Hi!
I’m a freshman and I am taking Calc BC this year. Last semester I passed with a B and this semester I had a B but I took a test today and I honestly think I bombed it. My counselor has given me the option of dropping the class this semester and retaking the course in sophomore year so I can get better grades. How would this affect my college apps? does it affect their decision if they know I dropped the course?
Also I was wondering if being a freshman in the class carries weight in colleges decisions?
Repeating a course won’t look that good.
Also, it seems odd that you were accelerated four grade levels ahead in math but are not finding math to be an easy A.
Your transcript will have to show that this class was dropped so late in the year also. If you could get a B I think you should hold the line. What will the dropped course be as a grade? Have you asked your GC that? Is there an AB calc class?
As for what it will look like for colleges, I think it will look like you were not ready for such advancement, but I expect your school told you that at some point. It is a bummer because it seems so unnecessary.
Most importantly, do you have math classes for sophomore, junior, senior year?
If you drop math Freshman year it’ll be obvious (all freshmen must take math) and they won’t guess a B, they’ll guess a D.
So, you bombed a test. It’s a very important moment for you. Learn from it - what did you miss, why, what can you do about it, what can you do about limiting similar occurrences in the future.
Go see your math teacher, ask what you can do to improve and catch on what you missed. Don’t drop.
But also plan carefully your math path for the next three years. You need three more math classes beyond BC. You have dual enrollment possibilities?
Freshmen don’t have to be in BC. So, you were super accelerated. How did you end up in that class?
Did your parents push you into it? Did you push out of sheer hubris? Do you love math?
You were getting a B and bombed a test. If all B students who bombed a test dropped the subject, we’d have a high school graduation rate in the teens.
In other words: Welcome to humanity. Now’s the time to admit learning is hard no matter how good at math you are, figure out what you missed, and learn.
Most importantly, what’s your path forward? If you dropped BC, would you be placed in AB? Have to take something like remedial math? Have zero math in your schedule (because it’s REALLY late in the year and BC would likely appear as dropped, which wouldn’t look good)? And once you complete BC, you’ll need more math classes. Do you know how to get these classes?
@MYOS1634 is absolutely correct about this one. Bombing one test won’t kill your grade depending on how much weight tests have. Also, if you were put in Calc BC as a freshman there obviously must have been a good reason. Don’t give up. And do you plan on taking math courses at a CC after this year?
Actually, they’ll probably guess an F, so dropping will do you no favors. @MYOS1634 is absolutely correct in the balance of her advice.
The reason I was placed in the class in the first place is because I went to a very STEM-focused school called Basis and I took Calc AB in 8th grade and passed with a 5 on the test. That led me to think that I was ready for this course at my new school but in reality “normal” calc courses go A LOT more in depth than we did at my old school. I really don’t want to have to drop the course and honestly, I think if I put enough time and energy I can pass, it’s just that there is a very real risk that I won’t do well and I don’t want that showing up on my transcript. I heard that colleges don’t usually look at your freshman transcript in the first place. Is this true?
They look at it but the upper level years count much more, especially junior year.
What other classes are you taking?
So I took Calc BC as a sophomore so I can kind of relate. I was doing very bad in BC (bad as in C’s and F’s on tests), but I went to extra help and spoke to the teacher as often as I could and ended up with an 89 after spending 4 hours a night on the subject alone. I highly regret taking that class so early, but I really do not like when others are judgmental about it. People end up biting off more than they can chew for many reasons. A STEM focused high school, succeeding in the previous classes, and peer-pressure can be big ones; at least they affected me. I think struggling freshman or sophomore year when you are not taking many other AP courses is helpful.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to drop and retake. It won’t look good on your transcript, much worse than a B. Even if you failed the last test, go to extra help, get a tutor, show the teacher you are willing to put your best foot forward and turn things around. What classes are even available for you after BC? My school has 2 classes after BC and that is already considered extra. Try to see if you can take AP Statistics or a Statistics class to break up the calculus sequence or to take as a senior. Statistics is very different, but I think it is easier to understand than calculus.
Good luck; keep your head high, don’t be discouraged! You can do it! I don’t have much testimony if being that advanced in math but not getting amazing grades is helpful…my counselor said it would help, but I haven’t gotten back enough decisions to make an analysis. In my opinion though, in the long run, I doubt it matters and I doubt that class is the reason I am admitted or denied.
I take the other classes freshman normally take: spanish 2, bio, english 9, art, world geography, and winterguard and dance as extracurriculars