My school offers a bunch of AP classes, but I am thinking of taking 3. Those 3 include AP psych, AP language and composition, and AP calc. Now I’m debating whether or not to take AP calc, even though all my friends are. I’m taking both Algebra 2 and Precalc currently and I have an A+ in both. My precalc teacher is SUPER easy though so I feel like I’m not learning everything (just memorizing before the test), which means AP calc will probably be extremely difficult. My school also offers college (not an ap) calc, which would guarantee that I get college credit even without taking the AP calc exam. If I take AP calculus, I will only get college credit if I do well on the AP exam. If I take college calculus instead of AP calculus, will colleges think I’m not challenging myself enough? Taking college calc instead of AP calc would potentially lower my class rank, which is pretty high right now, so that’s another con. Is it really that hard to get a 3 or better on the AP calc exam?
Is the AP calculus course AB or BC?
Is the college calculus course one for math, physical science, and engineering majors, or one for business majors?
Are you more interested in math heavy subjects, or less math subjects?
The AP calc course is AB. The college calculus course is for math majors and it’s for math, physical science and engineering majors. I’m interested in psychology/neuroscience as a future major. I don’t particularly love math, but I’m good at it when I try. I’m taking physics next year too, and I heard AP calc ab would help with that.
Calculus AB will cover about one semester or a little more of the material covered in a college calculus course for math majors. I.e. the college calculus course for math majors will cover material at a faster pace, assuming it covers a full year of college calculus.
Note that you may get credits from the College Calc, but it may or may not be accepted by the college you are going to enroll. While for AP, most schools would give credit to AP Calc if you have a good score.
college calc would be harder (faster-paced, more in-depth) than Calc AB. if you want a more challenging course, that’d be it, but if you want a slower pace, choose Calc AB.