Must take calc bc to even be considered? - Page 3

mulberrypie · 06-25-2009, 02:17 AM

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Second, if you self-study the BC parts, you can (and should) absolutely tell MIT, and they will absolutely care.

I will be self-studying Calculus BC and Physics C: E&M on my own, in addition to a few other APs because my school does not offer these classes. How would you "tell" MIT in your application?

molliebatmit · 06-25-2009, 08:01 AM

The question that asks if there's anything extra you'd like to tell them is always a good place.

vanillasky123 · 06-25-2009, 04:05 PM

@molliebatmit what else do ppl usually write in the "additional information" space?

molliebatmit · 06-25-2009, 06:36 PM

I don't think there's any "usually" -- as far as I know, most people don't utilize the space. But it could be used as a space to explain an unusual academic circumstance, or to go into further detail about an award or extracurricular. It could be a place for an additional essay that doesn't fit into the other prompts. It could be a place to discuss self-studied subjects.

The space is totally optional, but if you have something else you'd like to say to the admissions committee, you can say it there.

Nintendo360 · 06-29-2009, 11:22 AM

I think...
In a lot of schools, AP Calc BC is somewhat closely related to AB in terms of curriculum.
This might not be in yours though. You should check with the teacher and see if you actually learn anything new.

kemcab · 06-29-2009, 08:55 PM

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It could be a place to discuss self-studied subjects.

Oh, awesome. I've self-studied a lot of stuff, actually, which although I don't think will say as much as taking an AP course in the subject, is better than saying nothing. Then again, best not to go overboard on that- I've looked at a couple esoteric subjects but that hardly means I've studied them.

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In a lot of schools, AP Calc BC is somewhat closely related to AB in terms of curriculum.

They do overlap, I think but they go more in-depth on certain topics, like differentiation/integration with other types of functions (parametric, polar, vector), differential equations as slope fields, L'Hopital's Rule, Taylor series, general concepts of a series, and so on.

Nintendo360 · 07-02-2009, 06:55 PM

Ah, I wouldn't know...
I'm not taking Calc BC yet.

faraday · 07-03-2009, 01:23 PM

I don't know if it will impact admissions about whether you take AB/BC, but I would definitely try to take BC, just to make your time easier when you will be at MIT. Applications of calculus to other subjects (physics, for example 8.012, 8.022) will extensively use your skills in Taylor Series, vector calculus, parametric equations, motion in polar coordinate, which are covered better in BC. So if you're not going to take it, at least self-study it (heck, I'd even study multivariate if I were you. It's a very self-studiable subject, and reinforces your calculus skills).

mathboy98 · 07-03-2009, 06:56 PM

^^ Ditto. My personal view is that you shouldn't ask what you should do to be considered for MIT in cases like this -- almost always, the answer is that "it helps, but it's not necessary." Chances are, you're not guaranteed a spot at MIT, and instead you should ask the question as to what will help you take advantage of a spot at a school like MIT, as per your goals.