<p>Slackermom, I’ve never heard of AB being taken concurrently with BC as two separate classes. As everyone else has said, I thought BC built on AB and AB was rolled into the BC class. Is this really the norm at this school or is this some cockamamie plan dreamed up by five juniors who want to accelerate? It sounds unnecessarily burdensome. I also would hate the idea that a valuable class period/block was being occupied by an extra class teaching the same thing, especially if it wasn’t in an area of interest. There are all these great, interesting, fun senior electives available that last year and so few spaces to fit them in! </p>
<p>I talked to D last night about the SAT writing and how it’s not worth worrying about and I may have made some progress. Free Spirit Sister also weighed in and told her the essays were “stupid” and not worth any thought. This was, of course, her philosophy at the time and now that she’s way on the other side of it, she is confident that it was the right one. But it helped. D seems more relaxed. I’m still thinking she’ll take the test later rather than earlier but I’ve given her the calendar and am letting her puzzle this one out.</p>
<p>Keepmecruisin’, my husband and I took the bar exam in a second state together. We were in a typing room in a convention center. As it turned out, the practical part of the exam asked us to do something I’d been doing on a daily basis in my job. I started typing after only about 15 minutes of planning. He was visibly annoyed because he didn’t expect anyone to start typing that early and he hadn’t yet put in his ear plugs. Haha!</p>
<p>Ooh, interesting there are so many lawyers on this thread. (Me too.) The bar exam was one big hazing ritual IMO. (And I had to sit for a second in another state too. Awful.)</p>
<p>In different news, my D has a new GC this year and she is AWESOME! I don’t think the old GC even knew D’s name. This one contacted me today to talk about my D’s schedule for next year. Hooray!</p>
<p>vistajay, my D has definitely matured this year as far as her studies go. She’s finally starting to realize that she can no longer skate the way she used to.</p>
<p>Good day for D! National Honor Society induction is tonight. Also, she just found out she made the cut for the fall play. Play is a big deal because its a drama with a small, 12 student cast, and she goes to a magnet HS that attracts a lot of theatre kids. Competition was fierce.</p>
<p>Glad to see an explanation of Calc AB v BC. I had no idea. I am so not a math guy.</p>
<p>Congrats vistajay! That’s incredible - making a 12 person cast. Theater is an elective D wants to take next year - I can support that. She’s never been in a play or done theater so this will be something new. I don’t think she would ever be in a school play, unless it’s part of stage crew.</p>
<p>3girls, I was curious (and procrastinating) so I looked up some schools’ CDS to see if they <em>did</em> use the essay in admissions. Of the top 5 LACs, only Pomona used the essay. Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Bowdoin and Carleton did not. The Ivies probably care a little - I just checked a few. Cornell doesn’t use the essay but Brown, Penn and Yale use it.</p>
<p>I don’t know if it’s true, but one of the things that I heard about the SAT essay back when it became a part of the SAT was that colleges would be able to see the essay itself, and would thus be able to compare the personal statement to the timed essay and see if they were the same kid. </p>
<p>It makes sense, but I don’t know if it’s true. Makes sense, though.</p>
<p>In our district one can’t take BC without first taking AB. My S had his first test in BC today. Topics include using partial fractions to solve logistic differential equations, doing multiple applications of integration by parts after first using an appropriate substitution, and doing velocity problems with decay where something is coasting to a stop which requires a complicated integration technique. Our BC course is constructed to jump right in and continue where the kids left off in AB after a week or 2 of review. There is an area HS which has the usual AB followed by BC and also an option to take ‘ABC’ as they call it, condensed into one year. But it seems to me that if the course is constructed so that one can start in BC with no prior calculus, then it’s like ‘ABC’ and in that case who would want to take the AB but a few 12th graders who want a slower pace? Because if you are younger and take AB first, then going into BC the following year would be awfully dull the first half of year. Or am I misunderstanding?</p>
<p>Suzy congrats on your new GC and Vista congrats to your daughter as well! IJD I heard the same thing about the SAT or ACT essay- they compare it to the common app essay to see if it’s the same kid. </p>
<p>Well my daughter who two days ago wanted to drop AP physics and replace it with Regents ( regular) physics just got a 98 on her test today. She texted me from the bus on the way to her game. She has 4 tests tomorrow but at least this put her in a good mood ( we will take it whenever we can). She will NOT be dropping the class.</p>
<p>Our HS has both yearlong Calc AB and BC courses. BC, in a way, is ABC because it presents one semester beyond AB. It covers all the topics in AB, but is more extensive and covers additional topics of vector functions, polar coordinates, and some proofs. The AP BC exam reports two scores -a BC score and an AB subscore. CB recommends that institutions apply the same policy to the AB subscore that they apply to AB score.</p>
<p>My S2 is taking Pre-Calc AB this year and that prepares him for the AP Calc AB next year. There is also a Pre-Calc BC track for the strong math students that plan to take AP BC next year. S2’s current class size has reached beyond its normal capacity. The teacher has asked students to switch classes-if they are failing now they may want to drop down to regular Pre-Calc level but if they do very well at this point, they can switch to Pre-Calc BC.</p>
<p>This is the fork in the road that a lot of kids at our HS reach as juniors. It seems as if most of the AB kids then take AP Stat as their senior math class, while the BC kids slog through multi-variable calculus.</p>
<p>Slackermom, thanks for the research. I’ll have to steer D to schools that don’t look at the essay, ha. I guess I heard the same thing about the SAT/ACT essay and that was a worry in the back of my mind. Not that the writing on both wouldn’t match but that the SAT score wouldn’t reflect the quality of the writing. There’s a huge difference between a personal statement that is written and refined over a period of time and an essay that has to be planned and completed in 30 minutes. If someone looks quickly and sees a 4 or 5 (no idea how the scoring works in practice) and then sees a well written personal statement, will that reader immediately assume something is suspect? Will someone take the time to read the essay and get that it was simply unfinished? </p>
<p>Vistajay, congratulations on NHS and the play! She must be very talented.</p>
<p>Suzy, great news about the counselor! It makes such a difference, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>Twogirls, this one’s for you: I’ve been listening to D tell me all week that she failed her first big math test. Same old same old: not enough time, very long, very hard, there was an entire problem she just couldn’t get… The good news was that she didn’t seem all that upset about it. She was hopeful that she’d get a B or B- and really seemed ok with that. A year ago she would have been beside herself and would have dragged me down with her. (I’m happy to say that I am less and less susceptible to those swings.) Well, she got it back today. 95.</p>
<p>A lot of calculus talk going on here. Mine is in pre-calc - I guess in a few months when she prepares for senior year I will understand all of this AB/BC stuff but right now it makes no sense!!</p>
<p>Mine is in pre-calc too. There are three different levels of pre-calc offered at this school. The general rule is that those in the highest level go on to take AP Calc BC and those in the second level go on to take AP Calc AB. Those in BC can also elect to take a concurrent class covering multivariable calc, linear algebra, differential equations, and discrete mathematics. Some kids who reach the AB level elect to take AP Stats instead of Calc or in addition to it. The kids in the class that takes a slower pace have a choice to advance to AB, to take an Intro to Calc class, or to forgo Calc entirely. And of course there are always a few kids who have already completed the math sequence and are taking university level classes somewhere off campus.</p>
<p>Congratulations to Vistajay’s daughter on NHS!</p>
<p>Twogirls & 3Girls, your daughters both are rocking pre-calculus. BunHeadGirl loves pre-calc, and is nervous about her first test next week. I know she’ll do as well as your daughters.</p>
<p>Suzy, I’m glad your D’s new GC turned out to be a gem. I know how lucky we are to have BHG’s GC. She’s really sold D’s school to the top 100 colleges.</p>
<p>Our school only provides several sections of calculus with the option for honors within the same classroom as regular calculus. Students may chose to take the AB or BC calculus exam.</p>
<p>During a conversation with a friend with a child also in 11th grade, she mentioned that she limited the number of AP classes her sons took this year because each test is $90, and one son was upset because he could only take 4 tests because he has a sibling also in the 11th grade and a sibling in 12th grade also sitting AP exams this year. My eyes bugged out of my head, as we only pay $38 or $48 per exam to the school. Do the majority of schools not subsidize the AP exam fee? I cannot imagine having to pay $450 this spring for BunHeadGirl to sit her AP exams. And to think we have parents balking at paying $38 or $48 per exam when my friend is going to pay almost $1300 on AP exams for 3 children this spring.</p>
<p>Bunheadmom - I think it depends on how each state decides to subsidize AP tests. In Indiana, all the STEM AP tests are free, but other AP tests cost families $85. Kind of a bummer for families whose kids like the humanities classes!</p>
<p>$100 per AP test here. Less than the sports fees at any rate.</p>
<p>You guys have such a huge range of options for math sequences. I’m jealous. Are your schools huge? Or just full of competitive kids? Science magnet schools? S’s school is a bit under 1800 kids. They run a total of one section each of precalc and BC, 2 of AB, a few alg2/trig. Kids who go beyond BC have to go to university. Last year kids were begging my S to take AP chem in 10th grade because they didn’t have enough students signed up to run the class, so were trying to round up a few more. Didn’t work, class didn’t run. </p>
<p>Here’s hoping S did as well on his test today as 3girls and 2girls kids. So much good news. Making the high school play is huge. Congrats, vistajay.</p>
<p>Ok it’s 5 am here on the east coast! Last night my daughter got home from her game at 7:30 and did not have a meltdown! I think it’s because she had no physics hw due to her test that day. Today she has tests in pre-calc, US, child development elective, and Spanish. Yesterday she wanted to get to school at 6:30 am so that she would get the topic she wanted for her US research paper. </p>
<p>My daughter found out about her physics grade during her study hall while in the library ( she does not have a lunch). The teacher was there and walked over and told her. He said, " see, physics is not that bad." </p>
<p>Tonight is the SAT math tutor. I am going to ask him how he wants her to self study for the math part of the ACT. He told me 2 weeks ago that kids in pre-calc can self-study and he will tell me how. Tonight I want him to tell me! I suspect it’s just taking practice tests but we will see. I will also talk to him about her current SAT practice section that went down for some odd reason. I told her that she can’t do her SAT work anymore at 10:30 pm on a Friday after being in school all day and then doing hw. I suspect that is the reason, along with the fact that she skipped too many questions. </p>
<p>My friend also has a junior in the school. My daughter is not friends with her, although when they were little we would all go out together. This kid has a different group of friends and they are very different than my daughter and her friends. My friend asked me some questions yesterday about my daughter- asked about her study habits, whether she goes out etc. not sure if she asked out of caring, curiosity or what. Anyway she seems to think that my daughter ( and kids like her) are making a choice by studying like this, not going out socially as much as others etc. I told her that my daughter ( and others) is NOT making a choice. She is doing what she enjoys and this is who she is. A choice would be " gee should I go to the mall with my friends or study for my 3 tests." My daughter does not make these " choices" as she does not like to just " hang out." She works hard because for the most part she enjoys it. It’s her personality- it’s who she is. She DOES go out to dinner with her friends, but these kids do not talk in school about what they are doing Friday night- it’s not who they are. My kid is not on FB all night- yes she goes on late at night for a few minutes just to catch up with people, but it’s not a big part of her day. It’s not a “choice,” it’s who she is. My daughter’s social life centers around her clubs- sports, yearbook, student council. That’s what she enjoys and that’s what comes naturally to her. My friend insists that she is making a " choice" to make herself busy with these things and her school work and so therefore she has no time left to hang out. It became somewhat heated as I tried to explain that this IS who she is- it’s not a “choice.” She simply does what she loves to do, and she is extremely driven. My older daughter is like my friend’s kid and is much more “typical,” if there is such a thing. It made for an interesting discussion despite being a bit frustrating for me LOl. My daughter always goes to Sweet 16s etc when invited, and she will go to dinner when she is not bogged down with 6 tests, but for the most part she does not enjoy hanging out at the mall etc. it’s not a " choice" ( as my friend states)- it’s just who she is. </p>
<p>Well, for all you with kids who freak out post test but before getting the grades (and things ends well), my daughter is the opposite. She usually tells me she did well and then I get an email alert from the online grading system saying there is a failing grade (does this child not understand what this does to my blood pressure and stress level?!) I’m putting D’s email address into the email alert.</p>
<p>I think I would prefer the frantic pessimist where all ends well over the oblivious optimist, but I think the calm on-target realist is best.</p>
<p>Yesterday, I got the year’s first alert for a quiz in AP bio (calm down, it’s just a quiz). Last night when I picked up D, I asked about the quiz , D said no one passed. It was one question so if you got it wrong, you failed. She had a plan to either retake the quiz or do extra credit to address the issue. This is new; before she would have either dismissed the grade or just say she wasn’t a genius. Now she sees it’s hard work and studying (twogirls, I don’t know about choice but I would love to see my daughter “make a choice” to be a little like your daughter) that makes the difference.</p>
<p>At D’s school, it’s $89 per AP exam and AP students must take the exam. If the student takes 5 AP classes, that’s 5 AP exams for $445. There may be a discount for more than 3 tests.</p>
<p>twogirls, why does your friend care what your daughter does with her time? Is she objecting that your daughter studies?! That’s a bit weird, JMO.</p>
<p>Slacker I agree with you about my friend- but that’s a whole other topic LOL!! She has a great daughter who is very talented and involved. I am not sure what motivated her to have this conversation with me, but I do agree with you. Let’s just say we have had a few bumps over the years, but we are still friendly. I tell her all the time what a great kid she has.</p>
<p>I have no idea how much money AP tests cost in our school. I think I will ask just out of curiosity.</p>
<p>Slacker you make me laugh when you talk about your daughter!!</p>
<p>Oh wait, maybe not. My nephew was a lot like your daughter and I always thought my sister was incredible because she remained calm when he reacted poorly to test results (getting one wrong could set him off).</p>
<p>I think you and I may be in the same school system, and unfortunately I can confirm for you from experience that there’s no “volume discount” on these things.</p>
<p>Back to BHM’s question, we’re in a large, suburban public school that is amply but not excessively funded. At our HS, any kid who enrolls in an AP class must take the national exam, and they all sign an agreement to do so during the first week of school. Most of the folks where we live can bear the cost of the AP exams, but the district will waive the fee for kids who qualified free or reduced price lunches.</p>