Help me choose a math class for junior year?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m currently enrolled in AP Calculus BC as a sophomore, and I’m doing well - my first semester grade is a 96, and I’m fully expecting to get a 5 on the exam. Beyond calculus, the math classes my school offers are AP Statistics, Honors Statistics 2, and Honors Calculus 3 (which covers multivariable calc and differential equations, it’s just not called that for various reasons - up until this year it was actually called Multivariable Calculus/Differential Equations because it was taught through a local college, but the college bowed out this year and now the state won’t let my high school call the class that.) My choices for my future math classes are to:

  • Take Honors Calc 3 as a junior and AP Stats as a senior. This is the path that interests me the most, but my parents are worried because they think that a) Calc 3 sounds like an elective class to colleges because it's not specifically labelled Multivariable/DiffEq (although there is a course description included with my transcript saying what it covers, but I'm not sure an admissions officer will take the time to peruse said description), and b) it being an honors class rather than AP will bring my WGPA down (my school is super competitive and people tend to load up on APs).
  • Take AP Stats as a junior and Honors Stats 2 as a senior. This would fix the above problems, but I'm not sure whether me not taking any sort of calculus in the last two years of HS would look weird to colleges (all of my potential majors require heavy math).
  • Take Multivariable/DiffEq online (probably though Stanford Online High School) as a junior and AP Stats as a senior. Probably the safest choice rigor-wise, but I expect my high school administration to be a real pain about letting me take the online version of a course they technically offer on campus.
  • Take an additional science instead of math as a junior - AP Chem and AP Physics 1 instead of just AP Chem - and then AP Stats and AP Physics C as a senior.

I’m a little confused here. Any help determining which of these is the best choice would be greatly appreciated :slight_smile:

2

To me, AP Stats or any Algebra-based stats class is a waste if you’ve already taken Calc BC. You should take the MV Calc class as a junior and then maybe find a Linear Algebra, Discrete Math or Calc-based Probability class (or two of them) in 12th grade.

3

I would take Calc 3. Colleges will know it’s multivariate calculus. If you can, take a more advanced math course through a local college or online in your senior year.

4

Calculus 3 is commonly understood to be multivariable calculus.

However, if it is a high school course (not college or dual enrollment), you may not be able to get subject credit or placement for it later in college.

If you can take a calculus based statistics course from a college, that may be more desirable than AP statistics.

5

Colleges will know what Calculus 3 is and that it’s post-AP. Then you should try to find a semester-long, calculus based statistics class or a class covering discrete math or linear algebra.
(AP stats would be a complementary class for you and couldn’t substitute for a rigorous Math class - it’s acceptable for students who can’t/won’t take or need Calculus but you’ve already taken it. )
Remember that colleges don’t consider APs the be all end all. They’d rather see you take Calc3 than AP stats, French 4 rather than AP psychology, etc.
First, 5 core classes in the logical sequence.
Then only, electives, personal picks, etc.

6

AP Stats covers 1 semester of college work over the course of a year. It’s too slow for you and is designed for more mathematically challenged students for whom the slow deliberate pace would be a benefit. I would totally skip it.

You might take an online Calc3 class simultaneously with the one at your high school so that you have a college transcript for transfer credit. Beyond MVCalc, I agree that linear algebra, discrete math, analysis (proof-based calculus), probability, and number theory are much better ways to expand your math beyond what you have at your school.