I am currently taking AP calculus AB as a junior and I am kind of struggling (82). Is it better for me to take AP calculus BC or AP statistics next year? When I asked my friends, they told me to take statistics because it looks better than taking BC calculus after AB, while others said BC is good to solidify my calculus understanding. Do colleges care that much if you take BC calculus after AB? I am confident that I can finish BC with at least a low A since I have a general overview of all the topics.
Since you have an 82 in AB, I wouldn’t recommend BC. You shouldn’t take an AP class where your odds of getting less than a B are overwhelming. AP stats sounds like a perfectly reasonable compromise and should help you when you take stats in college (do plan to).
I’m hoping you don’t plan on majoring in stem though.
I wouldn’t say that. Regardless, you should never take a class because it “looks better.”
No, unless you are targeting an engineering degree, and then an eyebrow or two may be raised.
And I am confident that I will win the Powerball if I get all the numbers correct. However, neither statement is rooted in reality. If you are tracking to an 82 in AB, your odds of getting a C in BC are at least as great as your odds of getting an A. I’d suggest choosing the course where you can at least get a solid B.
BC is very similar to AB in many regards… you even get an AB subscore when you take the AP Calc BC exam.
AP Stats is all about applied mathematics. It is a completely different world from Calc BC or AB… trust me!
Calculus is “solid” mathematics in which you need a logical and conceptual mind for. AP Stats is equivalent to a 1 semester introductory stats course in college, which will introduce you to statistical methods and such. Applied mathematics like statistics are not as “concrete” as the other mathematics like algebra or lower-level geometry (I’m talking within 3 dimensions).
For stats you just need some common sense and memorization for the formulas (how to derive the formulas is way out of the context of the course; you’ll need an advanced degree to understand how the formulas were derived) in order to succeed.
If you want to go into physics or engineering, BC is a must. If you want to go into Chemistry or the Biological sciences, then stats may be a better choice.
If you not majoring in STEM, then either will be fine. BC WILL be easier since you took AB already, and Stat is just easier than Calc in many regards.
Hope this helps
I doubt college admissions would look down upon you for taking BC after AB. Taking BC next year may help you to solidify your calculus knowledge since BC covers all of AB and a few more topics. If you are planning to do engineering strong calculus fundamentals will help you in the long run.
BTW if you are planning on non engineering majors you may want to skip BC and go with AP stats since stats is a very useful tool in many fields of study.