Will AP Calculus BC be too challenging for me?

redwall1521
Thu, 24 Apr 2014 17:56:28 +0000

To the OP,
If you really want to take the class, go for it. If you take precalculus over the summer and actually learn from taking it, you should be fine taking BC. I’m taking BC right now as a junior (our school’s math system is very strict, so the earliest you could possibly take BC is as a junior), and our precalculus class covered a bit of derivation and limits/continuity at the end of the curriculum. Even without that, our BC class started at derivatives and made our way through the material (but probably a bit faster than most courses, since they probably start with integration).

I guess it really just depends on how mathematics-oriented you are. If you really love math and know how to do your stuff, then I highly recommend taking BC. If not, then you could still take precalculus over the summer and start with AB.

If you think about two to three years ahead, think about if you really want to show colleges how much you have challenged yourself. If barely anyone takes BC as a junior at your school and you want to apply to more selective schools, then you should take BC. Unfortunately, the college application system has become more “what stuff should I have to make myself more appealing to colleges?” and this way is one of them. You kind of have to go along with it (also doing what you love) and take BC.