Hey guys, currently I am studying at a competetive boarding school in Connecticut. I’m aspiring to be an engineer, but I have some issues with my current class schedule. So, as a junior I’m taking a Honors Pre-Calculus (for which I have an A+). At school we have a special class called Intro To Calculus (which is taken after Honors Pre-Calculus). Because of my grade, I will be placed in Accelerated Intro to Calc, which basically covers topics of AP Calc AB, so after this class students are placed to Calc BC. I’m thinking of covering an Intro To Calc over the summer, so I will be able to take AP Calc AB as a senior. Do you think me not taking AB, but instead taking the class which covers AB (but is not AB on transcript) will hurt my chances to go to engineering school? Thank you very much.
As long as you’re taking a rigorous math class and you’re successful in it, I think you should be fine. Did you mean you were going to be placed in to AP Calc BC as a senior?
For the very competitive programs you will need BC calc if your school offers it. But most other engineering programs are satisfied if you’ve taken calculus of some form - does not need to be an AP course - and you have been strong in all of your math and sciences. I’ve seen a lot of students waitlisted for engineering and CS programs at schools like RPI, WPI, and Binghamton when they only completed pre-calculus in HS.
Indicate on common app that you’re going to take the Calculus AB exam in May it’ll provide an explanation about your class.
My guess is that colleges will know you’re attending a rigorous boarding school.
why not ask the counselors at your “competetive boarding school”?
If you have an A+ in honors precalculus, it seems like you should be able to handle whatever the most rigorous calculus course/sequence is at your school.