Do They Have
to Take Calculus?

It’s one of the most common—and nerve-wracking—questions homeschool parents ask as college applications loom.

And for good reason: math has become one of the biggest gatekeepers in the admissions process.

Not test scores. Not extracurriculars. Math.

Colleges don’t just want to see that your student did math. They want to know how far they went—and how hard the path was to get there.

That’s because math tells a story. A story about discipline. About follow-through. About whether your student is truly prepared for college-level work.

Chris Gruber, Dean of Admissions at Davidson College, put it bluntly:

“What is the final course they are getting up to?”

That’s what admissions officers want to know.

Not just which math classes your student took, but where they landed—especially by senior year.

Because senior year math is a spotlight. And if there’s no math there, that spotlight can turn into a red flag 🚩

Even if your student has great grades and strong writing, dropping math in 12th grade sends a clear signal: they stopped climbing.

And colleges notice.

That’s why Gruber says, “Senior year counts.” Especially when it comes to math.

For some homeschoolers, that may mean making up ground—fast.

If your student is behind, it might take summer school. Or doubling up with two math courses in their junior and/or senior years. Or pushing through a harder course than they’d planned.

Because here's the truth: Pre-Calculus isn’t just a milestone anymore. It’s the minimum at many schools. And Calculus? For better or worse, it’s now seen as the gold standard.

That doesn’t mean every student needs to become a mathematician. But it does mean that not taking advanced math can quietly shut doors—especially at more competitive colleges.

Admissions officers may never say it out loud. But behind closed doors, many of them view advanced math as a test of readiness. And a filter.

A recent report from Just Equations called it what it is: a gatekeeper.

Not because all majors require it. But because math success often signals something deeper—work ethic, grit, and the ability to wrestle with hard things.

And colleges are looking for that signal.

So what can you do?

Start by asking: Where is my student likely to finish in math by senior year? If it’s not at least Pre-Calculus, consider ways to move the timeline up—before application season rolls around.

Remember, you’re not just building a transcript. You’re building a message.

One that says, “This student is ready.”

And in the language of college admissions, math speaks louder than you think.