A/B Student with no AP classes until senior year
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Anonymous
Ours too. The highest precalc class actually does the precalc curriculum in about 3/4 of the year, and then starts on calculus subjects in the spring. The Calc BC class then picks up where that left off. It helps spread out the BC curriculum a bit more, which I think will make it more manageable, but it does mean there’s no entry to BC for students not in the highest precalc class. |
Anonymous
So for anyone who has had kids on the cusp and interested in taking more rigours classes but not allowed to, how did it shake out when time to apply to college? What do good grades in non weighted/rigorous classes get you? My child has goals and I do not want to have to forget those after freshman year. The school is not worth that. |
Anonymous
My son is at Gonzaga; he also had to be approved for his APs. He knows many students who denied AP courses. It's definitely a thing. |
Anonymous
True. My son was denied an AP English as a rising Junior and he had a 89%. But was approved for AP Calc BC, AP History and AP Spanish 3 Junior yr. It stung but it is what it is and there wasn't any petitioning  He also had to be approved for Linear Algebra for Senior yr.
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Anonymous
| Wow, this is all sort of crazy! |
Anonymous
If your kid is on the bubble, one option is to take a class or get a tutor over the summer and submit results from that (or ask for a placement test) to bump up to the higher track. Also, if it’s just that your kid tracks into AB instead of BC, that’s not that big a deal. If your kid has all A’s in standard-level classes, colleges are going to think they coasted and didn’t challenge themself enough. But if your kid is making a mix of A’s and B’s, and taking the highest level classes they can get into, that still looks good. It doesn’t help to take a higher level class than they can succeed in. |
Anonymous
This is actually very common. Are you a public school parent, or a private school parent with little kids and so not familiar with upper schools yet? |
Anonymous
This is OP and yes my kid is on the bubble but there is zero negotiating even if a point or so away. I have asked about taking independent courses over the summer and then taking their placement tests and that’s also a no. Not sure how this helps my kid or any other but now I am nervous to stay in case he ends up on the bubble again next year. |
Anonymous
| I understand having some gatekeeping but being rigid and super strict about it is ridiculous. Some kids mature later than others. So it is possible that a kid who was in the B range in 10th can do much better in 11th due to increased maturity |
Anonymous
| PP I totally agree. At this point he can’t even get into an honors class with a B+. So IF he can get into honors Jr year he may be able to get into AP sr year. I just don’t know that it’s worth the risk. |
Anonymous
Except now I hear from our private college counselor that the selective direct admit business programs will reject for only taking AB Calculus. They want BC Calculus for business schools. My DS’ school will not allow BC Calculus from AP Precalculus. You can only take AB Calculus and then BC Calculus the next year. This doesn’t help him since he is taking AP Precalculus in 11th. It is frustrating, because I heard in public school you have the choice of taking either AP Calculus class. (AB or BC). You don’t have to take AB before BC. They are not gatekept at all. |
Anonymous
What school is this? It’s not at all common to require AP Precalc, AB Calc, and BC Calc in a series like that. Many privates don’t even offer AP Precalc, they just do their own, and it’s far more common to just do either AB or BC, not both. Although many schools do allow students to take both, I’m not familiar with any that *require* taking AB before taking BC. |
Anonymous
| OP, most colleges are aware that these schools are more rigorous and engage in grade deflation. It’s fine. |
Anonymous
Sure but it is very possible that he will be allowed ZERO rigor. An A, a high A, or in some cases A's in multiple courses are required for honors and AP classes for the final year grade. That is proving hard for my kid especially with exams etc. Sure next year may be better but what if its not? I think I am answering my own questions and we should look at renting IB for a descent public. Although I really wish that weren't the case. |
Anonymous
| Use the extra time from being on the easier track to have the kid self-study and take the AP exam on his own. |