Ravens85

I've taken AP Calculus AB in my junior year and got a 4 on the exam. I'm in BC right now but I'm not as strong and it's impacting my grades. Is it necessary to take BC this year? I had a friend who got into Harvard with only the AB, but he got a 5 and does a lot of things. I've also taken 8 other APs including senior year, and I do a lot of service work/extra curriculars/leadership positions, and a 4.27 GPA weighted. So is BC needed to get into Brown?

fireandrain

If you are planning on majoring in anything math or science, taking BC will help your application. If you are a liberal arts/humanities person, then I think you are fine -- although it might help if you could pick up AP Statistics.

If you drop BC, will that affect what your guidance counselor says? Will you still be taking the "most rigorous curriculum" your school offers? Do all the other top students in your HS (including those who will apply to Brown) take BC?

To answer your question directly: No, BC calculus is not "needed" to get into Brown. Many students are accepted without BC (and many high schools don't even offer BC). If you offer something Brown wants, you'll get in without BC. But if they are looking for a reason not to accept you, and other applicants from your HS have BC, it could hurt you if you drop it.

BrownAlumParent

If you indicate that your potential concentration is anything with any sort of math bent (and yes that includes International Relations, Econ, and any science) then not having taken BC Calc when it is offered at your school is likely to be a reason for rejection. Also true if you take it and get C's, or maybe even B's. If you are indicating that you want to be a Classics concentrator, or something else that has a lower number of students indicating it as a field of study, and not any real relationship to math, then if your grades are going to tank, and dropping won't hurt your transcript or recommendations, then that might be the best bet. You should talk with your counselor re this.

browngrad

You usually want BC if your english is not as strong (ie, you did not take AP english). that is the trend i noticed. if someone usually didnt have BC, they had AP eng. this of course isnt the case all the time but a good pattern i noticed.