Bad for students, who apply for CS or engineering, to take AP Calc AB and then BC?

[Anonymous]

I have no idea how they do it in the DMV area, but when I was in high school and then taught high school, there were two years of calculus. The first year covered what was on the AB exam, the second year covered the difference between AB/BC, which back then was really just series, which took a few weeks, and then the rest of the year was Calc III.

It's a nice way to waive 2 semesters of calculus and breeze through Calc III in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea how they do it in the DMV area, but when I was in high school and then taught high school, there were two years of calculus. The first year covered what was on the AB exam, the second year covered the difference between AB/BC, which back then was really just series, which took a few weeks, and then the rest of the year was Calc III.

It's a nice way to waive 2 semesters of calculus and breeze through Calc III in college.

No you didn’t, you’re the poster that keeps lying in this thread.

No way a high school would condense college Calculus I, II, and III in two years. All while teaching multivariable and calling it calculus BC! The course needs to pass a college board audit, zero chance this happened.

Last, let’s be real here, you don’t have the chops for Calculus III when you primarily math education source is Wikipedia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A thread on another board brought me here to ask: Do college admissions look down on kids, who apply for CS or engineering, that took AP Calc AB and then AP Calc BC?

I understand that those who skip AB and jump right to BC will be looked upon more favorably. But my question is, is it bad or a red flag for a student who wants to major in CS or engineering to do AB junior year and BC senior year? I'm not asking from an MIT or Ivy perspective, but what about good school like UVA? VA Tech? What about schools good schools not as highly ranked as those, like JMU, VCU, or GMU?

You’d have to talk to your counselor to see if they check the most rigorous coursework box if you follow this sequence. If the school requires AB before BC you’re fine. Sometimes they might only give it to students that max out the math sequence, ie Calculus BC and AP Statistics. Also, check what most students do at your high school, if the majority go straight to BC, then doing AB+BC will be a disadvantage.

+1 that they should not be taken in sequence, but a good number of schools do it, I’ve seen worse things schools do. It’s not necessarily bad on its own, but there’s an opportunity cost associated with it. For example, if you want to take AP Stat, you’d have to burn an elective slot that could be used for something else. It’s not a huge thing, but for competitive colleges it might matter.

[Anonymous]

If AP Calculus AB is a prerequisite for BC, that seems to be unfair for middle school students that have access to accelerated math only through Algebra 1. In high school they could only advance to Calculus AB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If AP Calculus AB is a prerequisite for BC, that seems to be unfair for middle school students that have access to accelerated math only through Algebra 1. In high school they could only advance to Calculus AB.

This is why colleges don’t put much emphasis on how far you got in math, and not even elite engineering programs expect math beyond Calc AB. If they required BC or beyond, they’d limit their applicant pool to kids whose parents pushed them into the “right” math track at the “right” middle school. Those parents wish the schools would limit their applicant pool in that way, of course. Imagine being able to secure an elite seat for your kid just by bullying a 6th grade math teacher into giving your kid the right placement! But those parents are not in charge of admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If AP Calculus AB is a prerequisite for BC, that seems to be unfair for middle school students that have access to accelerated math only through Algebra 1. In high school they could only advance to Calculus AB.

This is why colleges don’t put much emphasis on how far you got in math, and not even elite engineering programs expect math beyond Calc AB. If they required BC or beyond, they’d limit their applicant pool to kids whose parents pushed them into the “right” math track at the “right” middle school. Those parents wish the schools would limit their applicant pool in that way, of course. Imagine being able to secure an elite seat for your kid just by bullying a 6th grade math teacher into giving your kid the right placement! But those parents are not in charge of admissions.

Maybe they don’t say you need to go past Calculus AB at elite colleges, but in practice the vast majority of students completed
BC. It’s not only about parents pushing, the kid needs to take the class and do well in it, but I agree it’s a factor. Kids that don’t have parents in the know or pushing hard are at a disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If AP Calculus AB is a prerequisite for BC, that seems to be unfair for middle school students that have access to accelerated math only through Algebra 1. In high school they could only advance to Calculus AB.

This is why colleges don’t put much emphasis on how far you got in math, and not even elite engineering programs expect math beyond Calc AB. If they required BC or beyond, they’d limit their applicant pool to kids whose parents pushed them into the “right” math track at the “right” middle school. Those parents wish the schools would limit their applicant pool in that way, of course. Imagine being able to secure an elite seat for your kid just by bullying a 6th grade math teacher into giving your kid the right placement! But those parents are not in charge of admissions.

This. The fact that students come in with more is not surprising, but it’s not because the AO sorted on that, or because of a check box. For that student AB is sufficiently rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea how they do it in the DMV area, but when I was in high school and then taught high school, there were two years of calculus. The first year covered what was on the AB exam, the second year covered the difference between AB/BC, which back then was really just series, which took a few weeks, and then the rest of the year was Calc III.

It's a nice way to waive 2 semesters of calculus and breeze through Calc III in college.

No you didn’t, you’re the poster that keeps lying in this thread.

No way a high school would condense college Calculus I, II, and III in two years. All while teaching multivariable and calling it calculus BC! The course needs to pass a college board audit, zero chance this happened.

Last, let’s be real here, you don’t have the chops for Calculus III when you primarily math education source is Wikipedia.

Unhinged. (I’m probably the poster you’re angry with, and this wasn’t mine)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If AP Calculus AB is a prerequisite for BC, that seems to be unfair for middle school students that have access to accelerated math only through Algebra 1. In high school they could only advance to Calculus AB.

This is why colleges don’t put much emphasis on how far you got in math, and not even elite engineering programs expect math beyond Calc AB. If they required BC or beyond, they’d limit their applicant pool to kids whose parents pushed them into the “right” math track at the “right” middle school. Those parents wish the schools would limit their applicant pool in that way, of course. Imagine being able to secure an elite seat for your kid just by bullying a 6th grade math teacher into giving your kid the right placement! But those parents are not in charge of admissions.

This. The fact that students come in with more is not surprising, but it’s not because the AO sorted on that, or because of a check box. For that student AB is sufficiently rigorous.

About 5% of students take algebra in 7th grade nationally. That’s about 200,000 students. About 150,000 take Calculus BC. 70,000 get a 5 on the exam. That’s more than enough to fill elite colleges several times over.

That’s why for elite and even next tier colleges Calculus BC is the norm not the exception. Sure it’s not an absolute requirement, but if you didn’t take BC odds are not in your favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If AP Calculus AB is a prerequisite for BC, that seems to be unfair for middle school students that have access to accelerated math only through Algebra 1. In high school they could only advance to Calculus AB.

This is why colleges don’t put much emphasis on how far you got in math, and not even elite engineering programs expect math beyond Calc AB. If they required BC or beyond, they’d limit their applicant pool to kids whose parents pushed them into the “right” math track at the “right” middle school. Those parents wish the schools would limit their applicant pool in that way, of course. Imagine being able to secure an elite seat for your kid just by bullying a 6th grade math teacher into giving your kid the right placement! But those parents are not in charge of admissions.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If AP Calculus AB is a prerequisite for BC, that seems to be unfair for middle school students that have access to accelerated math only through Algebra 1. In high school they could only advance to Calculus AB.

This is why colleges don’t put much emphasis on how far you got in math, and not even elite engineering programs expect math beyond Calc AB. If they required BC or beyond, they’d limit their applicant pool to kids whose parents pushed them into the “right” math track at the “right” middle school. Those parents wish the schools would limit their applicant pool in that way, of course. Imagine being able to secure an elite seat for your kid just by bullying a 6th grade math teacher into giving your kid the right placement! But those parents are not in charge of admissions.

This. The fact that students come in with more is not surprising, but it’s not because the AO sorted on that, or because of a check box. For that student AB is sufficiently rigorous.

About 5% of students take algebra in 7th grade nationally. That’s about 200,000 students. About 150,000 take Calculus BC. 70,000 get a 5 on the exam. That’s more than enough to fill elite colleges several times over.

That’s why for elite and even next tier colleges Calculus BC is the norm not the exception. Sure it’s not an absolute requirement, but if you didn’t take BC odds are not in your favor.

You are making a lot of assumptions with those numbers. Many of those BC students are incredibly bright future engineers and tech kids who ended up at state flagships…Purdue, Georgia tech, UT Austin, UC’s, Illinois, Washington and other state universities.

Ivies are much more holistic and willing to accept students who have not completed BC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If AP Calculus AB is a prerequisite for BC, that seems to be unfair for middle school students that have access to accelerated math only through Algebra 1. In high school they could only advance to Calculus AB.

This is why colleges don’t put much emphasis on how far you got in math, and not even elite engineering programs expect math beyond Calc AB. If they required BC or beyond, they’d limit their applicant pool to kids whose parents pushed them into the “right” math track at the “right” middle school. Those parents wish the schools would limit their applicant pool in that way, of course. Imagine being able to secure an elite seat for your kid just by bullying a 6th grade math teacher into giving your kid the right placement! But those parents are not in charge of admissions.

This. The fact that students come in with more is not surprising, but it’s not because the AO sorted on that, or because of a check box. For that student AB is sufficiently rigorous.

About 5% of students take algebra in 7th grade nationally. That’s about 200,000 students. About 150,000 take Calculus BC. 70,000 get a 5 on the exam. That’s more than enough to fill elite colleges several times over.

That’s why for elite and even next tier colleges Calculus BC is the norm not the exception. Sure it’s not an absolute requirement, but if you didn’t take BC odds are not in your favor.

You are making a lot of assumptions with those numbers. Many of those BC students are incredibly bright future engineers and tech kids who ended up at state flagships…Purdue, Georgia tech, UT Austin, UC’s, Illinois, Washington and other state universities.

Ivies are much more holistic and willing to accept students who have not completed BC.

Only if you’re legacy, athlete, urm. 90% of Harvard students took Calculus or higher. If you don’t have a hook, you’d better complete BC with a 5.

https://features.thecrimson.com/2023/freshman-survey/academics-narrative/#:~:text=An%20overwhelming%20majority%20of%20the%20Class%20of,level%20of%20coursework%20at%20non%2Dcharter%20public%20schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If AP Calculus AB is a prerequisite for BC, that seems to be unfair for middle school students that have access to accelerated math only through Algebra 1. In high school they could only advance to Calculus AB.

This is why colleges don’t put much emphasis on how far you got in math, and not even elite engineering programs expect math beyond Calc AB. If they required BC or beyond, they’d limit their applicant pool to kids whose parents pushed them into the “right” math track at the “right” middle school. Those parents wish the schools would limit their applicant pool in that way, of course. Imagine being able to secure an elite seat for your kid just by bullying a 6th grade math teacher into giving your kid the right placement! But those parents are not in charge of admissions.

This. The fact that students come in with more is not surprising, but it’s not because the AO sorted on that, or because of a check box. For that student AB is sufficiently rigorous.

About 5% of students take algebra in 7th grade nationally. That’s about 200,000 students. About 150,000 take Calculus BC. 70,000 get a 5 on the exam. That’s more than enough to fill elite colleges several times over.

That’s why for elite and even next tier colleges Calculus BC is the norm not the exception. Sure it’s not an absolute requirement, but if you didn’t take BC odds are not in your favor.

You are making a lot of assumptions with those numbers. Many of those BC students are incredibly bright future engineers and tech kids who ended up at state flagships…Purdue, Georgia tech, UT Austin, UC’s, Illinois, Washington and other state universities.

Ivies are much more holistic and willing to accept students who have not completed BC.

Only if you’re legacy, athlete, urm. 90% of Harvard students took Calculus or higher. If you don’t have a hook, you’d better complete BC with a 5.

https://features.thecrimson.com/2023/freshman-survey/academics-narrative/#:~:text=An%20overwhelming%20majority%20of%20the%20Class%20of,level%20of%20coursework%20at%20non%2Dcharter%20public%20schools.

Self-reported, certainly includes AB, and it does not follow this is why they ended up at Harvard. Absolutely calc is now an expected HS course for college bound kids, beyond that is slippery slope fallacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea how they do it in the DMV area, but when I was in high school and then taught high school, there were two years of calculus. The first year covered what was on the AB exam, the second year covered the difference between AB/BC, which back then was really just series, which took a few weeks, and then the rest of the year was Calc III.

It's a nice way to waive 2 semesters of calculus and breeze through Calc III in college.

No you didn’t, you’re the poster that keeps lying in this thread.

No way a high school would condense college Calculus I, II, and III in two years. All while teaching multivariable and calling it calculus BC! The course needs to pass a college board audit, zero chance this happened.

Last, let’s be real here, you don’t have the chops for Calculus III when you primarily math education source is Wikipedia.

Yikes, I definitely struck a nerve here. The above was my only post. The school is called Towson High School in Baltimore County. That's how they did it in the 90s when I went there and how they did it when I taught there in the early 00s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea how they do it in the DMV area, but when I was in high school and then taught high school, there were two years of calculus. The first year covered what was on the AB exam, the second year covered the difference between AB/BC, which back then was really just series, which took a few weeks, and then the rest of the year was Calc III.

It's a nice way to waive 2 semesters of calculus and breeze through Calc III in college.

No you didn’t, you’re the poster that keeps lying in this thread.

No way a high school would condense college Calculus I, II, and III in two years. All while teaching multivariable and calling it calculus BC! The course needs to pass a college board audit, zero chance this happened.

Last, let’s be real here, you don’t have the chops for Calculus III when you primarily math education source is Wikipedia.

Yikes, I definitely struck a nerve here. The above was my only post. The school is called Towson High School in Baltimore County. That's how they did it in the 90s when I went there and how they did it when I taught there in the early 00s.

You are weirdly invested in lying about this to the point of pretending you taught Calculus. Well, that what anonymity on Internet forums leads to.

If indeed you taught the class, you’d know that for AP Calculus BC, you need to submit a syllabus and a course plan to College Board for approval, and it has to follow their guidelines, ie all AB content, parametric, series.

The chances of them approving a BC Calculus class that skips the AB content, goes over sequences and series in a few weeks, and then teaches multivariable for the rest of the year are zero.