<p>Would not taking AP Calc BC destroy my chances for getting into a top engineering school? I'm a freshman in HS and was placed into honors as apposed to seminar. This means that I cannot take AP Calc BC because you cannot move up from honors to seminar in my school. Therefore I will be stick with AP Calc AB. Will this be a major issue if I want to get into a college like CMU?</p>
<p>(On a side note our school is part of Project Lead The Way, which offers engineering classes. I plan on taking these all four years.)</p>
<p>So is there any chance to get into a high end engineering school without taking BC?</p>
<p>Dear OP,</p>
<p>Shouldn’t be a problem. Also, its probably too soon to worry about that stuff now. The following can be done:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you do well for the next few years, maybe you can ask the school to let you take BC?</p></li>
<li><p>You can self-study BC and take the exam. </p></li>
<li><p>You can just take AB and then take Calc II at CMU or wherever you decide to go/end up. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Plenty of people take Calc II in college; in fact, even people who took BC and got a 5 re-take Calc II freshman year. Just focus on doing well in what you’re taking and you’ll be fine. </p>
<p>Best wishes,
-DV</p>
<p>A lot of the top engineering schools are State Universities. Not taking Calc BC will not materially affect your chances. At the top privates, you might be at a slight disadvantage. I would guess that a significant portion of the class is in your same situation.</p>
<p>Your academic record isn’t what separates you in applications to top engineering universities. Certainly try your hardest for the next 4 years (you may still be able to move into Calc BC), but you really only need to be in the top 5-10% of your graduating class so that the college can put you in that category for the rankings. </p>
<p>Once you have to floor scores for academics and SATs/SAT IIs, everything comes down to how you can separate yourself from the crowd. I’m guessing everyone applying to top engineering universities from your school will be taking a similar schedule to you, so you need to do things outside of class to make yourself stand out. Relevant activities include FIRST robotics, teaching yourself programming, perhaps using this programming in a job, and doing other projects related to science and technology. Also try and get to know some of your advisors and teachers as more than a student, as this will help you loads with recommendations. Essentially, you won’t be accepted because of a 2400 SAT and maxing out on APs, but you could be for being a leader in your community.</p>
<p>Well this has been reassuring. I do plan on joining the robotics club, and possible starting a programming/computer science club since our school lacks one.</p>
<p>^^^
Start a First Robotic club. It will need a separate programming team (start early to learn all the controls/sensors), which would dovetail with a programming club.
[url=<a href=“http://www.usfirst.org/]USFIRST.org[/url”>http://www.usfirst.org/]USFIRST.org[/url</a>]</p>