<p>I agree, he should audit the class, keep up with the work, and take the AP exam. On the common app, there is a place you can explain things like this (actually, my daughter explained in this space why she didn’t take something that colleges might have expected her to have taken). Just say he was not allowed to officially enroll in the class because of enrollment caps and that he wanted to pursue his math studies so he is auditing the class and will be taking the AP exam. I think colleges will respect that. And he should follow through, make it clear to the GC and the math teacher that he is taking the AP exam, just so everyone knows he’s serious about this.</p>
<p>How do you “audit” a high school class that is oversubscribed. I thought the class size thing was based on how many kids could fit in the room and how much time the teacher had for grading and individual instruction. How would you add one more body to a room off the books? I am missing how they would let a kid audit a full class rather than adding another official student to the class off the wait list.</p>
<p>saintfan, it wouldn’t be an official “audit.” Teacher would just let him sit in. Which is why I’m reluctant to go his route. GC would not approve it, no record on his transcript, and not clear that gc would say he was doing it. Plus the ethical issue: class limits exist for a reason. But he would learn the math and be able to take the AP exam. </p>
<p>Well presumably the teacher wouldn’t have the extra work of correcting homework if he’s auditing. I think retaking AB would be a bore and a waste of time. If the teacher will let him audit, even if the GC won’t mention it, I think he could have a recommendation from the teacher as suggested upthread and he could also mention it in the space the Common Application allows for any extra explanations. Is taking Calculus through CTY or EPGY or somewhere else on line off the table?</p>
<p>I think if someone from the school is willing to put something in writing, whether through a Letter of Rec or a note from Guidance that the course was audited, I would go in that direction. Can you get a commitment that someone would be willing to do that for you? You can add the online option, though they aren’t cheap. </p>
<p>VMT I am trying to get in touch with GC to see what’s possible. Thanks for all the suggestions. </p>
<p>My DS took calc BC through Thinkwell, and that one is cheap. It doesn’t give you access to a human, and only has machine-gradable exams, but especially in this situation where he would have access to a real teacher if he had questions, it might be a good choice. You don’t get any kind of official “credit” for it, but you can contact them for a “transcript” of sorts with the student’s grades. My son liked the instructor (on the videos) and was able to complete the entire course in under 4 months, 85 minutes per day. He got a 5 on the AP exam. Math is his “thing” – those who need more hands-on instruction might not find it sufficient. If you want something official earlier than the AP exam results, that might be worth it. I think it’s $125 (compared with over $1K for courses like EPGY where you’re getting access to a human instructor)</p>
<p>Your son auditing helps the school, not your son. My DD1 took an algebra class through BYU and found it to be challenging. My husband tutored her through the class. DD1 included the BYU transcript with her college applications. If your son doesn’t need the in-class Calc BC to graduate, consider this type of option combined with taking the AP exam.</p>
<p>If he loves math and is already prepared for Calc BC, then it would be a big mistake to skip it as a senior. He needs to keep his math brain sharp going into college. If that means auditing, so be it. That can be explained in the supplemental information section of the Common App and actually shows admissions how determined he is to study math despite getting shut out of the class (although admissions may question why he missed the boat during class sign-ups). As others have said, your best play there is to try to get into the class if someone else drops.</p>
<p>Also, as others have said, see if he can earn transferrable college credit, either from a nearby school or online.</p>
<p>We’re trying to figure out the audit thing and the gc will confirm that it’s not his fault he was shut out. He’s been trying to get in since last spring and gc kept saying that kids would drop but it didn’t happen. </p>
<p>So the school is allowing him to unofficially audit. The GC and the teacher will both write recommendations explaining that he was shut out and plans to take the BC AP exam. He will also include it in the additional information section of the application. Is there anything else we can do to counter the impact that his official transcript will not include a math class? </p>
<p>cbdnyc-I think you have it covered. You have a commitment from both the teacher and the GC that he was shut out of the class for class size limit reasons. If a college sees no math class for a student seriously interested in STEM, even a quick read of the application materials will provide an explanation.</p>
<p>momof3sons, Thanks so much (and for everyone’s suggestions). Really helped walk me through this process. </p>