Is My Schedule Too Much?

ucbalumnus
Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:03:24 +0000

If you are excellent at math, you will probably find that spending two years to cover AP Calculus AB and then BC to be rather uninteresting, unless the teachers enrich it with extra theory or whatever. AP Calculus BC is supposed to be similar to a one year university calculus course, and students good enough to be two or more grades ahead in math should be able to easily handle a one year AP Calculus BC course. Note that if you complete Calculus BC in junior year, you will likely have to take the follow-on math courses (multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations) at a community college.

On the other hand, precalculus math is (or should be) an important foundation for taking calculus. Taking an online course may be ok if you learn math easily on your own, but if you learn best with the aid of a live teacher, you may want to enroll in an actual course (whether summer or fall/spring term).

AP Physics B is often worthless as university subject credit since most majors that require physics require a calculus-based course. If it is the best physics course in your high school, you may want to take it anyway, but if AP Physics C or a community college physics for scientists and engineers is available, choose that instead or afterward.