<p>We just had teacher conferences, and the pre-calc. teacher advised that our daughter should consider AP Calculus next year, confident she would do well on the exam (although not necessarily in the class). We nearly laughted out loud. Needless to say, math is definitely "not her thing". He agreed that she is an average student in the current honors class, but assured us that ALL the students at her school who take the AP exam, do very well. We've also heard the AP Calc. teacher is great.</p>
<p>She is required to take another year of math at her school. Our advice to her in the past was to take AP Stats. We felt Stats. would actually be more useful in the long run. She doesn't know her future, but is leaning toward writing, art, business, psych. lanuguages, etc. (definitely no science or math related field). I was required to take calculus in college for my major, and have never used it once! </p>
<p>I'm just interested in other parents' input. I've heard AP Statistics is often looked down upon by colleges as the "easier route". Taking the AP Calc. course would obviously show initiative. I was also advised that if she takes AP Calc. and scores a 4 or 5, it could save her from having to take any more math in college (She likes that idea). But she also has no interest in the subject, and her performance (grade) in the class will likely hurt. </p>
<p>Any more pros and cons I have not yet considered to give her for advice?</p>
<p>Hi..I will venture in with some pros and cons. I agree that Stats is a great course for any college student to get on board with regardless and many of my Son's classmates went that route..more if they were sure they were going to a college where they could avoid Calc altogether. But I will argue that if you have a known good strong Calc teacher in HS, do it and consider it a baseline to basically repeat a year of Calc in college or aid to succeed in not damaging your GPR in college because you had a year at 18 to build a foundation with. For instance at my son's college, Calculus is required even in Econ. There is a movement in business schools we were told at the college to prefer students with demonstated calculus mastery. It is not just for hard science majors. Depends on what kind of Bachelors program she will be seeking out. If you have a solid list made up, then it would behoove you to look at their reqs for Math, make a little chart and than make your decision. My S got a 3 on an AP Cal class (teacher did not offer any class time to prepare for the exams and was very ambivalent about the AP test as a measure of her class, AP performance in our school is abysmal unless self study takes the front seat) and my son got out of one semester of college math at a rigorous college with a 3. He is glad he took it in his high school because his teacher was kindly and competent and it was a small setting where you could get help and review assists. College Calculus is another game. Majority of his peers got 4s and 5s on APs and are ready to move on. From what he is hearing, the curves are brutal in math classes there and there is extrapolation of math concepts tested..not just the basic units of concepts taught in class so grading it much tougher in college. He is envisioning working hard to make a C with those curves. Plus no more filler points like credit for doing one's homework and class participation. Only what you do on exams counts. Grades are curved and the teacher has to shake out who is the most mathematical, not just who can regurgitate so he designs tests accordingly. There are always at least 10-plus kids who shake out as more gifted than the other kids and they all had over 4.0s and great SATs to get into this college. SATs really don't test this level of math as you know.</p>
<p>He regrets not studying harder for that AP Calc exam but he was busy flying around the country during those three weeks senior year in competitions and visiting colleges, which happens to many seniors.</p>
<p>Good luck and perhaps your daughter's curriculums will not resemble the above outlook.</p>
<p>i took ap stats last year, and aced the class however came out with only a 3 on the test. I was bummed. I am now in Ap Calc and struggling through it. I have actually thought about dropping it, because I am concerned that the grade will really effect my gpa. Im my case, getting a C will kill my gpa, so if your daughter is very solid academically, she might want to reconsider the class. However, taking an AP course in High school is a lot easier to stomach while in high school rather then dealing wtih Calculus in college. Thats my opinoin.</p>
<p>I agree with the previous posters. If you have a good AP Calc teacher, go for it. She may need some extra help, but she will get through it. College Cacl is a b----, and the kids who took it in high school are glad. My son is taking AP Stat and he says it is a waste of time. His teacher is not very good. He is in regular Calc (not AP) because AP conflicted with a required course on his schedule. He said the AP class goes more in depth, but the teacher is better and he is sorry he isn't in it. He plans to take the beginning calc class in college, but at least he will have a foundation.</p>
<p>I'd go with a great teacher in a difficult subject, particularly if that teacher's students do well on the test (losta 4's and 5's on the test). </p>
<p>Stat is usually easier since it only requires a strong Alg I background. Plus, she can alwayd take Stat in college, particularly, since (as MomWC notes), Calc at a any college with a lot of premeds and/or Engineers is EXTREMELY competitive. Indeed, even with a 5 on th AP exam, many premeds take Calc 1 again in college for a relatively 'easy' A (gpa is critical for premeds) -- thus, the curve can be brutal.</p>
<p>My son struggled in Pre-Calc Honors in 10th grade (his only B+ ever) and initially thought of not going on to Calc the next year. Over the summer, he decided he'd look like (and feel like) a coward if he didn't at least try and that colleges would be more impressed with his drive and commitment even if he didn't ace the class. I know it's only November, so I may eat these words later, but he's acing the class! He has a FANTASTIC AP Calc BC teacher and he's doing great. He totally gets it (unlike last year when he thought Trig was impossible). I agree with the posters that say go with the harder class if you think you can get a good teacher, because it might make the difference. And how great will she feel if she takes on that challenge and succeeds!</p>
<p>Another jump on the AP Calc bandwagon, but for a different reason. If she does decide to pursue business, psych (or any field in which statistical analysis plays a role) I think she will be better off taking the Stats course in college which is offered within her major field. The applications, "stats" most frequently used, etc. will be more relevant to her interests and needs.</p>
<p>Jmmom hit the nail on the head. Statistics is meaningless unless it's applied. The AP class is boring and without context, according to both my sons.</p>
<p>AP Statistics is certainly not meaningless; even if a teacher is abysmal enough to ignore its applications, the background certainly gives enough information for the student to apply it himself. However, depending on what colleges your kid is looking at, I think that Calc will be more rewarding. Competitive colleges will definitely notice a lack of Calculus (although I know a boy who opted for AP Stats and went on to Harvard). And, as always, the best classes have the best teachers.</p>
<p>My D took AP Stats last year along with Honor's PreCalc and had a ball. She absolutely loved it (more than PreCalc...called Analysis in our neck of the woods), "got" the practical applications, and aced the AP exam. This year she's taking AP BC Calc and thinks it rocks. If the OP can only take one course, take BC Calc. Look at it this way, if she doesn't really like math, then she won't have to take it in college if she gets a 4 or 5 on her exam!</p>
<p>My daughter struggled through pre-calc and opted for AP stats instead of calculus. This didn't look so odd for her because she wants to major in psychology and it fit. Did not taking calculus hurt her in the admissions process? Maybe - but she was not looking at highly selective colleges anyway. At her college, she doesn't need to take a calculus course - I think she needs one "math" class and psych stats might qualify. If not, I think she has some quasi-math related course already picked out to meet that quantitative curriculum requirement. In the long run, I don't think not taking calculus will hurt her.</p>
<p>It did, however, make senior year of high school a ton more easier, less stressful and better grade-wise.</p>
<p>I am taking both AP Calc BC and AP Stats right now, and I can say that BC is much more interesting and challenging, where stats really is boring and I tend to fall asleep during the class, but the stats multiple choice questions are hard because they are tricked up in order to make the easy subject harder. The BC questions dont need to be tricked up, they are just hard. I would take BC, but if you want an easier class I guess take stats</p>
<p>My son took AP Calc AB and BC from an excellent teacher in high school (who rarely let anyone use a calculator) and college calc is a breeze...easy A's! That teacher knew her stuff and deserves a world of credit! If you have a good teacher at your high school, your daughter might learn more there than she can in the equivalent college course.</p>
<p>I am taking AP Calc AB and AP Stats right now. I have a great AP Calc teacher. She is definitely one of the better math teacher that I've had. If your daughter is not a math person, just make sure that she is willing to put in the time and energy to go in, ask for help, and take advantage of a great math teacher. Since you will need to take calc for most colleges as ge (i may be wrong), it is good to have a head start especially when high school teachers are probably more accessible. Even if someone decides NOT to take the test, my teacher still recommends the student to stay in the class. It just makes it a bit easier in college.</p>
<p>For AP Stats., I have a medicore teacher. He is pretty boring. I sleep in the class, do my homework the period before, and study for the test. For me it is just easier to link everything up in the chapter right before the test. I find it very useful since I am also taking AP Econ. I see statistics everywhere. Psychology. SATs percentile. Econ for obvious reasons. Government. It is very useful.</p>
<p>AP Calc takes a lot more of my time. Although I am not struggling, it is not a breeze for me either especially grade-wise. AP Stats is more laxed but definitely useful. I think AP Stats is much more analytical. Often, I feel like I just wrote an essay on a free-response question to explain the data, the conclusion, and such. Also, AP Stats is very calculator based.</p>
<p>Take both. I took Stats (though it wasn't AP at my HS) and was able to get credit via Pitt for the course. It was part of a program called "College in High School". Even if you don't transfer a Stats grade or you can't because of how your course is set up, it's worth it. Almost everything requires Stats, and Stats isn't like Algebra or Geometry. I found it to be a different realm of math, and one that is incredibly calculator-intensive. Having an understanding of it will definitely pay off.</p>
<p>I didn't take Calc in HS and really wish I did. Though you may have to take Calc over again in college, you'll have a better understanding if you do. From what I hear Calc is a lot of work so if you know you're going to get Senioritis don't take it.</p>
<p>If your D plans on a major in psychology, political science, or a similar field, she will need stats. S took AP Calc in HS. It placed him out of one of two college math course requirements. But as a poli sci major, he is required to take elementary stats. Because of his math background he took the higher level intro stats course and is doing very well. I lean toward your D taking the AP Stats.</p>
<p>Not to mention that if you take both, you can always use stats to catch up on some Z's while the teacher goes on and on with the overhead calculator and BS book work from some way outdated book.</p>