Math paths
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Anonymous
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Which of these two math paths would look better. I will start by saying I know (and my kid knows) that the most appealing option to colleges would be:
9th - Algebra II Honors 10th - AP Precalculus (where he is now) 11th - AP Calculus BC 12th - AP Multivariable Calculus But he is starting to freak out about the idea of MV senior year. So he is considering: 11th grade - AP Calc AB 12th grade - AP Calc BC Or: 11th grade - AP Calc BC 12th grade - AP Stats |
Anonymous
| Depends on the high school. It is fine to do AB and then BC if that is commonly done at his high school. |
Anonymous
| Essentially repeating the same class will be boring, unless the calculus classes are taught expecting that you'll take both. I would recommend taking calc bc as a junior (if eligible) and then decide on stats or MV. You don't need to decide that now. |
Anonymous
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First and foremost, what does he want to do? Is he going into Engineering, Computer Science, Physics or Math major?
My firstborn did: Honors Geo Honors Alg2/Trig Honors Precalc AP Calc AB and was accepted to Hopkins, 2 Ivies, Georgetown, UVA, WM, Williams. My second born did: Honors Geo Adv Geo and Precalc AP Precalc w/analysis AP Calc similar outcomes. |
Anonymous
| This definitely depends on the school. If your high school expects kids in BC to have taken AB (ours does), it would be brutal to just jump into BC like that |
Anonymous
| Do you have to decide now? |
Anonymous
Yup. He should take Calc BC next year, then decide whether to do AP Stats or MVC in 12th. Zero reason to decide this now, and zero reason to do the calc AB path (unless the school recommends it). |
Anonymous
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depends on the major they may be interested in pursuing in college. Going from BC Calc to Stats will be looked on as a reduced rigor path vs doing AB and then BC, which is still fine for many majors. Ultimately it's not just the path to rigor but being able to excel in the class that will make the difference.
MVC is impressive but you have to do well in the class and only necessary if most of your kid's peers are on the same track. If you're pursuing a math major/ Engineering in a selective program/college then MVC would be a plus. Or you can pursue the AB-BC route and they can show their math interest by competing and doing well in math programs outside of the school curriculum - math olympiads/AMC10-12 kind of thing. |
Anonymous
| Multivariable is very helpful if he’s going into a Math/Physics degree. He will likely move into a linear or intro analysis course with that background as a freshman, freeing space for more electives! However, if he’s not going down that path, it’s sort of useless (always great to get a math education, but it won’t always be the best choice). |
Anonymous
| I’d do AB and then BC. Could add AP Stats as an elective, if desired. This will build a solid calculus base and be less risky for junior year grades. |
Anonymous
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My kid did:
9th - Geometry 10th - Alg 2 11th - Pre-calc 12th - AP BC Calc Did great with colleges, but he applied for business, not engineering. |
Anonymous
| One is not clearly better than the other. So, which are his friends taking? Having a study group can be helpful, both socially and academically. Plus, whatever his friends are doing is probably normal enough for his school. |
Anonymous
| DD goes to a well known LAC and is a physics major. She did MVC before college, and so did many of her peers, so she started in the sophomore real analysis and differential equations course. It’s helped her a lot with her Quantum Physics classes, but it is not necessary; in fact, the school assumes you begin your degree in calc 1! |
Anonymous
| Not sure if this is helpful, but my senior is in MV this year and she and her friends have found it a lot easier than BC. It’s a semester long college course, so spread out over the year it’s “pretty chill” according to them. |
Anonymous
Did the second one do Calc AB or BC? The second one didn’t take any Algebra or Trig in high school? |