<p>So I am going to be a junior next year (if you saw my various other posts in the admissions forums, that was probably my older brother who is entering senior year) and I am having a tough time making a decision:</p>
<p>I am self-studying PreCalculus Honors over this summer, and it is not very hard for me. Math is generally my strongest subject area, behind science. So, I have the option to take the Precalc honors final in two months in order to skip into AP calculus for next year. This is good because then senior year I will be able to take either Multivariable Calc or another Post-AP, such as linear Algebra or diffy Q. So on that level, I am enticed to skip Precalc</p>
<p>However, I will have a relatively difficult schedule next year, without AP Calc. My real question is-should I bother skipping Precalc? I could self study this summer and simply not take the test, and then pass with flying colors during the school year since it will be my second time learning the material. Then however, I will be in AP Calc BC in my senior year and will not be able to take a post-AP math course, aforementioned. </p>
<p>What do you guys think? If it helps, I am mostly interested in Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Duke, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, and MIT. My grades are straight A's and my E.C's are good. I will most likely be heading in the Physics or Chemistry major direction, but also like math, psychology, and engineering.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no need to rush this. You’ll already be ahead of a decent chunk of the competitive by taking Calc in senior year at all.</p>
<p>Don’t waste your summer self-studying. And don’t sabotage your performance in Calc by skipping Pre-calc. It’s always best to have a strong foundation in subjects like these.</p>
<p>Plus, as you’ve noted, you already have a difficult schedule. There’s no need to overdo it by taking another very difficult class when you have an option considered academically rigorous that wouldn’t challenge you all that much.</p>
<p>AP Calc BC in your senior year isn’t a bad thing. Taking Multi in senior year is silly. You’d be crazy to take college courses that use it without taking Multi at whatever college you end up attending.</p>
<p>If you ace that precalculus honors final (i.e. get what would be considered worthy of an A grade) easily, then taking precalculus will be a waste of time for you. In this case, go straight to calculus.</p>
<p>If you do not ace it, then you may want to take the course to cover the stuff that you did not learn as well while self-studying it.</p>
<p>If you do take a post-AP math course, will it be a dual enrollment course with college credit?</p>
<p>No it would not be… We have one math teacher who teaches Multivariable, Differential and Linear Algebra. They rotate every year. It works out that I would get Multi senior year if I take AP BC next year. It’s not dual enrollment, and it does not count for anything other than rigor points. It is considered a “regular” class that happens to be rather difficult</p>
<p>Multivariable calculus in college is generally a semester course, so if you have it for a full year in your high school, it is likely to be easier (slower paced) than calculus BC. Linear algebra and differential equations is typically the other semester of the college sophomore level math courses.</p>
<p>If you do take calculus BC as a junior and want to take true college level math courses afterward, consider taking transferable-to-the-state-flagship courses in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations in community college as a senior. Note: these classes in community college will be filled with aspiring transfer students intending to major in math, statistics, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering when they transfer to four year schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the great advice…I do have one last question:</p>
<p>After talking to the dean the other day he told me that another option for me is to take the classes concurrently, if I self study Precalc this summer. I would still take the test at the end of the summer, but I would only need like a B- or above. Then I would be taking both Precalc and AP Calc BC at the same time. this leaves room for higher math classes well still giving me an easy A in Precalc during the year. Opinions?</p>
<p>I would not take the classes concurrently. It’s too much of a strain on your schedule.</p>
<p>If you do well on the precalc final (90% or above), skip precalc. If you don’t do so well, don’t skip it.</p>
<p>What else are you doing this summer other than self-studying? If self-studying means forgoing an internship or a summer program, then self-studying would NOT be worth it and would actually hurt you.</p>
<p>I am interning at the Khan Academy as a software developer and teaching math at the summer school at my High School. Also, I am tutoring local kids and developing a website for a business of my own. It’s a lot, I know. But I don’t do much else than this during summer, so I can stay focused on both these E.C’s as well as self studying PreCalc</p>