Usually, but not always, it is.
How good are the teachers for each of these classes? I’d recommend that you factor this in. If the teacher for AP Stat is great, then take it. If the teacher for Calc AB is wonderful, and the teacher for Calc BC is horrible, then take Calc AB. You can get a look at the class by signing up for too many classes (no lunch, no free periods), and then dropping what isn’t good, early in the semester.
But, if it is possible for you, I recommend you take Calc BC and AP Stat, unless there are so many other excellent AP level classes available to you that you just can’t fit them both in. The Calc BC will certainly show rigor, so I’d say take that. Then, choose the rest on how good the teachers are. For instance, if you have an amazing AP Art History teacher, or some for AP Euro, take those. You don’t want to miss out on a chance to broaden your education with a life-enriching class with a wonderful teacher.
And yes, when applying to Ivies and top schools, they do look at the rigor of what you attempt, along with everything else you have done.
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The quality of a Good Teacher cannot be overstated! This also goes for the Dept. Head.
My sons AP calc BC teacher met on Saturdays in spring 9-12 and worked with the students that wanted extra practice. They took 3 practice exams leading up to the final exam. There were only 9 kids in this class and 6 scored a 5 the other 3 scored 4.
I do understand we were lucky to have him.
This is an excellent point. I actually forgot that our school does just what you mentioned at your first bullet point. Kids generally go from Pre Calculus Honors straight to AP Calculus BC. These are the kids that are at least 2 years ahead in math, have always been on the gifted track, and as @temporaryworker put it are accelerated kids. They also start Calculus as the last unit in Precalclus. The kids that never should have been on that track in the first place, and really aren’t gifted, usually then drop down to AB their Junior year, and the ones who do belong in that track take BC as Juniors.
This year ironically, because of covid, the precalc honors courses were behind and so the BC teacher had to teach 4 weeks of material in about 2 weeks at the beginning of this year while we were still remote just to get them caught up. It was quite brutal for those kiddos, many who bombed.
Depends. The AP Curriculum doesn’t actually cover all Calc 1 and 2 topics. Some teachers will include these topics in their curriculum for students to succeed in Calc 3 in college.
Penn AP credit listings show that only 5 on BC gives any credit.
https://admissions.upenn.edu/admissions-and-financial-aid/preparing-for-admission/freshman-admission/external-exam-credit
Penn math placement is not strictly based on AP scores; they have their own placement tests and recommendations to try old final exams.
https://www.math.upenn.edu/undergraduate/advice-new-students
Not being top6% will make UT’s competitive programs unlikely.
Note that private colleges don’t work like this so use class rank for Texas publics only, and a combination of everything for the rest.
Yes the AB subscore from BC also works for placement into the “regular” first year calc course at Wharton. A 5 on Bc also gives credit to start in the second math course in the sequence.
Plenty of kids get into UT’s competitive programs without being auto admits. It really depends on what school they’re at. Also, a huge thing with UT is the essay and expanded resume. Many students that are AA there don’t even get their first choice majors because so many think because they’re top 6% they have it made. It one plays their cards right and connects the dots appropriately, they can definitely get into a competitive program there.
But in order to be considered, they need to be admitted, and the hurdle for non top 6% students is much higher so it becomes even more of a reach.
OP is right to try but a state’s public university must represent the whole state so his/her HS’ s reputation v. Geographic representativity is totally out of their hands.
For out of state high school, there can be some control. university probably has a list based on their student who attended the Univ in past.
Thanks everyone for your advice! For now, I have decided to do only AP Calc BC.