Taking Multivariable Calculus Outside of High School?

<p>Hi, I know it's early, but this year (Junior), I am taking BC Calc. Assuming I do well on the AP, the only choice I have is to take AP Statistics next year. While I will take it, I feel like I am wasting my time. I was wondering if it is worth it to invest my time looking for a quality course online, or in a local college. Will the credits be accepted? Is it much harder than taking a course in high school? Will colleges see this as me taking initiative, and will it help me a lot? Any other information would be greatly accepted!</p>

<p>Have you talked with your GC about this? Many high schools, including my son’s (he’s a junior in BC), pay for the kids who advance beyond the high school offerings to take the next level course at a local university. Our local state U offers MVC at 7:45 am especially for the high school students so they have time to get back to school and not miss much class time. Transportation not provided, but there are 9 juniors and a handful of younger kids in his class, so they can easily carpool. Bus is too slow. Or you could ask if they have independent study credit option at your HS and get a math teacher to mentor you for this, perhaps enrolling in MIT open courseware or something like that if school won’t pay for an online course with fee. Are there other juniors in your situation? I encourage my son to take the stats class and simplify his life, but so far he rejects that idea.</p>

<p>I’m in the same situation as you. The class I’m taking is AP calc BC and dual enrollment at the local university, so after senior year, I’ll be taking multivariable calculus and differential equations (regardless of my AP test score). I’m not the first, so this really isn’t new for my school, but definitely ask your GC what policies they have regarding this, and I would say it would strengthen your application and only help you. Also, if you are in calc BC as a junior, I don’t think you’ll be challenged enough in a statistics class.</p>

<p>I’m taking Linear Algebra and Differential Equations at a local university, and I’m fairly sure I’ll take Multivariable Calculus next semester. </p>

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<p>IMO it’s worth it, but not if you have to spend a ton of money on it (unless you know you’re going to a college where the credits will transfer).
Also, I’d recommend finding a class on a college campus college if possible.</p>

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<p>It depends on what college you’re going to, but a lot private universities won’t accept dual-enrollment credits if they also show up on your high school transcript. So don’t count on the credits transferring. (Still, you’ll probably be able to take a math placement test so you’ll be put in the correct class.)</p>

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<p>Not necessarily. </p>

<p>Good things: homework isn’t due every day and there are are only three or four tests in the entire class.</p>

<p>Bad things: everything counts for a higher percentage of your grade, professors aren’t as likely to give extra credit, let you turn in work late, etc.</p>

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<p>My uneducated opinion is that it will help, but not necessarily a lot. </p>

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<p>Eh, I think statistics is harder than calculus, or at least more boring. It depends on you. I got a lower score on the AP Stats test than I did on the Calculus BC test.</p>

<p>Thank you all - very informative</p>

<p>I’m a senior right now and I was in the exact same situation. I took MVC (and Linear Algebra) over the summer through Harvard SSP. It’s expensive, but I would recommend it if you have the money.</p>

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<p>Interesting; in my school, MVC comes first. Ah, well.</p>

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<p>…</p>

<p>…</p>

<p>…wut</p>

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<p>I think it’s more logical to take MVC first (it shows up in differential equations even though it’s not really a prerequisite), but it was full when I signed up for classes.</p>