I’m currently a HS Junior and I’m putting together my schedule for next year. I signed up for AP Calculus AB, because it is the standard class for next year, but upon further reflection I realized that AP Stats would be way more beneficial for my major. I am going to major in political science, and I know that Calculus will not be helpful whatsoever in that pursuit. However, Stats would be useful. I am planning to apply to schools like UCLA, Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford etc. The only problem with Stats is that it doesn’t look as good to colleges, and I don’t want to take AP Stats if it hurts my admission. What are your thoughts on which math I should take, and should I contact admission officers for their input?
Post graduation goals? If they involve research or PhD study, calculus may be useful as a prerequisite for calculus based statistics that may be useful.
Unfortunately, I don’t think both classes will fit into my schedule. And I don’t think taking two rigorous math courses would be smart considering the rigor of the test of my courses /:
Law school does not require calculus. However, the LSAT includes a logic puzzle section. So it is not surprising that math and philosophy majors who take the LSAT tend to do well on it, since they tend to get more practice with logic in the course work for their majors.
Talk to your guidance counselor. The reach schools you plan to apply to may prefer that candidates take calculus, which is generally considered to be the more rigorous course.
If you’re looking at schools like Harvard and Stanford, you want the most challenging courseload possible. That means calc. You’ll have plenty of time to take stats in college.
Calculus looks good but if don’t think you will get a decent grade then taking stats will be the safer route. I have plenty of friends that got into Berkeley that took stats.
“…and I know that Calculus will not be helpful whatsoever in that pursuit…”
Adcoms (of schools of your interest) don’t care what you think is helpful in that pursuit! They want to see how hard you challenged yourself, especially, with a subject (Calculus) which is universally considered to be the most important for all fields of study in the admission process. Many challenge themselves beyond AB…with calculus BC (for one…my daughter challenged herself with BC in junior year skipping AB).
I have this confirmed - the first math course adcoms of selective colleges look for is calculus. It will be a negative to see stats without calculus and raise question marks. The major doesn’t matter all that much, remember that Stanford does not ask for major, Berkeley only asks for the college, and poly sci is in the school of arts and sciences, so they want to make sure applicants that get into A&S can major in English or Chemistry.