Math track for humanities-focused kid

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for the responses! I feel reassured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My humanities kid never bothered with Calculus at all and I'm glad. They were busy with AP classes in all their other subjects and Calculus was totally unnecessary for their college plans. Had no problem at all with college admissions.

+1
English major niece took four years of math ending with pre-calculus but took AP elsewhere and it didn't matter; got into her top (selective but not an Ivy) choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My humanities kid never bothered with Calculus at all and I'm glad. They were busy with AP classes in all their other subjects and Calculus was totally unnecessary for their college plans. Had no problem at all with college admissions.

+1
English major niece took four years of math ending with pre-calculus but took AP elsewhere and it didn't matter; got into her top (selective but not an Ivy) choice

Just bumping this thread because we're making course decisions for a rising 9th grader. Our school is known for notoriously hard AP math classes, and we're weighing the time spent studying for math vs using that time for other things. DC will not be a STEM major. For these posters whose kids were fine with college admission without calculus, can you share which colleges?

FWIW, we have older kids at the same school so we are familiar with the math curriculum and how difficult it is. It makes me sad actually bc I took AP Calc with no issues in HS and would have wanted our kids (who are bright) to have a successful math experience. Older DC was accepted early to HYPS without Calc but had other compelling factors, so I think it's true that colleges looks at applications holistically. But still...would like feedback from other families who have made similar choices.

[Anonymous]

Generally, for humanities students shooting for highly selective colleges, they should get to Calculus AB. They don't need more. But not taking calculus at all is going to be a big ding for unhooked students - even at state flagships if coming from a good school district.

If calculus has a rep for being an impossible class at the high school, it's very often due to a particular teacher.

[Anonymous]

Depends on what peers at HS will have. My humanities kid is taking BC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior is painfully making his way through AP Calculus AB this year. He is getting decent-to-good grades, with major effort. AP Stats is fine for next year, right??

Sure if he does not want a chance at T30 or higher or in-state UVa. Trying the top rigor they qualify for matters. If he does not want to then he is not really cut out for those places anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior is painfully making his way through AP Calculus AB this year. He is getting decent-to-good grades, with major effort. AP Stats is fine for next year, right??

Not for top schools. They will expect max rigor and AP Stats doesn't cut it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior is painfully making his way through AP Calculus AB this year. He is getting decent-to-good grades, with major effort. AP Stats is fine for next year, right??

My humanities kid did AP Calculus AB junior year, then AP Stats senior year. Despite being a humanities kid, they managed to get As. Make sure your kid also shows rigor in sciences too! My kid also took AP Physics 1 senior year. Got accepted to VT and UVA.

[Anonymous]

Definitely totally fine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My junior is painfully making his way through AP Calculus AB this year. He is getting decent-to-good grades, with major effort. AP Stats is fine for next year, right??

Not for top schools. They will expect max rigor and AP Stats doesn't cut it.

So then should they do AP Stats AND AP Calculus BC senior year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My junior is painfully making his way through AP Calculus AB this year. He is getting decent-to-good grades, with major effort. AP Stats is fine for next year, right??

Not for top schools. They will expect max rigor and AP Stats doesn't cut it.

So then should they do AP Stats AND AP Calculus BC senior year?

I agree with the prior comments that it depends upon the student’s cohort. If the typical advanced math track includes BC Calc, they should take it (even as a humanities kid). My humanities kid took BC Calc junior year and AP stats senior year. Worked out fine and was admitted ED to a T10.