pretty much get into any undergraduate program with any credentials. Think of what you learned in high school as warm-up. Unless you got college credits for it (and even if you did), odds are that you will be taught it again in college.

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: Reel
You can pretty much get into any undergraduate program with any credentials. Think of what you learned in high school as warm-up. Unless you got college credits for it (and even if you did), odds are that you will be taught it again in college.

What about program requirements though? Don't they mean anything?

*sigh* if I don't get in this year I won't bother again. I'm getting too old

 

[Semidevil]

in my university, you get into the program in the 2nd or 3rd year of your college career......the first year is to get rid of the basics.......

unless your going to an ivy leauge, I dont know how these works for incoming freshmen

 

[SaturnX]

Well for our Engineering department, they make it explicitly clear on the requirements for acceptance, ie: Calc, 2 Sciences, Discrete Mathematics, etc.. and I would wager applying without the requirements would hurt you in the long run, then again my school is quite competitive already, so take it how you will.

--Mark

 

[Siddhartha]

I think your grades, SAT scores, letters of recommendation, and maybe activities are more important to an admissions committee.

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: Siddhartha
I think your grades, SAT scores, letters of recommendation, and maybe activities are more important to an admissions committee.

In Canada we don't have SAT

Wow I didn't know undergrad applications required recommendation letters :/ Don't know where I'll get those heh.

 

[kile22]

don't you have a placement exam?
that tells you that you either can start advanced classes or you have to take the basics

 

[SaturnX]

Ah, you're in Canada eh? Yeah, I'm at Waterloo for Engineering, and yeah, what I said stands, I mean universities, give their requirements, and without them, it's gonna be tough against those who have the requirements and say, 97's in Calc just the same..

--Mark

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: SaturnX
Ah, you're in Canada eh? Yeah, I'm at Waterloo for Engineering, and yeah, what I said stands, I mean universities, give their requirements, and without them, it's gonna be tough against those who have the requirements and say, 97's in Calc just the same..

--Mark

Ouch

Well there goes $173

Too bad I can't cancel the application heh.

 

[SaturnX]

Heh, well you never know, things could in fact work out, on a side note, where'd you apply?

--Mark

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: SaturnX
Heh, well you never know, things could in fact work out, on a side note, where'd you apply?

--Mark

Toronto

 

[silverpig]

I know for UBC you have to have math and 2 other sciences in order to get into science as an undergrad. You don't declare physics or whatever until 2nd year. That being said, if you don't meet the reqs, just apply for arts 1st year, take a lot of science "electives" and then transfer 2nd year. You'll just be doing your first credits of english and a few other arts electives out of the way which science students have to do anyways. All 1st year is really is just a levelling of the playing field to make sure everyone has the same background when they start their program in 2nd year.

 

[Mo0o]

I was under teh impression you had to be accept into college then declare your major/department somewhere down the road when your high school credentials didn't matter

 

[jagec]

I don't know how it works in Canada, but most engineering programs in the US don't have you apply until your third year of college. Then they check the prerequisites and grades you got in your college courses, in addition to your personal statement.

High school grades and courses are only looked at when you apply to college in the first place.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: jagec
I don't know how it works in Canada, but most engineering programs in the US don't have you apply until your third year of college. Then they check the prerequisites and grades you got in your college courses, in addition to your personal statement.

High school grades and courses are only looked at when you apply to college in the first place.

What? I would say a lot do it, but most? Not too sure about that (sure some may do, but most?)... I never did and I've never met anyone that had to apply in their third year of college. We started engineering courses in our first semester!

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: SaturnX
Well for our Engineering department, they make it explicitly clear on the requirements for acceptance, ie: Calc, 2 Sciences, Discrete Mathematics, etc.. and I would wager applying without the requirements would hurt you in the long run, then again my school is quite competitive already, so take it how you will.

--Mark

They require a HSer to take Discrete Math? What the heck...

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: Reel
You can pretty much get into any undergraduate program with any credentials. Think of what you learned in high school as warm-up. Unless you got college credits for it (and even if you did), odds are that you will be taught it again in college.

Yep. Non-AP physics is algebra based (without Calculus), so it's just barely an introduction for you. Plus, you need a 4 in the AP Physics sections to get college credit (at least in UCF).

If you're shaky on either, I recommend retaking them. Majors that need them REALLY need a good foundation. If you don't understand Physics I, for example, you'll be screwed in Statics. If you sucked in Calculus I, you'll be lost in Calc II, III, and beyond. Plus, even if you ace your way though the courses while retaking them, you'll have more time to devote on other classes while boosting your overall GPA.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: Schrodinger

Originally posted by: Reel
You can pretty much get into any undergraduate program with any credentials. Think of what you learned in high school as warm-up. Unless you got college credits for it (and even if you did), odds are that you will be taught it again in college.

What about program requirements though? Don't they mean anything?

*sigh* if I don't get in this year I won't bother again. I'm getting too old

Don't your equations count for anything? hehe

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: jagec
I don't know how it works in Canada, but most engineering programs in the US don't have you apply until your third year of college. Then they check the prerequisites and grades you got in your college courses, in addition to your personal statement.

High school grades and courses are only looked at when you apply to college in the first place.

yeah, especially if you start at a junior college

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: Reel
You can pretty much get into any undergraduate program with any credentials. Think of what you learned in high school as warm-up. Unless you got college credits for it (and even if you did), odds are that you will be taught it again in college.

Yep. Non-AP physics is algebra based (without Calculus), so it's just barely an introduction for you. Plus, you need a 4 in the AP Physics sections to get college credit (at least in UCF).

If you're shaky on either, I recommend retaking them. Majors that need them REALLY need a good foundation. If you don't understand Physics I, for example, you'll be screwed in Statics. If you sucked in Calculus I, you'll be lost in Calc II, III, and beyond. Plus, even if you ace your way though the courses while retaking them, you'll have more time to devote on other classes while boosting your overall GPA.

You don't actually get college credit for any AP stuff. You don't have to take the equivalent course and get a bypass, but don't actually get credit for the class (ie, nothing shows up on your college transcripts). You have to actually challenge the course by doing the exam to get credit.

 

[SaturnX]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: SaturnX
Well for our Engineering department, they make it explicitly clear on the requirements for acceptance, ie: Calc, 2 Sciences, Discrete Mathematics, etc.. and I would wager applying without the requirements would hurt you in the long run, then again my school is quite competitive already, so take it how you will.

--Mark

They require a HSer to take Discrete Math? What the heck...

Well part of the revised Ontario curriculum, Discrete/Linear Algebra is a requirement for most, if not all Engineering / Science undergrad programs, well at least in Ontario.

--Mark

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: Schrodinger

Originally posted by: Reel
You can pretty much get into any undergraduate program with any credentials. Think of what you learned in high school as warm-up. Unless you got college credits for it (and even if you did), odds are that you will be taught it again in college.

What about program requirements though? Don't they mean anything?

*sigh* if I don't get in this year I won't bother again. I'm getting too old

that's the spirit!

 

[Albis]

yes you can. i know ppl at umich's engin program that didn't take a single physics class before college

 

[Gibson486]

They want you to have high school physics, but lots do not require it. I would think that a top tier school like MIT would require it, but an average school would probably not. As for calculus, most of the people i go to college with never took it before college, but my college is no where near a top tier like MIT or even Cornell.