AP PreCalc

[Anonymous]

I listened to YCBK this morning on my commute and they were basically saying AP precalc is a joke. Ugh. This is the junior year class and AP test my kid did - and we were so psyched w a great score. Doing calc now.

Do other kids applying to CWRU and BC-level colleges have AP Calc done in junior year?

[Anonymous]

It is an easy class. BC Calc is much harder. But so what? It is still the highest level class your kid can take at that level. My kid (pretty good, not great student) who got a 5 on BC Precalc also got a 5 on BC Calc.

[Anonymous]

This is going to depend on your district. Around the country, it's very common to apply to college without having taken Calculus or to have taken it senior year. However, that's because it's the norm in their districts.

In the DMV, or at least in MCPS and FCPS, the "norm" is that smart kids take Calculus junior year. I think it's ridiculous but it's the rat race.

[Anonymous]

EA Case Western
Taking multivariable in senior year

[Anonymous]

There is no reason to have any negative feelings about that class.

Since it was offered at the school, your kid taking it shows rigor and looks good in comparison to others. Since they can submit their 5, even though it won't be credit, it's a standardized score to refute claims of grade inflation. It's a good thing. Don't let some comment from a podcast diminish the pride and good feelings you and your kid have about the acheivement. It's not going to knock out a college class, but it is a positive when applying.

[Anonymous]

My kid took it in 9th, AB in 10th, and BC now in 11th. Our school requires AB before BC calc.

If your school requires AP precalc in 11th and your kid takes regular AP calc (AB or BC) in 12th, they will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is going to depend on your district. Around the country, it's very common to apply to college without having taken Calculus or to have taken it senior year. However, that's because it's the norm in their districts.

In the DMV, or at least in MCPS and FCPS, the "norm" is that smart kids take Calculus junior year. I think it's ridiculous but it's the rat race.

\
This is 100% not "the norm" for "smart kids". Algebra in 8th, Geometry in 9th, Alg 2 in 10th, Precalc in 11th, Calculus in 12th is "the norm" here.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I also listened. My kid is also taking the AP Precalc exam. There have been a few posts about this recently. I sorta shrugged my shoulders during their conversation because it sounded like old news. I don't think the intro of this AP exam changes the math or AP landscape much from previously. My kid is taking it basically to have experience taking a math AP exam before an AP calc exam next year when it really matters. Compared to last year, I have started to see a few more schools offer some credit for AP Precalc, though. Most offer none.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is going to depend on your district. Around the country, it's very common to apply to college without having taken Calculus or to have taken it senior year. However, that's because it's the norm in their districts.

In the DMV, or at least in MCPS and FCPS, the "norm" is that smart kids take Calculus junior year. I think it's ridiculous but it's the rat race.

\
This is 100% not "the norm" for "smart kids". Algebra in 8th, Geometry in 9th, Alg 2 in 10th, Precalc in 11th, Calculus in 12th is "the norm" here.

For FCPS, the prior poster was correct. Most advanced kids in FCPS take algebra in 7th, definitely not 8th.

[Anonymous]

My child took AP Pre Calc in 10th grade, AP Cal BC in 11th and currently in 12th is taking Dual Enrollment Linear Algebra.

[Anonymous]

Remember only ~50% of high schools even have Calculus and Calc in senior year is the most common situation by far. A third of Frosh in the Princeton survey had math beyond Calc BC. So ~66% maxed out at BC.

For additional perspective, at my DC's public magnet less than 10% of students complete BC by junior year. It's not that common, just seems like it on here.

[Anonymous]

^ I should hav said "maxed out at BC or lower" above

[Anonymous]

I think CWRU may not be impressed by AP preface esp if going for a stem major

Not sure about BC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is going to depend on your district. Around the country, it's very common to apply to college without having taken Calculus or to have taken it senior year. However, that's because it's the norm in their districts.

In the DMV, or at least in MCPS and FCPS, the "norm" is that smart kids take Calculus junior year. I think it's ridiculous but it's the rat race.

\
This is 100% not "the norm" for "smart kids". Algebra in 8th, Geometry in 9th, Alg 2 in 10th, Precalc in 11th, Calculus in 12th is "the norm" here.

For FCPS, the prior poster was correct. Most advanced kids in FCPS take algebra in 7th, definitely not 8th.

Right. The point is that you are compared to your classmates. If 50% of kids in a certain school take Calculus by junior year, it hits different to admissions officer than if your school doesn't even offer the course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think CWRU may not be impressed by AP preface esp if going for a stem major

Not sure about BC

But if that's the norm in their school, not taking it would have looked bad. It's not necessarily a boost, but it keeps them at baseline.