One of the trends that we are seeing in college admissions is that they value students taking Calculus in high school. For example, at Florida State University in 2025, 64% of admitted students had taken Calculus or a higher advanced math class while in high school.
Colleges believe that high school is about building a strong foundation, stretching beyond what feels comfortable, and being excited about taking on a challenge. The rigor of your classes, or the level of difficulty/challenge, matters in college admissions. This is true regardless of your intended major. Even if you don’t think you will pursue a major or career that involves math, taking Calculus in high school will still make you a more competitive candidate in the college admissions process.
Taking Calculus in high school signals important things to colleges:
– You can handle rigor
– You welcome academic challenge
– You are prepared for college-level learning
However, several other math classes are necessary before getting to Calculus. In addition, students must earn high grades in all the earlier math classes in order to qualify to take Calculus in high school. To help you have the best chance possible to go to the college of your choice, we want to make sure you have a very strong math foundation in Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Precalculus, so that you will earn the opportunity to take Calculus in high school.
Based on what we know about how humans best learn math, it is very helpful to have a consistent format where you can review and preview math lessons. PrepandMe weekly math sessions are an opportunity to both review what you learned in your math class the past week as well as preview what you will be learning in the week ahead.
Math review is helpful because it’s an opportunity to clarify any questions and increase your comprehension, but why is a math preview important?
If the first time you learn about math concepts, it is in a larger environment where there might be a lot going on or there isn’t much time to ask questions, you may feel a bit uncertain doing your homework or feeling ready to move on and learn the next lesson. However, if the first time you learn a math concept, it is in a smaller group where you can easily ask questions and practice examples together, it gives you a sense of familiarity with the material when you see it again in the larger environment. You will be able to build on what you learned in the preview and feel more confident about participating in class at school, completing your homework more quickly and accurately, as well as confident in preparing for assessments and doing well on them.
To get the most out of the weekly math sessions, it is very important to be an active participant.
What does active participation mean?
– Come to the zoom on time with your PrepandMe device charged and ready to go.
– Keep your camera turned on for the entire duration of the session (REQUIRED).
– Have paper, pencil, your class materials, and calculator next to you.
– Volunteer to answer questions and to do practice problems.
– Be kind and friendly with classmates – you are all in this together.
Seeing how important math is in the journey to college, we want to give you the best possible support to achieve your dreams. We’re looking forward to a great year of math enrichment for our PrepandMe Scholars!
