<p>This post goes for all schools, Ivy or not, but my primary interest is Penn.</p>
<p>I'm pretty good at math. My last SAT score for math was low (660) for a number of reasons (the largest being I'm just not that good at SAT math- just retook and felt much better about it) but in math classes I'm consistently ranked number one, and have been since middle school. However, my school system was extremely finicky when it came to skipping courses- they only permitted me to skip one grade, and even after I learned absolutely nothing in pre-algebra or Algebra 1, they wouldn't let me skip to geometry.</p>
<p>Also, a student is considered to be on the "advanced track" if s/he is scheduled to do AP Calc AB senior year, which I'm forced to do now, but I've seen so many other people on here who have taken BC before senior year. I know I could've done the same thing if I'd had the chance, but I didn't have the opportunity because of the incredibly restrictive policies (this applies to other classes, too- virtually no honors courses, and I wasn't permitted to take any APs freshman or sophomore year). </p>
<p>Since I'm looking at pre-med at Penn, will my being slightly behind affect my chances? At this point, there's no way I can just skip and catch up.</p>
<p>The material covered in AP Calc AB overlaps with the material covered in Math 103 at Penn. Even if you take the AP exam for AB and score a 5, Penn won’t give credit for Math 103. Your best bet is to study for the Math placement exam that is administered at New Student Orientation. If you pass, you’ll receive credit for Math 103.</p>
<p>If you dead set on getting really, really ahead, try and self-study Calc BC! If you get a 5 on the exam, you’ll get credit for Math 104 and will be able to take Math 114 when you get to Penn (which is known for being easier than 104 because no sequences and series and a less harsh curve)!</p>
<p>Since you generally need a year of Math for med school, you can supplement the 104 credit with a Statistics class (that will be on the MCAT in 2015 anyway). I don’t think your chances for med school will be severely affected other than by the grade you may get in 104 if you actually end up taking it…</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Your transcript will be viewed in the context of your school – i.e. are you taking the “most” difficult courses that your school offers and are you doing well in them? Your high school counselor is asked that and from what you say about your school you are indeed taking the most challenging curriculum available to you.</p>
<p>Of much greater concern than whether your top math course is calculus AB or BC is your math SAT score. You need to bring that up significantly – ideally into the 740 range. That’s typically at most 2 wrong answers. You didn’t bring up the SAT 2 math in your post. That too needs to be a strong score.</p>