I plan on applying as a political science major, with a chance I will take Econ. Currently, I am getting 90s in my precalc and AP stat class. I am having doubts about my senior year schedule, as I am applying to elite/HYPSM colleges. This is my schedule so for.
AP Physics 1
AP US Politics and Government
AP Spanish Language and Culture
AP Literature and Composition
AP Calc AB
College Advanced Science Research
Band
There is only one full classof AP Calc BC in my school as students have either the choice of AB and BC senior year, after precalc junior year. I have taken five APs before senior year, and my school offer 20+ AP classes
Should I switch to AP Calc BC to be a more competitive applicant? BC has an extra lab in my school, so I will lose an off period. I will only have a lunch period every other day then if I take BC (I have done this before and am used to it though)
BC vs AB will not make you any more competitive, so that’s not a reason to make the change.
If your GC rates your schedule as “most demanding” no college (outside of top STEM programs) will microanalyze your math choices.
More APs (and in this case it’s not even adding,just switching) is not always better. Once you hit 6-8, the law of diminishing returns kicks in. With 10 AP’s,in theory, you should be covered with rigor, unless other applicants from your school are applying to the same colleges with 14 AP’s.
IMO the best person to ask is your guidance counselor, not any one of us. Since you plan to apply to top tier colleges they will want to see the guidance counselor check the box on his/her recommendation saying you have taken the most rigorous course-load available at your HS (which doesn’t mean taking every one of the hardest classes offered – there is typically some latitude in this). If your guidance counselor says that your schedule with Calc AB is sufficient to get that most rigorous box checked then you are fine, if you need to take Calc BC to get this box checked then I suggest you do so.
FWIW personally I think it is healthier to have lunch scheduled n every day.
@skieurope So, if I am applying to the same school as someone in my school with the same number of APs (but they have BC calc), and I get my guidance counselor to check off the “most rigorous”schedule box, I should be fine?
You are basically asking “all other things being equal” and all other things are never equal. Rigor is but one part of the equation. But I really really doubt that AB vs BC will be a determining factor for any college admissions decision.