I’m starting course selection for my senior year and I can’t decide if I should take AP AB or BC calculus. I’m in precalculus now and I’m probably the only one in the class with an A, and its safe to say that I’m not struggling at all.
Most students at my school take AB calculus before taking BC calculus, but I’ve heard of people going straight to BC calc from precalc.
Maybe I can get a background in calculus over the summer somehow- if anyone knows of a summer program where I can do that, please let me know!
So, what do you think I should take - AB or BC?
also if it helps I’m taking 7 AP classes next year so I will have a pretty heavy course load.
Thank you all! <3
oh, i didn’t mean for this to be in admission hindsight :0
Take AB especially with such a hard course load.
I took BC the year after pre-calc, but at my school that was really a combined AB/BC class. That worked perfectly for me, but if your school’s BC class doesn’t cover the AB material I think it would be quite difficult for you to keep up. And learning the AB material over the summer would be hard. I would say, overall, if you really love math go for it but if you would just be taking BC because it “looks better,” don’t.
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Hardly anybody at my school takes AB before BC… it’s either one or the other, right after Pre-calc. It may be because my school also offers Multi-Variable Calculus after Calc BC, but anyway… I am in BC right now and am LOVING it, and I have a very similar class load as you. I’m taking 5 AP classes (one of which is independent study), as well as band and two college classes.
I would suggest BC, because you are doing well in Precalc 
I’m not entirely sure about this but I think AB tests just Calc I and BC tests both Calc I and Calc II. I don’t think either tests Calc III (multi-variable) at all. At least that’s how my mom (she’s an AP calc teacher) explained it to me.
Take BC. The BC AP exam only tests on 1 or 2 more concepts (it tests both AB and BC knowledge), and it looks much more impressive to colleges. From what you’re saying, you seem smart enough to handle the load, so add the extra credentials while you can.
You can’t take AB and BC in the same year so o think it’s best to take AB because you need to know it to take BC.
If your school’s BC class skips any of the AB material, you should take AB, especially considering the difficulty of the rest of your courseload.
If your school’s BC class covers all of the AB material, you should take BC, as it seems like you can handle it.