So I am currently a sophomore in high school but since I struggle with math sometimes, I really want to take AP calc ab as my only ap in my senior year, which means next year I have to take three APs in order to have a single on for senior year. If I do not take ap calc, I will take two next year and the third in senior year. My question is, as someone who usually struggles with understanding math and is not good at asking for help, is ap calc ab for me? I have a B average in algebra 2 right now, but I an scared for ap calc. Thank you!
Sounds like you are jumping the gun. See how things go with precalc/trig before making decisions about AP calc.
My D found calc to be just a normal continuation of math and no extra work. I think if you make it through precalc well you will be able to manage more than just AP calc senior year.
FWIW, learn to ask for help now. It’s a necessary skill for college and in life.
AP Calc seems to be far easier for students who did very well in algebra, trigonometry, and pre-calculus, and very difficult for students who struggled in these same subjects.
You do not need to take four or five AP classes. You can do quite well in university and quite well in life with no AP classes at all. As one example, my older daughter has a friend who took no AP classes at all in university, went to a good university (not a famous one), had a marketable major, and got a good job pretty much straight out of university. My other daughter went to a high school that did not offer any AP classes. The top 3 students (which was more than 10% of the class) went to very strong colleges, including a famous LAC and an Ivy League school.
I agree with @momofsenior1. You should see how trigonometry and precalculus goes. However, I think that you also should be learning how to ask for help. Math can go a lot better with a bit of extra help, regardless of whether you get help from your teacher after school or get a tutor.
Agree that you are getting too far ahead of yourself. See how precalc goes and then make a decision. Some high schools offer honors (non-AP) calculus as an option as well.
Is there a reason you need 4 APs? Talk with your guidance counselor to be sure you don’t overload yourself taking too many junior year.
I had a friend who was for some reason obsessed with taking honors physics (because of stories she heard from upperclassmen) …she wasn’t really prepared, and then she didn’t really do well and had to drop to regular physics.
Don’t get obsessed about AP Calc…work hard in Pre-calc…get a tutor, go to teacher help hours, do extra problems, watch Khan academy videos and then if you do well, take AP Calc.