Do I need Calc BC for top engineering schools?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi,
I am a junior right now, and we are starting to choose our classes. Unfortunately, my school’s math program is kind of strange so I am not going to be able to take BC Calc as a senior unless I put in the time to test out of it and such. I have heard from a lot of people at my school that I am going to need to have taken at least that class my senior year in order to be competitive with other kids applying to the top engineering schools (Caltech, UC Berkeley, Cornell, etc).

All things being equal, is this true? Do I need to take classes this summer to skip it or would you recommend against it?

Thanks!

2

Are other students able to take it? How?

3

For some schools like MIT, Caltech, and Harvey Mudd calculus is an application requirement.
Could you explain how your schools math program works?

4

@IAmNotCreativ MIT doesn’t require applicants to take calculus in HS, although I believe it is strongly recommended. 18.01 (Calculus I) is the equivalent of AP Calculus AB/BC, which many freshmen take.

5

For applying, AB calculus would be fine. Not everyone at top schools has access to BC, so if you do well in AB then you’ll be fine. After that, it won’t matter because if you end up going to a top school, you probably wouldn’t want to place out of any calculus classes with ap credit anyway, so BC isn’t going to make a big difference. For example, a girl I know who goes to GaTech took AB in high school and decided to take Calc 1 even though she got a 5 on the exam. It was a good decision because GT is insane about math and almost everyone struggled.

6

Hi All,
Thanks for responding, I am still talking to my dean and teachers about skipping out. They seem reluctant to let me because they think that skipping all of first year calc would be a bad idea. What are some people’s thoughts on that?

7

Ask them if you can study it over the summer. Let them know that you’re willing to put in the work necessary to get yourself ready for BC.

8

I agree with hungryteenager. I think if you show the initiative to get ahead for this class then they will let you. My school’s system is a little odd too because they force us to take math classes in order (Algebra I > Geometry > Algebra II > PreCal > AP Calc AB > BC > Stats. It’s weird). I think you could prove to them you would do okay if you skip out; however, make sure you stick with it of course.