The AP Trap

[ucbalumnus]

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@lookingforward

For STEM kids applying to highly competitive colleges, the value in taking AP calc and at least one of AP bio, chem or physics before senior year is having a complete year of grades, the test scores and potential for a fuller LoR from one or more of these teachers. But, if the hs doesn’t make this feasible, so be it.

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<p>Wouldn’t recommendations from whatever math and science teachers the student had in junior year be fine (AP courses or not)? Surely there are potential STEM majors who are only one or zero years ahead in math, rather than two years ahead in math. Remember that engineering curricula at most colleges assume that the student starts in first semester freshman calculus, indicating that the minimum expectation is completion of precalculus (not calculus) in high school.</p>