<p>I am an incoming freshman at a top private research university.
I got a 5 on AP Calc AB/BC.</p>
<p>I checked the websites, and some schools require 2 semesters of calculus.</p>
<p>Does this mean I shouldn't just skip into Multivariable calc and go on to linear algebra?
Or should I start at Calc II again and then do multivariable?</p>
<p>I should note that I took Calc BC my junior year of high school, and my calculus is a bit rusty as a result of this. I am also probably a bio major who doesn't want that much to do with math. I don't mind it though, and I am actually pretty good at it.</p>
<p>What should I take?? I want to get the best grades I can but not waste my time</p>
<p>Unless aiming for a MD/PhD, there are only a couple of med schools that require two semesters of calc. Most require/recommend two semesters of college math, which could be calc+stats, or some other combinations. AP credit is generally frowned upon for the premed prereqs.</p>
<p>For best grades, take Stats in the fall, and Calc I in the spring. (yes, Calc I would be/might be a waste of time, but if you score an A…)</p>
<p>My D was in a similar situation (Calc BC earlier in high school) and had no desire to add more difficulty to a science heavy schedule by taking more advanced math she’d never need. She took Calc 1 and Stats to fulfill math requirements. Both math classes were her “easy” courses each semester and helped balance out her work load.</p>
<p>I did AP credit + calc II to fulfill the requirement but ended up taking stats out of utility anyway. I would recommend doing stats because it’s probably the 2nd most useful form of math (2nd to basic algebra).</p>
<p>^ D wants to be able to apply to CA med schools who are more picky about AP credit, thus it was either Calc 1/Calc 2/ or higher level math and she took the easiest path</p>
<p>Note that some of these decisions about whether to use or retake AP credit do not have to be made in your first semester; you can defer the decision until later if you are not sure.</p>
<p>You may just want to take statistics first semester while you go through the calculus requirements and AP policies of all of the medical schools you may be interested in.</p>
<p>If your major actually needs multivariable calculus, then you likely need to take it by sophomore year as a prerequisite for other courses. But multivariable calculus typically is not needed for biology majors, except at schools where it is a general education requirement (e.g. MIT).</p>
Those students who took AP Cal BC in high school junior year and were always trying to take the hardest classes in high school (a legitimate strategy in order to get into a “top” college) may have a hard time in understanding how the premed GPA game should be played.</p>
<p>IMHO, one of reasons is that the math like calculus is mostly of no use in med school.</p>
<p>DS said many of his peer students at his med school are not willing to follow/learn the more rigorous/detailed derivation of formula (as it might be taught in a “real” science class in an upper level UG or graduate level class) because this is not related to the board test. But the sheer volume of knowledge they are expected to absorb in a short time is challenging. </p>
<p>But if you major in economics, physical science or engineering, you still need to take more math classes as required by your major, and this needs to be done early in your college career.</p>
<p>Also, it appears to me that those student who have had a very good background in science (not advanced math) in high school usually compete well in the science prereq classes in college. Unfortunately, many high schools do not have good science teachers. So, there are many freshmen who are advanced in math but much fewer students who are good at science.</p>
<p>I was wondering, how much would it effect my chances of getting into med school at highly selective colleges if I don’t take ap calc in high school? (Freshman going into tenth), I’m in ib and no longer hve space to take any sp calc in hs…</p>
<p>^ I thought IB and AP are just two alternative ways to demonstrate to the adcoms at colleges that you have taken the most rigorous classes that are available at your high school. Actually, IB tends to consume more of the student’s time (e.g., during summer, and more writing requirement.) But IB is neither better nor worse than AP, IMHO. </p>
<p>
None, at least directly.</p>
<p>However, the academic strength that you have built up by taking either IB or AP classess will only help you increase the odds of getting good grades in college. (but at a top college, most competitive premeds liklely have tons of AP 5 under their belts before they set their foot on campus. So you are not “behind” or “need to catch up in a short time” by having taken many AP or IB classes in high school.)</p>
<p>I also heard that some state university might force you to take the college credits for AP or IB credits you have had and skip the introductory science classes. (that is, the budget-constraint public school wants to get you graduated ASAP so that they will have your seat for a new student and save money.) There may be some disadvantage (except for bio AP) if it turns out you are not a non-bio science major and are not motivated in spending too much time on competing against the hardcore science majors who are eager to become the next Nobel Prize winner in the future. Remember that you, as a premed, needs to allocate time for ECs and they only need to pay attention to academics.</p>
<p>So the strategy for taking AP or IB credits may be different, depending on whether you are going to attend such a state state university with this policy, or other colleges that do not have this policy.</p>
<p>Edit: I misread your question. You mainly asked whether not taking an AP Calculus might be harmful. You also mentioned your interests in atttending a highly selective college (Is it a top 5? top 10?).</p>
<p>You may face an uphill battle in a calculus if a high percentage of peer students have taken AP-level calculus, unless those students with AP calculus background will not be in the same class with you. (e.g., some state school would enforce this.) So, whether it is harmful depends on the school you go to.</p>