<p>We need some advice on senior year math course selection. My daughter has to choose between AP stats and a college -prep, but not honors Calculus class. (There is one section of AP calc but it conflicts with a required specialty center class. ) Most of the students in the same situaton will take AP stats, which the school encourages to raise the number of AP classes/tests taken. But we're wondering if the Calculus class, even though it's not an honors class would be the preferred choice. </p>
<p>The rest of her schedule is as follows:
Ap English
Ap Government
Ap Micro/Macro
Ap Chem or AP Physics
Honors Theatre--Directing
Honors Chorus or Ap Psych</p>
<p>She is undecided as to a major. She wants to do theatre major or minor but also is interested in science and social studies. </p>
<p>The school knows of the conflict with the AP calc class but may not be able to resolve it. Taking the Calc over the summer is not an option because there is a required internship class for her specialty center over the summer. </p>
<p>I worry because when I went to college in the 80's at Penn, just about everyone in my into calculus class had at least some exposure to calculus in high school, and it was a miserable first semester trying to catch up to them. Ultimately it all worked out but it was rough way to start. My experience is that stats was much easier to pick up in college. </p>
<p>But Ap Stats would be another Ap and would help class rank , so maybe that is the better choice? Either way she should be in the top 10%, but another honors credit might put her in the top 5%.</p>
<p>We've debated it quite a bit, and woukld appreciate any other prespective. Thanks!</p>
<p>My own experience (engineering) was similar to yours - no calc in HS -> struggle freshman year. If your D is at all interested in a STEM major, I’d recommend calc over AP Stat. Particularly, if the calc syllabus will cover 1st semester freshman calc (I’m thinking something like AB Calc without the AP exam or credit at the end). Familiarity with statistics will be more useful in business & social science majors, but IMO is easier to pick up in college.</p>
<p>When we asked admissions staff at D’s very competitive target schools about course selection, they said they wanted applicants to have taken “the most demanding cirriculum available to them”. However, I do not think they would make a significant distinction between strong classroom performance in AP Stats vs calc, given the rest of your D’s schedule and assuming continued overal strong performance. If theatre arts requires audition or portfolio, that’s probably more important than which of one class she takes as a senior.</p>
<p>Also consider her workload and time management. How does your D feel about taking 5 or 6 AP classes? My D decided to NOT take AP English (argued she had all the AP credit she could get from AP English Lit and was taking other APs including Bio, Stat, and BC Calc - yes, potential mathie) and it did not affect her getting into her #1 school (our in-state flagship, so competitive by definition but not quite Ivy-level). </p>
<p>Summary - If her “numbers” are good, I don’t think her selection of one course is going to make a difference in her applications and recommend she make her decision on ability to manage workload and liklihood she’d benefit from exposure to calc.</p>
<p>Given your D plans on taking 4 or 5 other AP courses, we’d recommend calc over AP Stats assuming she believes she can do well in calc.</p>
<p>Just to give further assistance, between AP Chem and AP Physics we’d have no preference assuming she’s already taken physics and chem. </p>
<p>Not surprisingly, we’d recommend AP Psych over Chorus assuming she believes she can be successful in 5 AP courses. </p>
<p>She or her counselor can of course explain any scheduling conflicts so that we’re made aware of them when evaluating her schedule.</p>