<p>I can’t understand why anyone not interested in math, engineering, econ as a major would take BC. BTW, I’d take stats over AB calc. Stats is useful in everything.</p>
<p>Even though many students feel that they will likely not be applying advanced mathematical concepts over the course of their careers, mathematics, especially calculus, is fantastic at developing complex problem-solving skills, objectively modeling and finding order in complex situations, studying variable relationships, and so forth.</p>
<p>Take AB if you have no background in calculus or just not do it at all.
In my school, people who bother to take calculus usually take AB in 11th grade and BC in 12th grade. Plenty of people who do not like math and will never touch math again regret taking calculus.</p>
<p>mifune, I can think off hand of dozens of courses that are good for the mind and perhaps the soul but I still can’t figure out why someone would subject themselves to BC if they’re not interested in a discipline that requires advanced math, especially if one is still worried at all about getting into a college and thus about one’s grades. BC is arguably the hardest AP course. You can at some schools get double credit - like one of my daughters did - but that’s not a good reason to me. </p>
<p>My daughter took BC because she’s stubborn, hated the attitude of the Russian / Asian boys who dominated AP track, and would prefer to work harder with a risk of not doing well than to have something easier. Turned out she has a gift for integration so she did very well … but she didn’t take a single math class in college and despite the occasional pang of guilt she’s never had a reason to miss it. </p>
<p>My other daughter is much more sensible and took stats because she would actually use stats in nearly any field. I think stats should be mandatory.</p>
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<p>Your daughter is a sacred being.</p>
<p>^haha.</p>
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<p>i wouldn’t do this. take some form of calculus at least. from what i’ve read, calc is an important (not vital, obviously) class to take for admissions, and i’ve learned so much in AB. if i decide to take a math class next year, i won’t feel as behind as if i had opted not to take any calc.</p>
<p>I’d definitely say AB! Like grouptheory’s school, my high school offers AB as the first year of calc and BC only to seniors who already have AB under their belt. I am currently in AB and very thankful that BC was not option because, as your run-of-the-mill perfectionist, I probably would have taken the higher level course and regretted it. </p>
<p>Calc requires complete mastery of trig, precalc, geometry, algebra I and II, and a lot of those silly arithmetic rules you forgot as soon as you reached middle school. My advice is not to overwhelm yourself; take AB and give yourself the opportunity to recall all of your former math instruction rather than take BC and be obligated to cover more material. Colleges see AP Calc as AP Calc.</p>
<p>Many feel that math is only useful or pertinent for those who are pursuing mathematically-based fields, but that simply is not true. It is important regarding the development of problem-solving-based skills, which are often best developed through mathematical reasoning. </p>
<p>At my school, BC students have had no prior exposure to calculus. In my opinion, it would be redundant taking AB one year and BC the next. BC simply extends the curriculum to include sequences and series (about one or two additional textbook chapters).</p>
<p>Redundancy is helpful in calculus! Haha, but you are correct, mifune; I have never really understood my school’s system, although I have definitely benefitted from it!</p>
<p>at my school AB is first year and BC is second year. I think if you are on the track to take either of them then you are already in a good places. </p>
<p>Schools are not necissarily looking for you to take the hardest classes in every area, they dont expect you to be a genius al around. They want to see that you push yourself to do your best. If that means AB then take it.</p>
<p>Also neutralmilk, you may want to consider if the additional credit from BC Calculus will be beneficial towards fulfilling the mathematical requirements once you reach college. Of course, this largely depends on the school that you ultimately choose to attend.</p>
<p>Isn’t AB a prerequisite to BC? That is, don’t you need to know the AB material not taught in BC?</p>