<p>Doesn’t “four years of high school math” mean four years of high school math? Don’t most kids get at least a year of it in middle school? The “four years” will start with algebra, whenever they take it.</p>
<p>I just had a related conversation with my H, a math professor, last evening. He indicated that there’s definitely a step up from pre-calc/trig to AP Calc (AB or BC) and then another step up again to Linear Algebra or MV Calc (about the same level for either) and then a setp up again for Differential Equations.</p>
<p>The on line classes in math beyond AP Calculus are no cake walk, judging from what I’ve read on some CC threads and the experience of my S. My S took AP Calc BC as a sophomore, seemingly breezed through the class and got a 5 on the AP exam, followed by an 800 on the SAT II Math 2 a month later. While he’s carrying an A in the on line linear algebra class, it’s taking him more effort than he envisioned (partially due to the way JHU CTY designs the class.) Community college course offerings may be more suitable if you can resolve the logistical problems that can arise with scheduling and transportation.</p>
<p>S is a junior, taking the online Linear Algebra course, as well as AP Physics C, AP US History, AP English, Photography and Team Aquatics. Next year, he plans to take AP Chemistry, AP English Lit, AP Macroecon/Got, the online MV Calculus class, Team Aquatics and a blank period, which will be used to continue on with his summer lab work and college apps.</p>
<p>S takes pride in being a math whiz and enjoys helping others as a math tutor. He is thinking of majoring in physics, or another science, possibly engineering … or maybe some interdisciplinary program that brings them all together. So for his needs, continuing on with a rigorous math schedule (as advised by the AP Calc teacher) works for him.</p>
<p>“Four years of math” generally means four years of math at some time in ones schooling that is at Algebra I and above. A student who completes calculus BC as a junior and takes AP chem and AP physics as a senior will have no problems getting into the most competative colleges.</p>
<p>no college will require math past Calc BC level.</p>
<p>But does it look bad if they stop after AP Calculus AB (if the school does offer BC)?</p>
<p>kids who take BC do not take AB. There is no point taking both - AB is the first half of BC.</p>
<p>nngmm, some schools actually make kids take AB first and then stretch BC out over a whole year. Not ours though. Lots of kids choose to only take AB, if you aren’t selling yourself as a science type, I don’t think it’s a problem.</p>
<p>Yes, my son’s school makes the kids take AB before BC and since my son will be taking AB as a junior…if he dosen’t make the grade to get into BC (all A’s plus A’s on midterm and final) then he will be left with no math classes for senior year (he will have already done stats). He is a math/science kid with lofty college dreams. He may do fine in AB but I have heard that many a straight A math kid does not do well in our particular AB class.</p>
<p>Myoldest D was very good at math…all honors or AP with great scores , but actually hated it. Wasn’t required by her college so she chose to opt out in her senior year.</p>
<p>From an application perspective, it entirely depends on whether she can come off as a “math kid.” If she has excellent grades in her math classes so far and anything else to show that she is more than simply good at math, taking multivariable calculus and/or linear algebra will look excellent on an application.</p>
<p>However, the real answer is that she should do what she wants. If she is excited to take math, she should go ahead. If she prefers to take another science course, she should do that instead.</p>