How important is AP calculus in Junior year?

[collegealum314]

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In fact we were told at engineering tours that they preferred AP Calc as a senior. That way everything was fresh coming into college. They wanted everyone to learn calculus their way. Also taking AP Calc as a junior there are too many unknowns. Is that the highest math class they offer? Does the student have to go to the local CC or college? Does the student take ap statistics or does the school offer a ap calc ab or BC?

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<p>This is kind of silly, though I do agree that you shouldn’t take a year off from math. Most people take MVC or linear algebra at a community college.</p>

<p>If he’s not a STEM person, it doesn’t make a difference. </p>

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Not sure which “top” colleges you are thinking of, but in my son’s case, taking AP Calc as a junior (and getting a 5 on the exam) didn’t seem to help. He did not get accepted to MIT or Caltech. Then again, he is planning to major in engineering, not economics. So I’d say just have your son do what works best for his schedule and not worry about it.

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<p>It is so commonplace that it doesn’t help.</p>

[cobrat]

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Agree with @Data10. In recent years it seems more “common” to see the highly focused STEM type students doing this in high ranking affluent school districts and magnet schools throughout the country…

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<p>At some of those magnet HS…like the one I attended, they could be taking AP calc in junior year or earlier because they’re required to take 3-4 years of math regardless of one’s math level when beginning 9th grade. </p>

<p>For instance, if one covered pre-calc in 8th grade, one would still be expected to take at least 3 more years worth of math at my HS through courses taught on campus or through an acceptable course at a nearby 4-year college*. </p>

<ul>
<li>If a student from my HS has exceeded the highest level math courses offered on campus, it’s likely he/she’s at the level of a student taking intermediate/advanced math major courses which are seldom offered at most community colleges.<br></li>
</ul>

[EllieMom]

<p>Even in less-than-affluent school districts this is happening. At our D’s high school, which is a nonranked Title 1 highschool (more than 40% low-income), there are a substantial number of 9th graders in precalc/calcA, who will be taking CalcB/C as sophomores. </p>

<p>In order to provide students working at this level four years of math, the school has added multivariate this year and is adding one or two additional levels next year. When they add those courses, the math department will be teaching 10 levels of math, with several of those levels (algebra1, geometry, algebra2, trig) at two-to-three different levels of acceleration/advancement. Staffing must be challenging for the administration. </p>

[lrcc55]

<p>“there are a substantial number of 9th graders in precalc/calcA”, this is crazy! how common is the situation?</p>

[EllieMom]

<p>We’ve got a big school, almost 3,000 students overall, and there are probably 15 or so freshman in that class this year (same level as my not-so-advanced junior daughter). Enough to make it worth the school’s while to make it an official rather than exceptional track. And there seems to be more every year. </p>

[frazzled2thecore]

<p>This can become a problem if not for admissions, then for students who are taking a class that is no longer taught as a true introductory college class, but as a review and extension for students who are presumed to have mastered at least some of the material in a high school classes. </p>

<p>Wrt admissions, however - </p>

<p>At our high school, BC calc covers much of what is covered in calc 3 at most colleges, and the teacher goes well beyond what is needed to get a 5 on the AP exam, and offers bonus problems that give truly excellent students a chance to stand out from the crowd that does enough to get A’s. I cannot imagine that a student who waits until senior year to take AB calc but then distinguishes themselves in this class would be at an admissions disadvantage compared to a student who works hard in junior year calc and gets an A and a 5, but does not truly stand out.</p>

[ucbalumnus]

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@frazzled2thecore

This can become a problem if not for admissions, then for students who are taking a class that is no longer taught as a true introductory college class, but as a review and extension for students who are presumed to have mastered at least some of the material in a high school classes.

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<p>Do you mean the excuse that some unnamed LAC gave when advising an incoming frosh student to switch out of a calculus 1 course?</p>

<p><a href=“No Calc 101 for you! - Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1556885-no-calc-101-for-you-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Of course, it is possible that this was just a made up excuse to get enrollment in the class down to below the capacity that the school had.</p>

[frazzled2thecore]

<p>No, I am referring to students from our high school who have taken calc 2 and calc 3 in large lecture classes at large research universities and reported back, although I do remember that thread… </p>

<p>Our high school teacher speaks fluent English, promptly hand grades homework, quizzes, and exams, is aware of where students are floundering and adjusts teaching accordingly, and is available before and after school to answer questions. </p>