Taking AP Calc AB twice?

PBush
Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:42:48 +0000

@ keylyme: If your son is anything like me, he would love AP BC.

I didn’t do to well in math until recently (B-s in honors geometry, alg 2; B+s in honors calc covering most of AB), and I’m taking BC now (expecting B+, A-). I’m definitely a “humanities” guy but I have come to value and even enjoy the study of mathematics. I might not be great at it, but there is definitely something to be gained from studying something “outside of your comfort zone”. After all, if he’s good at other stuff, shouldn’t he concentrate on his weakness?

Anyway, enough about me. It is a pretty widespread belief that everyone should at least take the equivalent of the standard freshman sequence of calculus (Calculus I and II) which is basically BC. Many are recommending Calc III at some point (Case in point, advanced lawlz). I’m not so sure about that (I’m still in BC now so we’ll see) but definitely at least take BC.

While stats is definitely useful, that’s not all school is about. Besides, if he’s going into social science or something, he’ll have to take stat, and he’ll prob benefit more from a real college class at that time than an AP stats course senior year.

An important caveat though: Don’t take BC if it will be a repeat of honor’s precalc. B-s are already not so great, don’t let it get to a C+. If it reaches that point, either pull him out of the class or get a LOT of outside help. No point in suffering if he’s not learning anything right?