That’s the conclusion of a new study from Harvard and the University of Virginia, anyway:
Researchers at Harvard University and the University of Virginia have found that high school coursework in one of the sciences generally does not predict better college performance in other scientific disciplines. But there’s one notable exception: Students with the most rigorous high school preparation in mathematics perform significantly better in college courses in biology, chemistry, and physics.
This is not terribly surprising to me, as the biggest weakness I see in entering students is usually in the area of math skills. The students who struggle the most in intro physics are the ones who have the shakiest math preparation, and it’s not just a matter of being unable to do algebra– it’s a larger problem with systematic thinking.
Still, it’s always nice to have folk wisdom confirmed by research.