<p>Will colleges care significantly if I take AP Calculus AB instead of AP Calculus BC in my junior year? </p>
<p>I know normally it wouldn't matter, but I'm planning on applying as an econ major to top business schools like Wharton, Stern and Sloan, and since there's a lot of math involved, I'm worried that they might think I'm not challenging myself mathematically. But I have a really huge course load, (4 other AP's/IB's in addition to Physics, Bio and Chem), and I would have to give up IB Spanish SL to take Calculus BC instead.</p>
<p>If it helps at all, I got an 800 on the SAT IIC...</p>
<p>For top quant schools, BC is just expected, and is much more typical than Calc AB (which is the equivalent to a one semester college class). I'd suggest dropping one (or two) of the sciences and taking it senior year. Seven academic courses is quite a load for Jr year, particularly if this is your first exposure to AP coursework.</p>
<p>I have personal knowledge of a potential math major at an Ivy who took AB as a jr and then BC as a sr. Many more factors play into admission other then "expected" BC.</p>
<p>At my school, people have definitely gotten in to top colleges for math-oriented subjects with AB only. In fact, one kid this year who was in AB got into both MIT and CalTech.
But why don't you want to take BC? It's not that much harder...though to be honest, if you think it'll make a difference between you getting an A or a B, I would go for the better grade in AB. If it's scheduling conflict, the colleges will definitely understand.</p>
<p>Do you really need all those science classes? That alone is enough science to graduate in some states; you really don't need 3. Pick 1 or 2 that interest you or that you need and go with that, and then you can keep IB Spanish and take BC if you want.</p>
<p>there is a HUGE difference in applying to a liberal arts college (math major) and Wharton and Sloan. The simple fact is that the vast majority of acceptees to these programs will have Calc BC. Do kids get in without BC? Sure, a few, but then go looking for a hook. Of course, the OP didn't ask about taking BC as a senior, which is clearly possible. </p>
<p>fwiw: if I was an adcom at Wharton and looked at the heavy science load, I'd wonder if Wharton is really where the applicant wants to be....looks more like a premed schedule to me.</p>
<p>The problem is, my school has a fixed math sequence--junior year, you either take Calc AB or Calc BC, then in senior year you have your choice of Single Variable Calc, Multivariable Calc (if you maintain A's) or AP Stat.</p>
<p>Would taking any of those courses help alleviate any shortcomings in my math education, assuming that I decide to take AB?</p>
<p>And since I attend a science magnet school, I'm stuck with all three sciences :(</p>
<p>Did you take Pre-Calculus AB or BC? In DD's HS, you have to have taken Pre-Calc BC to get into Calculus BC. And if you've taken Pre-Calc BC and done well, they are not too happy about putting you in Calc AB.</p>
<p>re wackymother's post, my hs had this sort of pre-calc set up, but it was a numbers system. 90's Pre-Calc (90's was the top math track) students went to Calc BC while 80's Pre-Calc students went to Calc AB.</p>
<p>Don't do BC if you aren't already on the track to do it. With that said... you're a junior. Most people don't take calc until their senior year, so this already gives you a leg up. And it also gives you the opportunity, like other people have said, to take BC your senior year if you wanted to.</p>
<p>My hillbilly school only offers AB. (sad face)</p>
<p>If you are taking higher math your s year, I think you would be fine with AB. Is it worth the extra hours, pain, and loss of social life to change two letters on your transcript?</p>
<p>You could have GPA problems with so many AP/IBs.</p>