Hello, I am currently a junior taking AP Calculus AB, and I need help deciding whether I should take Calc BC or Stats for my senior year. AP Statistics would benefit me much more in the career I want to pursue (clinical psychology), but the college I want to get into is fairly competitive (UCSD). I am conflicted because I don’t want colleges to think I “got lazy” or “dumbed myself down” my senior year for taking Statistics rather than finishing Calculus. Please let me know (and be honest), thank you!
Well BC would just be repeating what you are doing this year and only adding on series. Your first semester would be spent on going over things you learned this year. If possible, I would suggest taking both classes but if you had to choose I would choose AP Stat. This is because, like you said, it would be more beneficial for your desired major. I am not a college admissions officer but, it is logical. Like if you were an English major, why would the college care if you took AP Calc BC. They would look at the classes that relate to your major more closely.
Take Stats, then take Calc 2 in college if needed. Or take BC and then take Stats in college, it really won’t matter much from an admissions standpoint.