<p>Hi, I'm a junior right now attending a small magnet school. The school only has roughly 150 kids in my graduating class. This year, the counselors raised the requirements for getting into AP Calculus AB from a "C" in Honors Pre-Calc to a "B". The AP Calc teacher said that if a student who got a "C" during first semester can raise their grades to a "B" or "C" in the second, he might consider letting that person take the course.</p>
<p>This is how math courses are assigned at my school:</p>
<p>Freshmen - Honors Geometry
Sophomore - Honors Algebra II/Trig
Junior - Honors Pre-Calc ("C" or higher during previous year), Finite Mathematics
Senior - AP Calc AB ("B" or higher), AP Calc BC ("A" is required), Finite Math, Analytic Trig</p>
<p>I survived with a "C" in pre-calc in first semester. This is somewhat good news for me since I was in danger of failing the class (like quite a few others in my grade). But because the pre-calc teacher is notorious for teaching his material in the most contrived way (he teaches the curriculum in an illogical order, assumes that his lecture notes are enough for students to understand, and frustrates students in a variety of other ways), he often boosts his students' grades up after one too many failed pop tests (yes, pop tests) and quizzes.</p>
<p>The sad part is that I managed to only get a "C" even with all the grade inflation (while many escaped with a "C+" or above). Luckily for them, the AP Calc teacher decided to let the cut-off be a "C+" to qualify for calculus. I failed to qualify by just 1% (sadly, I was right below the cut-off line).</p>
<p>Now if I can pull off a "B" or "A" in second semester, I can talk to the AP Calc teacher and ask him to consider letting me in the Calc AB course. But I'm not so sure if I want to take Calc AB in the first place. Given that I'll have to take Finite Mathematics or Analytic Trig (both which are not honors or AP courses) if I don't go to AB, my friends keep telling me "It'll look bad" on my college apps if I "demote" myself to a less advanced math class.</p>
<p>But I've never enjoyed math, and I've never been very good at it. But a lot of people tell me that the AP Calc AB exam has a generous curve, that it's easy to pass, and that the AP teacher is exceptional.</p>
<p>So this is what it comes down to: I can earn a "B" in second semester and go to Calc AB next year and challenge myself, or I can just settle for Finite Math and take a course with juniors and fellow "demoted" seniors. Finite Math will definitely be easier for me to manage, and I'll be able to focus on the AP courses that I've already signed up for my senior year (Euro, US Gov't, and Literature).</p>
<p>So what do you CCers think? I'd rather not base my high school career on whether or not my college apps look good. I'd much rather enjoy my senior year with challenging classes and subjects that I'll enjoy. But my friends keep insisting that it'll be terrible if I take Finite Math next year (regarding the fact that many of them are ambitious careerists). Should I try a little harder and go to AB?</p>