Anonymous
Post 05/12/2025 00:37     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:Once you get past AP Calculus BC, anything after that is not going to add any value to the application.

MV is not going to tip your application to the admit pile at any college.

Once you pass the AP Calculus BC filter, they know you are strong in math and that it is not a concern. Even if you major in math.

Then the focus is on the rest of the application.

DC is an MOP qualifier and I am very familiar with strong math kids. I did not see MV make any difference.


Yep - this proved very correct for my DC.
Anonymous
Post 05/12/2025 00:17     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:Intended engineering major.

AP calc BC in 11th. All As. Assume 5 on AP test.

What to take in 12th?
MV calc? Offered at the HS, but Would have to repeat in college so I’m wondering why take in HS. Kid is strong in math, learns it quickly, doesn’t need to see it twice to learn it deeply. But is this needed in 12th to be considered highest rigor?

Or AP Stats? Seems more practical subject matter, important for everyone. Not sure if this would allow to skip stats in college… haven’t looked into whether engineering generally accepts this as credit or not. But also, would this be considered less math rigor than taking MV in 12th?

Kid at strong HS where many kids will be taking MV in 12th.

why do you assume he would need to retake multi, linear, or diff eq? Many schools offer challenge exams / departmental exams for credit
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 23:03     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:We were told directly by an admissions officer at a top college that calculus is used as a barometer for how the student will do at their college and that success in multivariable was all the proof that they needed that this applicant would succeed at their college. So, yes, taking multivariable is looked at favorably, at least by this college.


Which college?
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 21:40     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
We were told directly by an admissions officer at a top college that calculus is used as a barometer for how the student will do at their college and that success in multivariable was all the proof that they needed that this applicant would succeed at their college. So, yes, taking multivariable is looked at favorably, at least by this college.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 21:34     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:Once you get past AP Calculus BC, anything after that is not going to add any value to the application.

MV is not going to tip your application to the admit pile at any college.

Once you pass the AP Calculus BC filter, they know you are strong in math and that it is not a concern. Even if you major in math.

Then the focus is on the rest of the application.

DC is an MOP qualifier and I am very familiar with strong math kids. I did not see MV make any difference.


you dreaming. of course it will be noted by the AO. How many multivariate applicants do you think that they see? There are so many AO podcasts on this it is not funny.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 21:19     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:Once you get past AP Calculus BC, anything after that is not going to add any value to the application.

MV is not going to tip your application to the admit pile at any college.

Once you pass the AP Calculus BC filter, they know you are strong in math and that it is not a concern. Even if you major in math.

Then the focus is on the rest of the application.

DC is an MOP qualifier and I am very familiar with strong math kids. I did not see MV make any difference.


Sure. But in a high school with all the options, a kid choosing statistics over mv is going to be a big ding for potential engineering majors.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 20:46     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
Once you get past AP Calculus BC, anything after that is not going to add any value to the application.

MV is not going to tip your application to the admit pile at any college.

Once you pass the AP Calculus BC filter, they know you are strong in math and that it is not a concern. Even if you major in math.

Then the focus is on the rest of the application.

DC is an MOP qualifier and I am very familiar with strong math kids. I did not see MV make any difference.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 16:28     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:Intended engineering major.

AP calc BC in 11th. All As. Assume 5 on AP test.

What to take in 12th?
MV calc? Offered at the HS, but Would have to repeat in college so I’m wondering why take in HS. Kid is strong in math, learns it quickly, doesn’t need to see it twice to learn it deeply. But is this needed in 12th to be considered highest rigor?

Or AP Stats? Seems more practical subject matter, important for everyone. Not sure if this would allow to skip stats in college… haven’t looked into whether engineering generally accepts this as credit or not. But also, would this be considered less math rigor than taking MV in 12th?

Kid at strong HS where many kids will be taking MV in 12th.


Would you student be interested or have room to BOTH? Thats what my kid did senior year at FCPS. He was a direct admit to CS w/math and phil minors at UMD.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 16:23     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
MV for a good foundation.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 16:17     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:Op here- agree stats is more useful but seems MV considered more rigorous. Appreciate comment about research.

Would love to have kid take both but no room in schedule. AP science classes are double period. And there are many requirements overall. MCPS.


My MCPS grad is doing mechanical engineering at a T10 school. He took MV senior year. The most selective engineering programs are going to require you do the highest level math at your high school. Some schools top out at Calculus BC, but if MV is available you need to take it. And I wouldn’t expect any college credit at the more demanding schools. I’d think of it more as a foundation for the more rigorous college classes. Calculus and MV at MIT is not going to be the same as calculus and MV at a MCPS high school. And engineering is a pretty rigid major. They want everyone to take the introductory classes.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 15:52     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
At my college, they gave you the credit, but also let you take an alternative calc 101 class.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 15:48     Subject: Re:HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:One comment about not repeating calc classes in college:

We went on a tour of a "nerdy-ish" college yesterday; the guide was a math/econ/data science major. He told my kid that as a math major, students generally start over with Calc 1 because the math honors classes are all proof-based and it's pretty tough. Point is, AP calc may not count for credit at all colleges.


1. what is a nerdy-ish college?

2. Why can't you say the name in the post?

3. Your point isn't that calc may not count, seems like your point was that regardless whether it could count from the school's perspective, some elect to start at a lower math class versus using it to start at a higher level, for various reasons.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 11:22     Subject: Re:HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:One comment about not repeating calc classes in college:

We went on a tour of a "nerdy-ish" college yesterday; the guide was a math/econ/data science major. He told my kid that as a math major, students generally start over with Calc 1 because the math honors classes are all proof-based and it's pretty tough. Point is, AP calc may not count for credit at all colleges.


Smart advice by the guide
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 11:06     Subject: Re:HS Math- which class to take
Anonymous wrote:One comment about not repeating calc classes in college:

We went on a tour of a "nerdy-ish" college yesterday; the guide was a math/econ/data science major. He told my kid that as a math major, students generally start over with Calc 1 because the math honors classes are all proof-based and it's pretty tough. Point is, AP calc may not count for credit at all colleges.


This X1000. Look you have to accelerate as far as possible in high school unless you are hooked, URM, low income, 1 st gen etc etc to be competitive to even get into a strong engineering program. Once you are in stepping back is a good thing. It protects against struggling from having crappy instruction and easy grading in high school, boosts your GPA if it’s easy for you, and protects against getting weeded out.

Take MV hands down.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2025 11:02     Subject: HS Math- which class to take
Still a benefit as you then have more capacity to focus on just the proof strategies.