What college math courses to take after AP Calc BC?

<p>Hello! :D I might take Algebra 2 in 9th grade. Then, I would take Pre-Calc in 10th, and AP Calc BC in 11th. What college math courses should I look into? My school only goes up to AP Calc BC, but I need to get in 4 years of math. I want to take an evening or weekend course, because if I take it during the school day, I would lose at least 3 periods for 1 course. I was thinking about Multivariable Calc (Calc 3?) the first semester and Differential Equations the second. Would I even be able to take something in my junior year that doesn't require Calculus knowledge, like Linear Algebra (I honestly don't know if it requires Calc or not)? Or maybe I could take a college course my second semester, after I know Calc 1? I honestly know nothing about college math courses, except for the names of some... What courses do you recommend? :)</p>

<p>I forgot to mention I'll take AP Stats in either 10th or 11th, not 12th. I don't even know if I'll be taking Algebra 2 next year, but the assistant principal told me to look into what courses I would take my senior year if I do.</p>

<p>Thanks! :D</p>

<p>At my school, we have multi after calc BC, which makes me think that is a good choice for you to take after BC. I think after multi and differential equations, linear algebra is a common choice. Everyone I know who took linear took multi first. </p>

<p>afaik linear can be taken whenever
multi is usually after BC then diff eqs</p>

<p>Linear algebra may contain some calc depending on your professor (my community college only required calc 1). It’s not essential for the topics but it’s still included for some reason. </p>

<p>Otherwise do multivariable then diffeq. I did Calc III and it’s not terrible, although it is harder than calc II</p>

<p>I’m not sure what your schedule will look like but when I took Calc/Linear algebra I had a full HS schedule. It’s amazing how difficult you may find it to go back to school in the evening after a full day of HS and ECs</p>

<p>You would take linear and multivar the next year. Usually you do multi then linear. Diff eq usually requires you to have taken multivar I believe.</p>

<p>at my school we don’t have multi… we have a dual-enrollment program called Distance Calculus that’s a video class run by the GT Math Department. It’s selective admission. If you haven’t already taken AP Stat, you can do that if you don’t get into the GT program but if you have then you’re kind of screwed.</p>

<p>Some combination of MVC/DE/LA. But seriously, you are 3 years away from that decision. Go play ball.</p>

<p>^ Exactly. Or you could take an interesting science course instead that involves math. But that would not be offered at every school/local community college.</p>

<p>I would go for LA/MVC/DE during senior year. That’s what most students tend to do, and it’s like first-year college math.</p>

<p>Since I know you’re a Munster student, take Calc III at Purdue Cal. </p>

<p>You have to take Calc AB before BC.</p>

<p>I’m in the same boat. But since I don’t feel like going to advanced in my high school math career (I personally see no reason too), my plan is to take AP Stat 12th grade. I’m not sure about your school, but my school allows AP Physics C to act as a math course as well as a science if you’ve exhausted the rest of your high school math classes so you’re not forced to dual enroll and take multi</p>

<p>@Teyrkis‌ No. Some schools allow you to skip AB and go straight to BC. </p>

<p>Linear Algebra doesn’t really require much calculus, you could even take it concurrently with Calc I if you wanted to. You can do LA without MVC just fine, but MVC has some LA (or so I’ve heard). I’m on the same track currently (taking BC in junior year), and my school only has MVC after Calc BC, so I’ll probably take MVC. Otherwise, I’d definitely take LA.</p>

<p>

Assuming that the BC class covers the AB topics. High schools handle the AP calculus curricula in many different ways.</p>

<p>At my school, it’s MVC and LA (each a semester long) for senior year (although unlike other math courses, you aren’t guaranteed to get in at all).</p>

<p>AP Stat? That’s another one after kids finish AB and BC. </p>

<p>

Unless your high school has told you otherwise, you probably don’t have to take a math class every year. You just have to earn four math credits. If you make it to Calculus BC, you’ll almost certainly have met whatever requirements you need to meet, and the only reason to take college math classes is that you like math.</p>

<p>

By the College Board’s design, AP Calculus AB is not a prerequisite for BC. The AB exam covers college Calculus I and the BC exam covers Calculus I and II. Some high schools require AB as a prerequisite for BC, but otherwise you can just go straight to BC. </p>

<p>

What courses are available to you? Community colleges are limited for math beyond Calculus II.
Are you concerned about getting transfer credit?

Linear algebra classes don’t involve calculus, except maybe in peripheral textbook exercises, but they typically have Calculus II (the second part of AP Calculus BC) as a prerequisite.
Linear algebra, differential equations, and multivariable calculus can be taken in any order unless your college has decided to make one a prerequisite for the others. I took linear algebra and differential equations last fall, then multivariable calculus in the spring.

Aside from Calculus II and algebra-based statistics, most college math courses above Calculus I have Calculus II as a prerequisite.

Courses you might be able to take include multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, discrete math, and statistics (which can be calculus-based or not). </p>

<p>@halcyonheather Some CCs offer Calc III; mine does (that’s how my school offers it–it’s a CC course offered on campus for credit). </p>

<p>I’m in the same situation. My school doesn’t offer Multivariable Calculus except through the local community college. And the trick with that is, since it is usually only offered during the school day, you have to be able to take three periods out of your eight day schedule to travel to the college and take the course. Not an option when I’m involved in music classes too!</p>

<p>Anyways, if your school offers this type of course, I would take it. Or go to your local community college for the course. I got stuck with AP Statistics this year…I found out though, that in the spring the CC will be offering Calculus III (MVC) during the evening. Maybe that would be an option! But by that time, it won’t be able to make a difference for college admissions anyway.</p>

<p>Why “might” you take algebra2? If you’re ready for it, why wouldn’t you? </p>

<p>It’s hard to plan 4 years in advance. You don’t know what your interests will be at that point. You don’t know what constraints there will be on your high school schedule from coursework and EC’s. Who knows, by then your high school daily schedule may have changed (Ours changed twice in the past few years). And you don’t know how the scheduling of post calculus courses at your local college will be. </p>

<p>Just go ahead and take the algebra2 if that’s where you are in math. When the time comes, you’ll have options. You could do AP stats, take a cc math course (if that can be scheduled and transportation arranged), take an online course, or simply not take a math class and take something else at your high school instead.</p>

<p>

I think most community colleges offer multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. When I say they’re limited I mean that a lot of times they’ll only have one inconveniently-scheduled section every semester, and they don’t have anything more advanced than those three courses (which may or may not be relevant to the OP). </p>