<p>Is taking AP Calc BC a requirement if your school offers it? Or will AB calc suffice? Also, if BC is pretty much a requirement, should I write a letter to the admissions office saying that I plan to self study for the BC part of the AP Calc exam? Thank you in advance for the responses!</p>
<p>Have you already taken Calc AB?</p>
<p>It will look really bad if you chose Calc AB over BC.</p>
<p>I am a junior and I elected Calc AB for senior year, the school wouldn't allow me to take BC. However I have thought about self-studying and taking the Calc BC exam either junior or senior year. Which brings me to it, has anyone done that and passed?</p>
<p>Oh, ok. Well, MIT shouldn't penalize you if your school won't let you take BC. (Why would they do this if they offer Calc BC?) There's no reason why you can't self-study for it. </p>
<p>BTW, if you plan on applying to MIT and you are taking it this year you had better get a "5" on the Calc BC AP.</p>
<p>They offer the class, but they don't think I am "proficient" enough to take the class so they recommended AB calc.</p>
<p>Well, if you hope to get into MIT, you had better take Calc BC. Writing a note to admissions saying the school didn't think you were proficient enough to take Calc BC won't go over well.</p>
<p>What do you plan to major in? What are your reasons for wanting to attend MIT?</p>
<p>If you can take Calc BC instead of AB, that's certainly preferred...but I ended up in AP Calc AB as a senior. I technically could have taken BC by self-studying some earlier courses, but didn't. I got a 3 on the AP exam. Granted, that was after I was already accepted, but still. One class will not make or break it.</p>
<p>Besides, once upon a time and long ago, AP tests were designed to give high school students a jump start on college material- NOT to help you get into college in the first place. I'm not sure if MIT has an official stance on this, but I honestly don't think they take your AP scores into as much consideration during the selection process.</p>
<p>Besides, calculus is only part of the "recommended" high school preparation. It certainly helps, but isn't even a strict requirement in and of itself, let alone AP, or BC over AB or anything like that.</p>
<p>I plan to major in either chemical or mechanical engineering. I want to go to MIT for a whole host of reasons... however I will keep that for the college app, not an internet forum. However, I went to MIT's site and they said that although they dont grant AB credit "a score of 4 or 5 places you into the accelerated Calculus sequence." <a href="http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/advanced_placement_international_exams/index.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/advanced_placement_international_exams/index.shtml</a></p>
<p>And even though I dont want to make this a whole case of SAT scores/GPA, I have a 2370 SAT score with 800 in both Math and Critical reading. I'm wondering if this can help overshadow the Calc BC dilemma. Also, the site said I was allowed to enter self reported coursework, so I was wondering if I could add a side note to the AB calc part that I plan to take the AP Calc BC exam and get a 5. Thank you alot for your responses.</p>
<p>It is not that big of a deal which AP Calc you take. AP tests are a very, very small portion of the application. Many students take 18.01 or 18.01A in their first term at MIT.</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>MIT does not care you took AB or BC as long as your overall courseload is decent. MIT will be more impressed if you have high scores on the AMC/AIME tests (which have nothing to do with calculus).</p>
<p>Thank you for the responses/advice.</p>
<p>With your scores, you obviously are "proficient" enough to take Calc BC.</p>
<p>It's true that MIT cares more about the AMC/AIME tests, but not everyone even takes these.</p>
<p>My advice: do everything you can to get into that Calc BC class. </p>
<p>With your other qualifications, you are obviously a great candidate for any college, but why do something that is the wrong move? </p>
<p>And make sure whoever told you that you weren't proficient enough to take Calc BC doesn't touch your recs with a 10-foot pole.</p>
<p>Yes..this all makes sense. I think I'll try a calc course at a CC or state univ. However, I won't make it a huge deal, considering my teachers still decide my grades :)</p>
<p>I didn't read what everyone said above... but I'm guessing they're saying what I'm about to say: of course it's not required, but if you think you can handle the challenge, take it!</p>