Hi there!
I’m currently a junior in high school and didn’t do so hot in Honors Pre-Calc my Sophomore year. I was signed up for AP Calc BC but considering math is not my strongest subject, I transferred into IB Math Studies SL. I know I’ll do well in the Math Studies course but would colleges rather see me in Math Studies SL (a class I can easily pass and make an A) or AP Calc BC (known to be difficult class in which I’d come close to failing). I’m really worried that if I don’t take AP Calc BC by the end of High School that I won’t be able to get into any universities. Should I transfer back into AP Calc BC or possibly wait and take it senior year (or never). I’d like to attend Pepperdine or possibly SMU/Baylor and am hoping my decision won’t ruin my chances of getting into any of these colleges.
Thanks!
I think you should do what you’re more comfortable with. If you think you’ll do well in Math Studies SL then you should take it. A college would rather see you pass an easier class than fail a more difficult one. Taking an AP class just because it’s an AP probably isn’t the best idea, especially when you don’t think you’ll do well.
Thank you @EmmaLee19 , I’m thinking I might just stick with Math Studies SL then since I don’t want to risk having a failing grade which could lower my GPA in BC Calc.
@Sybylla Many people from my school say SL Math Studies is extremely easy and considered a “blow off” class. I don’t want colleges to think I’m just being lazy but AP Calc BC and SL Math Studies are my only two options as of right now. I really don’t know if the SL Math Studies has this same sort of reputation at other schools, but here all of the past IB students have made it a big deal that it’s just not something colleges like to see.
Math studies is the easy class, but maths SL is the class many kids here will do in 11th and is usually considered the equiv of AB calc (not exact but the two tests are often sat in the same year). Non HL kids would do math SL (NOT studies) in 11th and then BC calc in 12th. You school only offers studies and HL? No maths SL?
Math studies(SL) is a class for students who want to major in humanities or social science. Math SL is a class for students who are relatively good at math but don’t want to major in STEM. It seems Math SL would be the best class for you. After Math SL in 11th grade you can continue with it or take calculus BC.
However, as far as College admissions go, they don’t make a difference between Math SL and calc AB/BC.
I didn’t realize there was a difference between Math SL and Math Studies SL. I honestly have no clue what course I was put into then. My textbook that I just received says Mathematics Standard Level so I’m assuming I was put in Math SL rather than Math Studies. I was originally signed up for Math HL at my school, and the first year of the HL course at my school is AP Calc BC which I didn’t understand since I didn’t think AP had anything to do with IB. Thank you all for your help. I think I’ll just take Calculus BC maybe senior year. @MYOS1634 @Sybylla
Honestly HL math is only for the super mathy kids, here the HL math kids have done AB and sometimes BC calc as sophs, many STEM kids would just do SL (11th) and BC in 12th, and have AP stats in there somewhere.
Sounds like you’re in Math SL which is the right placement, congratulations!
Math HL is super intense (it goes farther than calc BC) and is for students who plan on being math majors or perhaps math intensive stem.