<p>I just want to hear your opinions.
Info:
I plan to major in East Asian Studies in college.
I am taking Honors PreCal.</p>
<p>Cal AB or BC?</p>
<p>Stats is easier but less impressive. However, it doesn't seem like you need a lot of advanced math for your major.</p>
<p>No competition if you're aiming at top colleges, calc hands down. For less competitive colleges stats is fine. Most top colleges don't care what your major will be, experience shows them the average student will change his mind 3 times.</p>
<p>youdon'tsay: Calc AB</p>
<p>I'm taking stats, seems fun so far. Colleges like Calc more tho.</p>
<p>Take BOTH!!!</p>
<p>I'm doing it, and it's really not that hard. Stats is a walk in the park. They'd like to see calculus more out of the two, I'm sure. But taking them both may be even better.</p>
<p>For me Statistics just seemed more applicable for what I want to do, Anthro or Psych or something. </p>
<p>But I know that colleges would probably have prefered that I took Calc. I don't care though, I took the class that I thought would be the most beneficial!</p>
<p>Also, I did take a semester of Calc and hated it! Gross</p>
<p>^^ I agree with tawo, (if you can) I'm taking both. Stat is a lot more fun and I love the teacher, but Calc would be better for college. Although it also depends on what you want to major in. =)</p>
<p>New question:
What's the point of taking calc if I'm not going to major in a math or science? I looked up some the Ivies and they said they wanted at least precal, which to me says that I can take whatever AP math that I want, or am I mistaken?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses so far.</p>
<p>well, unless you are truly interested in calculus then the only point of taking AP Calc would be to impressive the ADCOM. Although they say they only want upto pre-calc, the more the better. </p>
<p>I think you should take both, but only because I took both and I really liked Stat and Calc.
Stat is much easier than Calc.</p>
<p>However, you should take the class that you believe you will have the most fun in. I am taking AP European History this year simply because I enjoy the class, not because it may look better than some other class.</p>
<p>Calc runs through a lot of college courses, not just math ones. If you go to a college with an distribution requirements you are likely to need it to do well.</p>
<p>If you're looking at highly competitive colleges, most applicants will have calc. Not having it will be a disadvantage. Most of these colleges are not looking at potential major.</p>
<p>If you re not aiming at the highly selective, most will not have calc and it is a non issue.</p>
<p>Colleges are well aware that many kids are scared of calc. They are looking for kids willing to tackle their fears.</p>
<p>Not sure what you want to do with E. Asian studies. Business perhaps? Calc is a basic.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What's the point of taking calc if I'm not going to major in a math or science? I looked up some the Ivies and they said they wanted at least precal, which to me says that I can take whatever AP math that I want, or am I mistaken?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, if they say they require at least precalc, you are free to take whatever math you want after that. But what hmom5 and others are trying to say is that taking calc matters for 1) other related subjects outside of math and science and 2) for being the most competitive candidate possible when applying to very selective colleges.</p>
<p>Do you think that colleges that accept 10% or less of their applicants are going to tend to take candidates with just the minimum requirements or those who surpass them? Also, as far as major, with a few exceptions, it means relatively little in the application process as there's no guarantee that someone will major in what they put down on their application and because many chose a different major once they're in college anyway. Plus, at the most selective colleges, most competitive candidates will show strength and a rigorous course load in all fields.</p>
<p>^^^ Perfect answer!</p>
<p>I took Calc BC my junior and year and am curently taking Stat. I would say Stat is MUCH easier. I had no idea what was going on in Calc like halfway through, and managed to pull a 3 on AP BC test and 3 for AB subscore, which is at least passing? Stat is much more practical, but Calc will be more impressive. If it's a question of AB or BC, I'd say go with BC. I'm definitely a math guy though and am majoring in computer engineering, so Calc was easier for me than others. It's not too much harder, although I feel I could've gotten a 5 on the AB test if I took just AB. It stretches everything into a whole year as opposed to one semester, without the extra stuff. Since it's your senior year, go with Stat so you can have a little more relaxation and free time. Any AP math will suffice, and Stat will be easier.</p>
<p>Thanks for the opinions so far, I will take them into consideration. I will also talk to my guidance counselor about this. In the meantime, if they're any other opinions, keep 'em coming!
hmom5: I'm going a little off the beaten path; I plan to be an acupuncturist.</p>
<p>But the issue is, where do you want to go to college? At many what you want to be right now is irrelevant. As someone said on another thread, it's about showing colleges you can succeed at everything if you're aiming for the top.</p>
<p>AB is easy since its only ~half of BC. Take both if you are aiming at highly selective colleges.</p>
<p>edit: "easy" is defined in a curricular manner -- your individual school/teacher could be hard as heck.</p>
<p>And in thinking about it, your intended major will require a lot of math. Acupuncture=medicine=math. I swear by acupuncture!</p>
<p>For all of you who want me to take both, I can only take one; I have to take my PE credit and physics.</p>
<p>hmom5: I have 4 highly selective colleges on my list out of 12 total. There is no such thing as pre-acupuncture (if that was what you were getting at). The requirements for acupuncture school are very different from those of med school. There are no specific classes that you need to take to get into acupuncture school; you just need a 2.5 or higher and 60 semester/90 quarter credits to satisfy academic requirements. You can take acupuncture classes in medical school, but I'm not taking that route.</p>
<p>Do acupuncture schools care about your undergrad school? Because if not, does it matter whether you get into those reaches? Just curious, do you even need an undergrad degree? </p>
<p>And count me among your future customers. I love acupuncture.</p>