Fourth year of math

SeekingUni
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:52:41 +0000

If you take AP Stat, it tells adcoms that you were scared of AP Calc. If you take AP Calc, this ALWAYS is THE tell-tale sign that the student has challenged himself with the “most rigorous classes.” Everyone knows you could have stopped at Pre-Cal. To actually go ahead and take Calc puts you in a class that is respected. Just get a B.

Agreed. Colleges (most) don’t care what you’re going into – at least that’s not what your admission offer is based off and it’s not what your HS schedule is compared to. So the “going into English major having only achieved precalc is “ok”” argument is flawed, as you still have to get through the admissions process first – which is your concern here.

What all colleges DO want to see, however, is that you pushed yourself. So instead of taking the easy route, actually challenge yourself, take AP Calculus AB, and get a B if you have to. I took AB last year as a junior, got a B both semesters, and then went and took BC this year. Had I settled for AP Stat (or no math at all), it’d be a clear indication that I didn’t challenge myself enough by going on to BC.