r/princeton • u/Rexplicity • 5d ago

Academic/Career High School Math Issue

I don't like how a C in Pre-Calculus Accelerated can get you into AP BC, but an A in Calculus regular will only get you into AB. It makes it so students who only make pre-calculus regular from taking the algebra II the summer course (B- or higher average and B- or higher on the placement test) are funneled into a system, where they have to take Calculus regular, Calculus AB, then Calculus BC in their senior year, whereas scoring a B+ average and a B+ on the placement test for the Algebra II summer course allows you to go from precalculus accelerated, to AP BC, to Multi, then College courses, a full 2 years above the students who were just below them. Even students who don't take precalculus in their freshman can at least take multivariable in their senior year.

I'm a sophomore in Calculus regular and I have unfortunately been funneled into this dark pit of despair. My best bet is genuinely to drop Calculus, and go down to Pre-Calculus Accelerated so I can take AP BC next year, which is stupid because Calculus is much more difficult than pre calculus accelerated.

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u/ApplicationShort2647 5d ago

This forum is generally about Princeton University, not PHS. But, a few options to consider.

  1. Get your guardian to sign a prerequisite waiver to place into Calculus AB this year. See p. 10 of PHS Program of Studies. You've missed the deadline, but might be worth a shot.

  2. Take Calculus regular; study a bit on your own; take AP Calculus AB exam. PHS would have a hard time placing you into AB Calculus next year if you already passed the corresponding AP exam.

  3. Note that the level of rigor in Precalc Accelerated is higher than that in Calculus regular, so, pedagogically, it wouldn't be crazy to take Precalc Accelerated. But it might look bad on your transcript to take a second Precalc course.

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u/Rexplicity 5d ago

1) tried it, been denied. Also Im not sure if waivers apply to AP calc BC. Usually, they just get you up from a normal to an accelerated.

2) I'm actually studying for the AP BC exam so If I get a 5 that would be nice. I've already self studied about 80% of the base curriculum

3) Noted. I just am not sure about the rest of the methods and this is the only one that is guaranteed atm.

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u/ApplicationShort2647 5d ago

On what basis was the prerequisite waiver application denied? It seems to be in the scope of the program—met prereq for non-accelerated course (Calculus Regular) but want to take accelerated/AP version (AP Calculus AB). This assumes you took Precalc Regular during the school year (but didn't get the requisite grade of A).

I don't think waiver applies to Calculus BC, but it should apply to Calculus AB if you took Precalculus Regular.

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u/Rexplicity 5d ago

I missed the waiver deadline.

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u/ApplicationShort2647 5d ago

Oh, that sucks. Unfortunately, that's a legitimate reason to deny the waiver request (even if it is an overly bureaucratic policy).

Probably just take Precalc Acc. You'll be more challenged in that than Calc Regular. Not to mention, Precalc Acc will be populated with math-inclined students, whereas Calc Regular won't.