Ok, so I’m going into my senior year and I am really struglling with whether to take Calc AB or Bc. I am currently in Honors PreCalc and have recieved and A+ both semesters. I have also always excelled in math and I am actually vice president of Mu Alpha Theta at my school.
I am planning to take AP of whichever class I decide to take and I have many people tell me that I shouldn’t risk it, I should just take AB, but I think I have a special circumstance.
This year I took AP Physics 1 and I did very well and formed a really great relationship with my teacher so he convinced me to take AP Physics C which is calculus based. Because of this, I am going to have to self study calculus over the summer (with guidance from my physics teacher) in order to be prepared for C starting in the fall, so I would have a foundation in the subject.
Additionally, my dream school is Penn and my dream program is the Huntsman program (Wharton as single degree option) and the admissions to this program highly stresses that they want the top math class possible for accepted students. I am worried that I may be lessening my chances if I don’t take BC, but at the same time I am worried that I will not be able to keep up with the academic rigor if I change into BC because I am taking 5 other AP classes.
I am currently enrolled in AB and need to pull the trigger pretty quickly if I am to switch. I would really appreciate advice from people who have had a similiar experience or just know the courses well. Thanks!
Calc BC will be really beneficial to you since you’re going to Wharton. If you’re worried about it being too rigorous, you should drop one of your other AP classes to fit it in.
If you have an A+ in honors precalculus, it seems like BC would be the choice for you. If even someone with an A+ in honors precalculus is afraid of BC, who would take it?
Take Calc BC. Especially if you’re acing honors pre-calc. It 's more in line with your interest and abilities. What are the other five AP classes? Can you drop one of them?
Is there more than one honors preCalc at your school? At my daughters school, honors preCalc with Multivariable Calculus students tend to move on to Calc BC, and students in honors preCalc tend to move on to Calc AC.
Take calculus BC. It sounds like it’ll be your best choice based on preparation, interests, and ambitions.
What other AP classes are you taking though? One may have to go. Four AP classes is plenty. (keep in mind that after 8ap classes total, the law of diminishing returns applies to college admissions, so that every class chosen beyond the 8 should be a personal pick and not make your life hell.)
@ldoponce : by definition, precalculus is pre (before) calculus and doesn’t include calculus, certainly not a calc3 class three years removed from a student taking pre-calculus. You must have misunderstood something.
@MYOS1634 LOL - you are correct. I was getting last years differential confused with next years Multivariable. What my daughter’s school does is below:
Algebra II
Algebra II with Analysis
Algebra II with Precalculus – Honors
Precalculus with Analysis – Honors
Precalculus and Differential Calculus – Honors
The kids I have heard of that have changed their path tend to take a class at the local community college or an area high school over the summer.