AP Stats or AP Calc BC for Bio Major?

Applying to College
1

Hey,

I’m choosing between AP Stats or AP Calc BC for my final year of math, and I was wondering which would be a better option for someone hoping to major in Biology. Math has always been my worst subject, and despite being able to keep A’s in my honors math classes so far, I am not too confident for Calc. As a result, I’ve been leaning towards Stats since it’s an easier class and something I’m more confident about, but am not sure how much of an impact it would have on my admission chances compared to taking Calc. Thanks!

2

Statistics is useful in biology. But it may be better to take a calculus-based statistics course in college after taking calculus. Also, at some colleges, the physics courses for biology majors do require calculus, though not as advanced as those for physics and engineering majors.

If you are pre-med, you may have to take calculus and statistics anyway to satisfy medical school requirements.

3

@ucbalumnus Awesome, thanks for the help. I’ll take your advice and take calc and follow it up with stats in college. Thanks again.

4

I know you said your not to confident in calc but since you’re taking BC it shows you have experience in calc already. Calc BC is 60% of what AB is with some more advancement on certain topics and a new topic or two. For the most part it’s just expanding on things you already know. I think you should take BC because you have the prior knowledge, whereas in stats you’d be learning new content fully.

5

FYI. OP has not necessarily had Calc previously. At many high schools Calc BC is a stand alone course that immediately follows Pre Calc.

6

Have you taken calculus AB?
If not, take that, not BC, as it’s slower paced.
Have you had an A in precalculus honors or regular precalculus?

7

My gut feeling is that if you have already had Calc AB then taking statistics could be OK. If you have not had calculus yet, I’d take that in HS. I do think that the suggestion of taking Calc AB (if available) instead of BC is a good one.

You will likely eventually have to take calculus (if you are pre-med). And there is a reasonable chance in college that you will find yourself in a class with many students who have taken calculus in HS. So while the material will be largely review for them it will be be all new for you. Therefore, without HS calculus you could find yourself at a potential disadvantage for a first semester freshman year college course which is never a pleasant way to start things off.