MATH - Calc AB or BC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also perfectly acceptable option to do AB junior year and BC senior year (this is from multiple sources).

My kid took AB as a junior and BC as a senior. Because much of the material is the same/similar, he thought he got a good foundation doing it that way. He is currently a Math/CS double major at William and Mary.

Same. Our district highly recommends taking AB first, then BC. Typically there is only 1 kid out of 40 that didn't take AB first. Because of that, BC is taught differently, with the AB portion "covered" as review the first 4-5 weeks, then moving onto the new material. Unless you have a true budding genius on hand, most kids can benefit from doing it that way. It's much better to have a strong foundation in Calculus if kid is headed into Engineering/Math/a major that actually uses it. My kid is extremely strong in math but BC was the first they struggled with. Finished strong and got 5 on the AP test, so starting in Calc 3 this fall at uni.

How do you know this? Are you stalking the entire class?

This seems very strange to me as well. I am a math teacher in Fairfax County, and the majority of students who earned As and Bs in Honors Precalculus go on to take Calc BC the following year. Taking AB first and then BC second is very repetitive and not for strong math students. (Honors Precalculus mostly covers the "A" section of Calculus.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO (and based on college office guidance), AB Calc is fine for non-math major, particularly if he will get a better grade and AP score.

I agree, and regret our older (a social sciences oriented kid) having taken BC in 11th- he got a B and a 4 on the exam and I think that affected his college chances much more than if he had taken AB and gotten and A and a 5 on the exam (his BC subscore for AB was a 5).

You have absolutely no idea if that's true, and I seriously doubt that it was.

My kid got a 5 and a B+ and I think it is a definitely limiting.

This jibes with what our private counselor has told us.

Appreciate the insight. It is such a bummer. He attends a DC private with not a lot of grade inflation and took Calc BC as a junior (skipped AB bc grades were so high previously). And he got a 5 on the test so he knew his stuff. The tests in class were a lot harder than the AP exam.

He really wanted to take the class, but I wish I would have put my foot down rather than follow his lead bc a B+ junior year feels like it took him out of the running for several schools he really liked as that is a big hit to GPA. And he doesn't even want to major in STEM. He is a good kid and will be fine, but as a parent, you always want your kid to have the options they have worked hard for.

If he's at a top DC private, a single B+ isn't going to change anything.
I'm confused how you don't know that.

I’m confused as how you know it won’t, lol. We were told junior year grades should be pretty close to perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also perfectly acceptable option to do AB junior year and BC senior year (this is from multiple sources).

My kid took AB as a junior and BC as a senior. Because much of the material is the same/similar, he thought he got a good foundation doing it that way. He is currently a Math/CS double major at William and Mary.

Same. Our district highly recommends taking AB first, then BC. Typically there is only 1 kid out of 40 that didn't take AB first. Because of that, BC is taught differently, with the AB portion "covered" as review the first 4-5 weeks, then moving onto the new material. Unless you have a true budding genius on hand, most kids can benefit from doing it that way. It's much better to have a strong foundation in Calculus if kid is headed into Engineering/Math/a major that actually uses it. My kid is extremely strong in math but BC was the first they struggled with. Finished strong and got 5 on the AP test, so starting in Calc 3 this fall at uni.

How do you know this? Are you stalking the entire class?

Because my kids took BC, and both had only 1 kid who wasn’t in AB the previous year. Not stalking at all, and our district highly recommends an first. So those that don’t do that are kids in calc their soph year—those really pushed ahead

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO (and based on college office guidance), AB Calc is fine for non-math major, particularly if he will get a better grade and AP score.

I agree, and regret our older (a social sciences oriented kid) having taken BC in 11th- he got a B and a 4 on the exam and I think that affected his college chances much more than if he had taken AB and gotten and A and a 5 on the exam (his BC subscore for AB was a 5).

You have absolutely no idea if that's true, and I seriously doubt that it was.

My kid got a 5 and a B+ and I think it is a definitely limiting.

This jibes with what our private counselor has told us.

Appreciate the insight. It is such a bummer. He attends a DC private with not a lot of grade inflation and took Calc BC as a junior (skipped AB bc grades were so high previously). And he got a 5 on the test so he knew his stuff. The tests in class were a lot harder than the AP exam.

He really wanted to take the class, but I wish I would have put my foot down rather than follow his lead bc a B+ junior year feels like it took him out of the running for several schools he really liked as that is a big hit to GPA. And he doesn't even want to major in STEM. He is a good kid and will be fine, but as a parent, you always want your kid to have the options they have worked hard for.

If he's at a top DC private, a single B+ isn't going to change anything.
I'm confused how you don't know that.

I’m confused as how you know it won’t, lol. We were told junior year grades should be pretty close to perfect.

Is your kid at a Big3?
(Sidwell, GDS, STA)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son just started 9th grade and while he's a capable kid, his favourite subject is not math. He was always in the advanced track but has requested that he take the track one step down which might get him to AP Calc AB by senior year. His interests are in language arts and writing and I can see him piling up on those classes instead. I don't want him spending all his time studying math when he can pursue his other interests.

Would this disadvantage him if he wants to aim for top tier colleges? I finished AP Calc BC bc it was the natural track that I was on, but the tracks these days are a lot more complicated.

My feeling is that it won't disadvantage him, but wondering if it would not be considered as "rigorous" as if he had taking AP Calc BC.

Is AP Calc BC necessary for admissions to top schools?

Are there any parents out there with kids who made it to top tier colleges with just AP Calc AB?

(Don't mean to sound obsessed with top tier colleges... all colleges are hard to get into these days. I just thinkt he might be interested in applying to some of those schools come senior year.)



When we interviewed with Virginia Tech (this is DATED information pre covid and before things got insane at Virginia tech about getting in because now they only want URm and first gens), our aerospace engineering interested son was advised by a pro from the AO office (I was there listening) NOT to apply until he had finished Calculus BC with an "A", It was that competitive then and it has only gotten worse. He went and did (got an A in calculus BC) that was but was accepted by Purdue, Georgia Tech and UVA for aerospace engineering so never went back to apply to VT. Today it's only more demanding. Your kid needs to show that they have taken the most rigorous math courses offered by their high school and have done extremely well in them.

Yes, your son was pursing a spot in a top 10 program in AEROSPACE ENGINEERING. I would assume he would need high level math.
OP's son is interested in humanities. Totally different situation.

For the love of God, please do not incite unnecessary stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO (and based on college office guidance), AB Calc is fine for non-math major, particularly if he will get a better grade and AP score.

I agree, and regret our older (a social sciences oriented kid) having taken BC in 11th- he got a B and a 4 on the exam and I think that affected his college chances much more than if he had taken AB and gotten and A and a 5 on the exam (his BC subscore for AB was a 5).

You have absolutely no idea if that's true, and I seriously doubt that it was.

My kid got a 5 and a B+ and I think it is a definitely limiting.

This jibes with what our private counselor has told us.

Appreciate the insight. It is such a bummer. He attends a DC private with not a lot of grade inflation and took Calc BC as a junior (skipped AB bc grades were so high previously). And he got a 5 on the test so he knew his stuff. The tests in class were a lot harder than the AP exam.

He really wanted to take the class, but I wish I would have put my foot down rather than follow his lead bc a B+ junior year feels like it took him out of the running for several schools he really liked as that is a big hit to GPA. And he doesn't even want to major in STEM. He is a good kid and will be fine, but as a parent, you always want your kid to have the options they have worked hard for.

If he's at a top DC private, a single B+ isn't going to change anything.
I'm confused how you don't know that.

I’m confused as how you know it won’t, lol. We were told junior year grades should be pretty close to perfect.

Is your kid at a Big3?
(Sidwell, GDS, STA)

Yep (though I hate using that term). Kid was told that schools want to see progression, so lower grades earlier in HS were okay but is a red flag to have done so well previously and then dropped to a B+. My guess is he would have done well in AB. Kid wont be STEM major, so probably should have stayed in his lane, hindsight being 20/20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO (and based on college office guidance), AB Calc is fine for non-math major, particularly if he will get a better grade and AP score.

I agree, and regret our older (a social sciences oriented kid) having taken BC in 11th- he got a B and a 4 on the exam and I think that affected his college chances much more than if he had taken AB and gotten and A and a 5 on the exam (his BC subscore for AB was a 5).

You have absolutely no idea if that's true, and I seriously doubt that it was.

My kid got a 5 and a B+ and I think it is a definitely limiting.

This jibes with what our private counselor has told us.

Appreciate the insight. It is such a bummer. He attends a DC private with not a lot of grade inflation and took Calc BC as a junior (skipped AB bc grades were so high previously). And he got a 5 on the test so he knew his stuff. The tests in class were a lot harder than the AP exam.

He really wanted to take the class, but I wish I would have put my foot down rather than follow his lead bc a B+ junior year feels like it took him out of the running for several schools he really liked as that is a big hit to GPA. And he doesn't even want to major in STEM. He is a good kid and will be fine, but as a parent, you always want your kid to have the options they have worked hard for.

If he's at a top DC private, a single B+ isn't going to change anything.
I'm confused how you don't know that.

I’m confused as how you know it won’t, lol. We were told junior year grades should be pretty close to perfect.

Is your kid at a Big3?
(Sidwell, GDS, STA)

Yep (though I hate using that term). Kid was told that schools want to see progression, so lower grades earlier in HS were okay but is a red flag to have done so well previously and then dropped to a B+. My guess is he would have done well in AB. Kid wont be STEM major, so probably should have stayed in his lane, hindsight being 20/20.

But they also want to see rigor. Taking the most rigorous possible math class junior year and getting a B+ is not what’s going to keep your kid from getting into any school. Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO (and based on college office guidance), AB Calc is fine for non-math major, particularly if he will get a better grade and AP score.

I agree, and regret our older (a social sciences oriented kid) having taken BC in 11th- he got a B and a 4 on the exam and I think that affected his college chances much more than if he had taken AB and gotten and A and a 5 on the exam (his BC subscore for AB was a 5).

You have absolutely no idea if that's true, and I seriously doubt that it was.

My kid got a 5 and a B+ and I think it is a definitely limiting.

This jibes with what our private counselor has told us.

Appreciate the insight. It is such a bummer. He attends a DC private with not a lot of grade inflation and took Calc BC as a junior (skipped AB bc grades were so high previously). And he got a 5 on the test so he knew his stuff. The tests in class were a lot harder than the AP exam.

He really wanted to take the class, but I wish I would have put my foot down rather than follow his lead bc a B+ junior year feels like it took him out of the running for several schools he really liked as that is a big hit to GPA. And he doesn't even want to major in STEM. He is a good kid and will be fine, but as a parent, you always want your kid to have the options they have worked hard for.

If he's at a top DC private, a single B+ isn't going to change anything.
I'm confused how you don't know that.

I’m confused as how you know it won’t, lol. We were told junior year grades should be pretty close to perfect.

Is your kid at a Big3?
(Sidwell, GDS, STA)

Yep (though I hate using that term). Kid was told that schools want to see progression, so lower grades earlier in HS were okay but is a red flag to have done so well previously and then dropped to a B+. My guess is he would have done well in AB. Kid wont be STEM major, so probably should have stayed in his lane, hindsight being 20/20.

But they also want to see rigor. Taking the most rigorous possible math class junior year and getting a B+ is not what’s going to keep your kid from getting into any school. Come on.

I am happy to be wrong just going by some info that was conveyed to me and my kid. (And BC Calc is not most rigorous math class at kid’s school. But also, I think AB Calc is considered rigorous too.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO (and based on college office guidance), AB Calc is fine for non-math major, particularly if he will get a better grade and AP score.

I agree, and regret our older (a social sciences oriented kid) having taken BC in 11th- he got a B and a 4 on the exam and I think that affected his college chances much more than if he had taken AB and gotten and A and a 5 on the exam (his BC subscore for AB was a 5).

You have absolutely no idea if that's true, and I seriously doubt that it was.

My kid got a 5 and a B+ and I think it is a definitely limiting.

This jibes with what our private counselor has told us.

Appreciate the insight. It is such a bummer. He attends a DC private with not a lot of grade inflation and took Calc BC as a junior (skipped AB bc grades were so high previously). And he got a 5 on the test so he knew his stuff. The tests in class were a lot harder than the AP exam.

He really wanted to take the class, but I wish I would have put my foot down rather than follow his lead bc a B+ junior year feels like it took him out of the running for several schools he really liked as that is a big hit to GPA. And he doesn't even want to major in STEM. He is a good kid and will be fine, but as a parent, you always want your kid to have the options they have worked hard for.

If he's at a top DC private, a single B+ isn't going to change anything.
I'm confused how you don't know that.

I’m confused as how you know it won’t, lol. We were told junior year grades should be pretty close to perfect.

Is your kid at a Big3?
(Sidwell, GDS, STA)

Yep (though I hate using that term). Kid was told that schools want to see progression, so lower grades earlier in HS were okay but is a red flag to have done so well previously and then dropped to a B+. My guess is he would have done well in AB. Kid wont be STEM major, so probably should have stayed in his lane, hindsight being 20/20.

But they also want to see rigor. Taking the most rigorous possible math class junior year and getting a B+ is not what’s going to keep your kid from getting into any school. Come on.

I am happy to be wrong just going by some info that was conveyed to me and my kid. (And BC Calc is not most rigorous math class at kid’s school. But also, I think AB Calc is considered rigorous too.)

Most rigorous available to your child, not in the school. He chose the most rigorous possible path for him and got a very good grade. If he had chosen AB and gotten an A, it would have helped his gpa but hurt the rigor assessment of his schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think AP Calc AB is fine, as long as he's taking challenging math each year. He can also take AB junior year and then Stats senior year. Not every kid has to take top level in every subject to be competitive.

I would start researching what top tier means and what the odds are of getting in these days to set realistic expectations.

Exactly. Unless your kid is hooked, a recruited athlete, or a brilliant student at a low performing school, he’s very unlikely to get in regardless. Just so you know! ...

[Anonymous]

If the student already knows they want a STEM major and they have received an A or B in PreCalc, they should take BC. If they are not presenting themselves to colleges as a STEM major, taking AB when they could have taken BC, is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think AP Calc AB is fine, as long as he's taking challenging math each year. He can also take AB junior year and then Stats senior year. Not every kid has to take top level in every subject to be competitive.

I would start researching what top tier means and what the odds are of getting in these days to set realistic expectations.

Exactly. Unless your kid is hooked, a recruited athlete, or a brilliant student at a low performing school, he’s very unlikely to get in regardless. Just so you know! ...

Thanks - I have researched and at my kid’s school, kids def get into top tier colleges so assume decisions such as this can make a difference.

[Anonymous]

Is honors English rather than AP Language sufficient for a non humanities major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is honors English rather than AP Language sufficient for a non humanities major?

Don’t know the answer to this, but just as the humanities kid would still be taking an AP course in the form of Calculus AB, I would think it looks really bad if a STEM kid is not taking at least 1 English AP. Please also keep in mind that STEM and Econ will be more competitive admits in general and, due to the sheer volume of applicants (compared to humanities), there will be a ton of STEM and Econ kids who have taken the English APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also perfectly acceptable option to do AB junior year and BC senior year (this is from multiple sources).

My kid took AB as a junior and BC as a senior. Because much of the material is the same/similar, he thought he got a good foundation doing it that way. He is currently a Math/CS double major at William and Mary.

Same. Our district highly recommends taking AB first, then BC. Typically there is only 1 kid out of 40 that didn't take AB first. Because of that, BC is taught differently, with the AB portion "covered" as review the first 4-5 weeks, then moving onto the new material. Unless you have a true budding genius on hand, most kids can benefit from doing it that way. It's much better to have a strong foundation in Calculus if kid is headed into Engineering/Math/a major that actually uses it. My kid is extremely strong in math but BC was the first they struggled with. Finished strong and got 5 on the AP test, so starting in Calc 3 this fall at uni.

How do you know this? Are you stalking the entire class?

This seems very strange to me as well. I am a math teacher in Fairfax County, and the majority of students who earned As and Bs in Honors Precalculus go on to take Calc BC the following year. Taking AB first and then BC second is very repetitive and not for strong math students. (Honors Precalculus mostly covers the "A" section of Calculus.)

+1. Not at my kids school in MCPS. Taking AB then BC is not the best use of time. Time AP Stats instead.