Community College Classes for AP Exams & Olympiads

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

TL;DR: I need Calc BC to enter into a Physics C Mechanics course at a community college that would help me qualify for the USAPHO but that means calc isn’t on my transcript. Should I jump and take the test this year or wait until I’ve taken the calc class at my school? (I can probably do well on the calc bc test)

So I’m currently a freshman at a high school that is very restrictive with its AP classes. Math and physics are like my 2 big things academically that I want to pursue in competitions like F=MA/USAPHO and the AMCs. But my school doesn’t offer ap physics 1 until junior year and by that time it’s too late so I decided to self-study physics 1. I’m also able to take the calc bc test by May 2020. Taking calc is pretty important this year because it allows me to take physics c mechanics in next fall at a community college which would probably give me a much better chance at qualifying to the USAPHO. I’m currently taking an online course for physics 1 but I still believe an actual class would be better.
I’ve heard that colleges don’t like people self-studying ap classes so will it be worth it taking the calc test without a class?

2

The Calc class would be on you CC transcript so I don’t see why that would be a big deal?

3

I’m not clear on the options you’re considering.

I read that you’re asking whether you should self-study BC so you can pass and take Physics C at CC. That seems to be your question at the end.

But the answer above seems to indicate that you would take BC at CC before Physics.

Not taking a Calc class at all, just taking the BC AP exam typically won’t be a positive on a college application. It’s also generally not a good idea - Calc is a different way of approaching math concepts. Self-study often gets one to go through the steps to solve a problem without the underlying thought processes.

Fwiw, Calc is not covered at all on AMC, AIME, AMO, etc. math competitions.