<p>heyyy (: i know im not a parent, but i feel that parents are the ones that can provide the most support as well as the most reliable answers. sorry if anyone gets irritated that I'm not supposed to be on here (:</p>
<p>okay so im a sophomore in high school (in Georgia if that matters at all), and I'm taking AP Calculus BC</p>
<p>I love the course as it is challenging and interesting, and I understand the material, but the tests in my class are <em>impossibly difficult</em> and I just cant seem to do well.</p>
<p>anyways, the semester is almost over and there is NO way I can have an A in there. tests are weighted 65% and, since im NOT doing well on tests, my grade's at a solid 86. with any luck, the final exam on Tuesday can bump me up to an 87.49.</p>
<p>will a B in HS look crappy on my college app? especially to ivy league schools such as harvard or princeton? or will me taking APCalcBC as a sophomore balance that out?</p>
<p>You’re taking it as a sophomore? Wow, things have changed since I was in HS! I can’t imagine a B in that class, as a sophomore, would hurt you at all. You’re doing great!</p>
<p>Aww thank you (: My school was really iffy about letting me take it, but I had a 104 in math last year and I took PreCalc over the summer in order to be two years ahead. I hope they’re not regretting letting me take it :/</p>
<p>Can you reach out for help next semester to bring up your grade? If you are struggling with the material, what do you plan to take the next two years? It isn’t so much about the grade, but on getting the fundamentals for higher math over the next few years. Looking for a tutor, overcoming will show maturity.</p>
<p>I agree with MIzzBee- do what ever you can do to improve your grade 2nd semester. talk with the teacher, get a tutor, get the collegeboard’s AP CAlc Test book and study that as much as possible, because you should take the AP exam, and a 5 on that test will help colleges to “overlook” a B in class. And I will also say “wow”- DS did not take AP Calc until Senior year.</p>
<p>I actually do have a tutor. I noticed I was having trouble pretty late into the semester, and it was too late to get my grade up to an A. Nonetheless, I do plan on having an A next semester and getting a 5 on the exam. College Board’s test questions are a breeze for me, it’s just the type of questions that my teacher puts on the tests that throws me off. And I’m taking Georgia Tech math Junior year and (since I will be done with all the math classes out there) I’m just gonna take 2 AP Sciences Senior year.</p>
<p>You sound like my sons. Ds1 got a B in BC Cal as a junior but got a 5 on the test. Ds2 is in there now with a solid B as a junior, and he’s counting on a 5 on the test. The teacher is just really difficult, a task master. But the kids love him. Ds2 just told me last week that it’s his favorite class despite having his lowest grades in there and being a humanities kid. </p>
<p>Ds1 did great on his college apps with that B/5 combo. He got in to nine of the 11 schools to which he applied, though none was an Ivy. And the no came from Stanford, so hardly a shock. Good luck! You sound in great shape.</p>
<p>Sounds like a good plan. Over a bit of time, you will be more likely to “figure out” the teacher’s test patterns. Specifically, I would work with your tutor on the particular types of questions that are stumping you. I agree that getting AP prep books may help, if only to become more confident for the AP exam.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about this semester’s grade. Do learn the material and study for the AP exam next spring. Colleges will have the AP exam grade which is more important than a first semester B. Also improving grades matter to colleges more than just a gpa- stellar grades junior year are much more important than your first semester sophomore grades. It is much better to stumble now and learn how to pick yourself up than to never learn how to deal with problems. Some 4.0 students have never needed to study and don’t have the necessary study skills when they reach college. You have learned how to get help, a lesson that will be useful in years to come. This class won’t kill your chances for your choices of colleges.</p>
<p>Do not spend a lot of your time worrying about colleges. Relax and enjoy learning now, you are more likely to do better when you are not tense or stressed about doing a perfect job.</p>