I completed calculus bc (the hardest math class at my school) as a junior. Im signed up to take ap stats senior year right now but im considering swapping it out for ap computer science a because stats is kind of considered a joke at my school and I could probably just teach myself the curriculum if I really wanted to. Im much more interested in comp sci but am worried that not taking a math class senior year will hurt my chances for college admission even though I already completed calc bc and am still taking math-based courses (im also taking ap chem and biotechnical engineering). I plan on majoring in engineering so comp sci is probably more applicable but im still worried.
Four years of math is Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Pre-calculus or Consumer Math (for the never-doing higher math folks). AP Calc BC is like having six years of math. That is esentially a second or third semester of college course. Stats or Comp Sci are fine. You aren’t expected to take math classes that aren’t ofered in your school.
AP Stats is pretty easy after having taken BC (at my school, the only people taking AP Stats were those that didn’t wish to take AB, or those who had already completed BC/multi-variable calculus, leading to a somewhat bimodal distribution). So if your school doesn’t offer other courses, APCS should be fine.
“Four years of math” typically means up to precalculus (the standard college-prep track of high school math puts 12th grade students in precalculus), although taking calculus is preferred if you complete precalculus earlier than 12th grade.
Having completed calculus BC in 11th grade should be fine, although if you are a Washington resident, you should take a math or other quantitative course (e.g. statistics, AP computer science, physics) in 12th grade to fulfill such a requirement that Washington public universities have.
Depends entirely on the tier of colleges you’re aiming for-- eslecially as a stem major. Really, it’s not about minimums, but making yourself competitive for your targets.
Just to avoid rust, look for a calculus based AP physics course. Not a necessity, but a good exercise to keep in shape.if available.
Agree, if you have taken calculus BC and that is the highest level math offered in your HS then you are fine to take whatever class you prefer.
I am going to respectfully disagree with the others on this thread.
My kid was in the exact same position last year and during our college visits, I asked the following question to at least 8 admissions officers.
“My son finished Calc BC as a junior and the only other option at his school is AP Stats. Would you recommend for him to just take AP Stats or take multivariable calculus at a local college or online?”
Every single one recommended him to take the next level of math. Most of them also said that AP Stats should be taken in addition to and never in place of math. On that advice, my son ended up doing multivariable dual enrollment.
These were AOs at very selective schools (6 of them were top 15; 2 were top 40), so I don’t know if this applies to you specifically.
The OP has already taken the hardest math offered (calculus BC). While taking more advanced math at a local college can be desirable (particularly if the student intends a major needing it and/or applies to super-selective colleges), the logistics of scheduling and commuting can make it difficult to do so while in an otherwise normal high school schedule. Of course, if the high school has an arrangement with a college to coordinate scheduling so that high school students can take more advanced math without scheduling problems, that can help, and the student should consider taking advantage of that situation.
But if that is not an available option, then completion of calculus BC is fine, especially since most engineering major programs have curricula that assumes that the entering frosh has just completed precalculus in high school.
@Shrmpngrtz Was your child going to pursue a STEM-related major?
I can see a couple of different correct answers here. If the student intends to follow a STEM path, where math beyond Calculus II will certainly be required in college, then I would wholeheartedly agree that the student should try to take a further advanced math sequence course (even if not “required”). However, if the student is not interested in STEM, then taking a different course should be fine. My S19 will take Calculus BC as a junior, but has zero interest in a STEM career, with the closest interest being economics (and even that is doubtful). For him, taking Stats or perhaps a humanities elective is the better tack.
@ucbalumnus You are right about logistics, and I would add cost as a limiting factor as well. Nonetheless, I asked in pretty stark terms what the AOs preferred and that’s the answer they gave me - if you can, then you should.
@BooBooBear Sorry - Yes, my son may enter a STEM field, and I was responding to the OP who noted he wanted to major in engineering. I should have made that more clear that I was referring specifically to people like the OP who max out math at their school and want to enter STEM fields.
I will be curious to see what my S19’s school does with him and his classmates in the advanced track next year, because they offer both Stats and also a Cal III equivalent, but I am unsure which they will expect/allow him to take. Again, for kids interested in STEM, pushing on to the next level in math is likely the better path (because they’re going to have to do it anyway in college), but I know at least a few other kids are like my son and are only taking Calculus BC as a junior because they were smart enough to take Alegbra I as a 7th grader and just stayed on track–at some point they need and want to get off the train.
I feel sorry for any student who is pushed to take Calculus BC as a junior, and then their school doesn’t give them an option to push on. That seems unfair and poor planning on the school district’s part. If the school has the resources to get a kid to that level by junior year they should allocate the resources to take them one step further as seniors.
He should be aware that economics can make substantial use of advanced math. At some colleges, the economics major requires or has a math intensive option with multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and sometimes more advanced math like real analysis, intended for those considering PhD study in economics. In-depth calculus-based statistics courses like probability theory are also indicated for such students.
Ideally, more advanced math offerings should be coordinated with a college so that students can get college credit. Otherwise, the student may end up “wasting” the course if the college he eventually attends will not allow a high school advanced math (multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations) course to fulfill subject requirements or give advanced placement.
This OP has said in one place that he wants to study biotech engineering. On his chance thread, he has some strong points and some iffy. It’s not a bad idea to look into how to advance his math through 12th grade, rather than insisting BC is good enough. Since it seems he’s mostly looking at UCs, someone who knows those requirements an expectations well can comment. But UCB will be no cakewalk.
@ucbalumnus Interestingly, the difference between a BS in Economics and a BA in Economics at most schools seems to be that the BS requires Cal I and II plus a more complex statistics course, and a 4/5 on the AP tests for AP Calculus BC and for AP Stats would fulfill those requirements. You are correct that more serious (graduate, or professional work as an analyst) study in Econmics would require a couple more math courses, but in terms of degree requirements, the AP tests would suffice.
AP comp sci counts as math!
Write all your matches and reaches’ Office of Admission and indicate you’ve completed the highest level of math offered at your high school, Calculus BC. Now for senior year your choices are AP Statistics or AP CS. You’re most interested in AP CS (which counts as ‘math’ in your state) but are concerned it would not fulfill their “4 years of math” requirement for admission. What advice do they have for you considering past applicants with this quandary?