I will be a senior and I need to select classes for my schedule.
My school does not offer AP Calc BC. From my understanding AP Calc AB doesn’t cover as much as BC. Would it look better to take Calc I and Calc II at a local university this year since they are both 1 semester in college meaning they cover more?
Yes, the college courses cover more than AB does. You would also get to see how an actual college course is run.
ABsolutely, see what I did there? Many colleges value college courses over AP, especially since some privates don’t allow AP credit to transfer anymore.
I’m just worried that if I take calc in college instead of my HS then my GC won’t write me a good letter of recommendation and say I took the most rigorous courses, since AP Calc is the hardest class in the entire school.
Well if Calc 1 and 2 at the college is harder and if the counselor likes you he may still say that you went above and beyond the most rigorous schedule the school could offer you.
Would the college classes be dual-enrollment? If so, they would (eventually) get on your transcript, and your GC would typically be aware of it in advance or you could let your GC know. Do other people at your HS take Calc I & II at this college?
Yes it is dual-enrollment and will be on my college and high school transcript.
Most people at my HS just takes Calc at my HS, I may be the only one if I choose to take it at a college.
Take the college classes and then take the AP B/C exam in the spring. You’ll be mostly prepared (but do get a book to brush up on any topics that the college might not have covered well), and should do well. It’s good to have both the classes and the exam score since you never know which college will accept which for credit (and some might not accept either).
Okay I will take calculus in college since it will look better. Does anyone know if you have to take a placement test to take Calculus 1?
You probably just need your high school transcripts that show you took the pre-req (presumably pre-calc or the equivalence).