<p>(Sorry if this is in the wrong place...I haven't been here in a while.)</p>
<p>Anyway, my school currently uses a block scheduling system but we are switching to a new system that involves more classes per day but less time per class each day. Earlier this year I took my pre-calculus class, which lasted a half year, and I did "okay" in it overall. I struggled with some material, but I managed to bring up my grade in the end to a B. I am one point below the grade requirement for the AP Calculus class offered in my school (it's the easier of the two AP calc classes) but my math teacher still recommended me because I was doing really well toward the end. </p>
<p>A few months later, after I have completed the course and my school finally decides to move away from the block scheduling system, my math teacher tells me that he is taking away his recommendation. He was concerned that the less time in class, and greater number of students would negatively impact my grade. I talked to the head of the math department and she basically said that I don't have the "ability" to do well in the AP class. She seemed to imply that I would most likely get a C or a D...I understand that my teacher and the math department head may be looking out for my best interests but I'm suspicious that they are a little too concerned with ensuring perfect scores on the AP exam. Perhaps they are afraid that I will damage their reputation...</p>
<p>So, I'm not sure what to do now because I am currently considering overriding the recommendation. The only alternative calculus class in my school is just an "introduction to calculus" which is probably just pre-calc all over again...I thought that taking the AP Calculus class in high school would be a good way to prepare for taking calculus in college; I'm not as interested in the college credit. Apparently the math department believes that I'm going to crash and burn before I even take the course, which scares me. I'm prepared to work hard and set aside extra time for the course but if everyone is expecting me to get a D, that's very disheartening. Any suggestions about what to do? Should I override the recommendation and take the course regardless? Or should I just take the easier course? I'm not sure about what I would like to do for a career but I would like to keep all of my options open. Then again, I don't want to damage my senior grades just when I am about to send out college applications...</p>
<p>Sorry if this is reaaaaaaally long, boring, and tedious :p. I'm just getting really anxious about what to do. Thanks in advance.</p>