<p>Ok so I'm a new sophomore who just transfered to my new school this year. Right now I'm taking honors algebra 2 and I am taking honors precalc next year (this is the advanced math track for my school). This would mean that I would be taking calc bc senior year. If I was at my old school I wouldn't have any worries about my math course selection since the highest they offered was up to single-variable calculus anyways. My old school was an international school that didn't do placement classes, so freshman only had other freshman in their class and juniors only had juniors in their class. However my current school does do placement classes, and also offers math up to linear algebra and multivariable calc. My biggest worry is that if I only take calc bc by the time I graduate, will colleges wonder why I didn't try to take the hardest courses in my school? Our school only has two multivariable classes with a total of 10-20 students taking it, and we only have one linear algebra class with 5-7 kids, we also only have 3 calc bc classes and only quite a few people make it that far also (we have about 700 kids in our school). Still..I'm worried that colleges will be somewhat skeptical why I didn't take the opportunity to go further. I have a very good record in math and I have taken an interest in the math/science field. Should I take precalc over the summer so I can take calc bc as a junior and thus multivariable and linear together as a senior? or should I just continue with my current math track?</p>
<p>I think you need to sit down with your GC at your school and discuss with him or her the options available to you in math. If you stay with the track you are on, and take calculus senior year, the GC can explain in the counselor letter that you transferred in as a sophomore and did the most you could do in math given the circumstances. But I also feel your idea about taking precalc over the summer has merit - are you really interested in doing that? Is it offered at your school or would you be taking it online?</p>
<p>I will say that taking calc bc is very impressive. That is a really hard course, so just getting to that level is really good. My son did calc bc as a junior and then decided to do AP Stats as a senior, rather than multivariable. He is a business major. Most colleges will be impressed with calc bc. But if you are having worries - talk to your GC about your options.</p>
<p>Take precalc over the summer, but you can start teaching yourself now, once you find out which book to use. Go to your GC and ask where to take precalc so it will be credited to your hs transcript-either at your hs, a district hs or cc. Hopefully you will do well on the math placement test in the fall so you can proceed with the most rigorous math sequence.</p>
<p>Thanks rockvillemom and Battlo,</p>
<p>I would probably be taking precalc at a summer school, and then would have to take an advancement test before the next school year to see if I could place in calc. I’ll talk to my math teacher and HOD to see how it goes.</p>
<p>My math teacher says that precalc is an essential course at the high school, and it isn’t strongly advised for me to skip it. If I do get the opportunity to so however, should I?</p>
<p>Are you asking if you should skip precalc and go straight to AP Calc BC if you are given the chance to do so? Not in my opinion. I think that would be a huge mistake. I would rather see you take precalc over the summer, if you were my student.</p>
<p>lol. no. i meant “skip” as in to not take it in school and to take it over the summer.</p>
<p>I found precalc to be a largely useless class. It was kind of like “Algebra 3” in a way. Taking it over the summer should be fine.</p>
<p>Yeah, precalc is kinda pointless (especially when your teacher is as dumb as mine). Although I wouldn’t worry too much, Calculus BC will still look REALLY good. If you’re really set on multivariable calc and linear algebra senior year, though, then go ahead and take precalculus over the summer. Judging by how badly you want to take it I’d assumed you’re pretty good at math so you’ll get precalc pretty easily. ;)</p>