Getting Rescinded, when to worry, calculus 😬

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she is getting F in high school AP Calc, the likelihood is low that she survives college Cal 2. There are mismatch cases, that some kids didn't do well in high school calculus but do okay with college calculus. Realistically, chances that happens is pretty low. It's better to plan on majoring in something that's math light. Business econ or even regular Econ should be fine. I wouldn't recommend a stem major.

Honestly if she can't handle high school AP calc, econ at a selective school isn't for her either. High school calc wasn't easy-breezy for me (like all the other high school classes had been including earlier math classes). I still got a B+ in the class. At that point, I knew I wasn't a stem person but I was considering econ as one of several potential majors. At my Ivy, I found micro econ to be really challenging and not enjoyable. Dropped the idea of econ as a major very quickly.

[Anonymous]

One way to bypass college calculus while still be able to do a biology or other stem majors is to take AP Calc BC exam and get a score of 5. Then OP's DC can use that for college credits. Typically almost all colleges will waive Calc 1 & 2 with AP credits (score 5).

Did she sign up for the May exam? Work hard for the remaining two months. I belive a few schools may be willing to accept even a score of 4. But for most top schools, score of 5 is required.

Assuming OP is premed bound, Calculus is not a required course for applying to medical school (but it's on MCAT). It's fine to use AP credits. In college, she can take easy math courses like statistics. Otherwise her premed dream will be weed out in the first semester because college calculus is harder than AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your responses. Her narrative/intended major is not STEM necessarily; she's really undecided but has considered Econ or Biology.

I feel like a C is attainable, but there's likely no way she's able to get a B-. If admissions does inquire, there's no excuse othere than "it's hard!". Maybe they'll appreciate her honesty lol.

They probably admitted her because she was taking AP Calculus (a way many schools screen for rigor) and her A- 1st quarter probably gave them some confidence that she could at least end with a B. An F will be a red flag, as would a D since it is out of pattern. Definitely have your DD take ownership and select a tutor on Wyzant that can help her at least pass the course. That said, I would definitely steer clear of Economics as a potential course or major. Calculus really underpins it and you can't really progress in Econ without a facility with calculus.

Separately, how did your DD do on the math section of the SAT? Or did she take the ACT?

Yes and why are you trying to solve this problem for her? Why isn't she trying harder herself? If she's tracking towards an F now after starting with an A- that means it's a will, not skill, issue and she's not trying to do well. She will likely repeat this pattern in college if you're not nagging her to keep studying, and she'll have easy access to parties and distractions.

This is why I hate ED. It makes seniors think they have a license to stop working if they get in mid-December and their grades for senior year don't matter. They should matter. They are predictive of how she'll do in college if she doesn't change her own mindset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your responses. Her narrative/intended major is not STEM necessarily; she's really undecided but has considered Econ or Biology.

I feel like a C is attainable, but there's likely no way she's able to get a B-. If admissions does inquire, there's no excuse othere than "it's hard!". Maybe they'll appreciate her honesty lol.

They probably admitted her because she was taking AP Calculus (a way many schools screen for rigor) and her A- 1st quarter probably gave them some confidence that she could at least end with a B. An F will be a red flag, as would a D since it is out of pattern. Definitely have your DD take ownership and select a tutor on Wyzant that can help her at least pass the course. That said, I would definitely steer clear of Economics as a potential course or major. Calculus really underpins it and you can't really progress in Econ without a facility with calculus.

Separately, how did your DD do on the math section of the SAT? Or did she take the ACT?

Yes and why are you trying to solve this problem for her? Why isn't she trying harder herself? If she's tracking towards an F now after starting with an A- that means it's a will, not skill, issue and she's not trying to do well. She will likely repeat this pattern in college if you're not nagging her to keep studying, and she'll have easy access to parties and distractions.

This is why I hate ED. It makes seniors think they have a license to stop working if they get in mid-December and their grades for senior year don't matter. They should matter. They are predictive of how she'll do in college if she doesn't change her own mindset.

Likely not a will issue. Q1 is pretty much introduction and review of precalc. Q2/3 it gets to the core, sounds like it’s a bottle neck for her.