<p>I'm wondering, is it frowned upon by top schools like HYP, if you don't take AP Calculus in high school, even while students in your class are in AP Calculus BC by senior year? </p>
<p>What if your intended major is not in the science/math area? Also, what if its due to the constraints of your system, for example, you weren't given the option to double up in freshmen or sophomore year (others were though, possibly because of their high achievement in middle school) so therefore, you are stuck in precalculus in senior year.</p>
<p>And if it is important, and frowned upon, is there a different way that you can demonstrate your aptitude in Calculus without taking the class in high school senior year?</p>
<p>Actually many juniors are taking BC. What would you like to major in b/c many fields require calculus even those in the medical and business fields. I don't believe it'll go against you. If it will, maybe a little? I dunno...</p>
<p>Well, I know I have no shot at taking BC, and I know its not really required for me to do so. However, I am more humanities oriented, I was thinking of doing a double major in business too, like Marketing or Economics. So I'm not sure. </p>
<p>So the main question is, will not taking AP Calculus (AB) hurt me when applying to top schools? In the thread you showed me papa chicken, apparently someone said they got rejected to a particular program because they didn't have AP Calc....</p>
<p>Economics majors at top schools have a ton of Calc. My calc teacher talks about it all the time. They definitely have BC Calc and some Differential Equations. Take it if you can.</p>
<p>If they don't consider your schedule the most rigorous available, then it hurts. If others take Calc it seems like they will expect you to. Unless you explain your prob to someone at the school, in which case they may see it as a legit excuse</p>
<p>i dont think you can do that....AB is 66% of the material of BC, so if you take BC, you essentially take AB, just you learn more..</p>
<p>i would definently try to atleast take AB, find a tutor, talk to your teacher, and try to pull a B...most people do well, and dont worry about the test, you'll already have a decision by the time they recieve the scores, so you could get an A in the class, a 1 on the test, and be in college</p>
<p>But at my school AB and BC are seperate classes so I am taking AB first two quarters and BC third and fourth quarter (my school is on block this year). Is this bad??????? :( :( :( :( :(</p>
<p>I know people who have gotten into Stanford, Dartmouth, Cornell, and other top schools with AB Calc. I also know a kid who got into UChicago with regular pre calc. There is no set formula for college admissions. It is best to take the hardest everything, but not 100% necessary.</p>
<p>Hmm, ok, well first of all, AP BC is already out of the ballpark..</p>
<p>Here is my problem about AP Calculus altogether.. unfortunately, in middle school I didn't do so well, so I was not offered Algebra 1 in 8th grade, and so I took it in freshmen year. Because of scheduling problems I couldn't double up sophomore year, so I took Geometry. Now as a junior I am in Algebra 2. I was under the false impression that math is not my strong point, and that was nonesense. I am doing excellent in Algebra 2 right now, and the information is sinking in easily.</p>
<p>So given this, what options do you think I have? Obviously there will be some top students taking AP Calc BC, but that doesn't seem like an option for me, unless I decide to take another year of high school. :P</p>
<p>What can I do? What should I do, given that my main concentrate will be History. I might decide to take Economics when I am accepted at a good college, but I don't think I will mention it on any application given these circumstances. So because my main focus is History, Government, international relations, etc... what do you think I should do? You guys seem to be saying that even if this is my focus, it is still important to take AP Calculus.</p>
<p>Taking Calculus is definitely a plus...unfortunately as you have described you are not able to do that...Instead I would strongly recommend you take something like AP Statistics along with Pre Calculus your senior year and try taking a Calculus course over the summer and put that down on your application. If you have already sent your application then there's really nothing you can do because changing classes now is not going to be seen by the admissions office. Depending on where you apply, it may not go too far against you but keep in mind there are juniors and even sophmores taking Calc AB and BC (I fortunately was given that opportunity) and are now taking Calculus III (Seperate Variables). I'm not trying to worry you, just try and make the best of your situation, there is no set formula for college. :) Best of Luck!</p>
<p>You could also take pre-calc this summer, if it's offered anywhere near you, and then try to "test into" Calc AB or BC for Senior year. You could even self-study pre-calc if you're really confident about your abilities in math. But I don't think it'll be a major factor in a college's decision if your schedule is well-rounded and challenging overall.</p>
<p>Well I can test into calc ap, however, I will still be required to take precalculus regardless. So I would waste a period that I can have for a different subject. Do you think its worth it?</p>
<p>Virtuoso: It will not be a problem to take Calculus as you describe. At my son's high school AB and BC are also seperate classes. They don't have block classes so students take AB junior year and BC senior year. It has not been a problem for students getting admitted to top schools.</p>
<p>A-san, your high school won't accept a summer school course as a substitute for a regular school course? I find it hard to believe that they'd make a kid take precalc who'd already learned the material and was taking calc.</p>
<p>etselec, no, they won't. :( It makes no sense, I know. Even if you learned the material, and passed an entrance test, you would still have to take the course to fill in your credit or something like that.</p>