HS Math Courses for Selective Schools?

Applying to College
1

Hi everyone!

I’m a junior in AP Calc AB this year and have an A in the class. The only thing is-- I find it painfully boring. The teacher is super nice, but the class style is just not fun or interesting to me. After this experience, I don’t really want to take BC next year considering the first half will be review, which will make it even more dreadful and boring for me. I am wondering: will it look bad to selective and competitive colleges (particularly WashU & Harvard) if I don’t take a math senior year? I took Geometry and Hon. Algebra II freshman year, AP Stats and Hon Pre Calculus sophomore year, and now I’m taking AB. I kind of regret doubling up so much and putting myself through so much pointless stress in the past years, but can’t change that now. I decided to do those at at time when I thought math was my favorite subject and I wanted to go into engineering. However, now I’m grown to love the biological sciences and the humanities, especially international studies! I am planning to take AP French, AP Lit, AP Gov, AP Bio and maybe a fun elective next year, so I am just curious- will it weaken my application to not have a final year of math?

Thanks so much in advance!!

2

sorry kid, take all four years of math (so BC in your case)

3

Yes, you should take math. Can you take a dual enrollment course at a local CC? Talk to your guidance counselor.

4

Probably should have taken BC this year if AB is too slow.

5

Too late to do now, but you probably should have taken BC. Nevertheless, either take BC next year or speak to your GC about possibly taking a math course at a local CC.

6

Thanks everyone for your replies!! What do you all think of supplementing BC with either AP Physics 2 or perhaps even AP Comp. Sci? I am in AP Physics 1 this year–though it is tough and takes a lot of time commitment for me, I enjoy it.

7

AP Physics 2 is better than AP Comp Sci to supplement BC.

8

AP Calc BC
AP French
AP Lit
AP Gov
AP Bio
AP Physics 2

would be a very challenging schedule. 6 APs in a year would likely be too much. To make it lighter, you could decide on AP Bio OR AP Physics 2, and take a “fun” class in the last period. Or you could take both but take Honors English IV (AP lit tends to be very reading-intensive, obviously. It’s great if you love to read and are a good reader, but time-consuming nevertheless; if you’re not a strong reader, it may not be the best pick although I compliment you on challenging yourself.)

9

Thanks so much, @TheDidactic & @MYOS1634! Also MYOS, I really enjoy biology and the humanities, so I’ll probably take bio and lit but choose between BC or Physics 2.

10

Go for BC. It might be “painfully boring to you”, but colleges will not care for that as an excuse. Highly selective schools will want you to take the highest classes available in your school’s academic catalog.

11

Hmm. Since you’ve already taken Physics 1, go for BC.