Should I use the AP Calc BC test to opt out of some core/intro math classes my freshman year? I was originally planning on taking the core/intro math classes, but now I’m worried that they are extremely difficult and it might ruin my GPA. At my state school, it is well known that the intro math classes are notoriously hard and basically “weed out” classes, while the mid-level math classes are more reasonable even if they deal with harder topics. Is it the same case at BC? I’m not inherently good at math and I don’t particularly enjoy it either, so I’m worried that I will struggle in the classes once I get to college (bc I will probably won’t have as much time or energy like now to focus on just math). Do I risk not having a solid foundation and skip the core/intro classes or should I take them?
On a side note – I plan on majoring in psychology or neuroscience with plans to go to vet school. Does that change anything?
Psych does not require anything beyond BC, so if you ace the test, there is no need to take more advanced math, unless you want to. (Most Psych courses barely require algebra.)
Take Stats or Biostats instead. Also, Comp Csi will work for Neuro.
As to your question: BC is a very collaborative school, but premeds are everywhere and they need A’s, so lotsa them are retaking Calc 1 for the ‘easy A’ even tho they aced Calc BC. That means plenty of really smart kids will earn a B…
+1 to the above. Beware the pre-meds. @rlaalstjs Your instincts are probably right. Boston College gives core requirement credit for either a 4 or 5 on an AP exam. Assuming you have that in AP Calculus BC, then use it to take another math class. If not MATH2202 (multivariable calculus), then maybe a course like BIOL 2310 Biostatistics Honors which is calculus-based.
@riaaistj…>>At my state school, it is well known that the intro math classes are notoriously hard and basically “weed out” classes, while the mid-level math classes are more reasonable even if they deal with harder topics. Is it the same case at BC?<<
No class is a walk-through @ BC. Learn it and accept it. Grade deflation is real…
If you aced BC , Calc 1 is an easy A.