Preface: I have already taken us history which explains why I won’t be doing APUSH as a junior.
So, I’m currently contemplating whether I should do APStats or APWH my junior year. I will have 6 years of math by the time I graduate but only 3 years of social sciences which is worrying me. However, I believe that I’ll like stats a lot more than wh and have a higher chance of getting a 5 on the exam knowing myself. So given that I’ll like stats more and will do better (grade wise and ap scores), but will be missing out on 4 years of social sciences if I don’t do APWH, what should I do?
My 3 years of social studies are: APHUGE, Normal US History (summer school), and AP Macro/Gov. Have >_4 years in all other areas besides social studies btw and will be applying for finance or econ depending on the school. Thanks in advance 
P.S-Looking at highly selective schools
still will have 5 years of math if i do 4 years social studies btw.
What levels of math. Calc BC plus additional class(es)? Or extended versions of standard courses?
“highly selective schools” prefer to see 4 years each of the five academic disciplines: math, science, english, foreign language, and history (econ doesn’t count, and Gov only does halfway, bcos its only a one semester course)
Stats is a great course, but as the above poster notes, BC Calc is really helpful.
I have never heard of a school requirement of 4 years of history and econ not counting. 4 years of social studies is the most almost any high school encourages with econ/Gov, world or euro, ush and maybe a year of geography making up those 4. Where are kids taking 4 years of straight up History?
@RichInPitt I get to Calc AB senior year (with 5 years of math in total awarded for that bc. it’s a 1.5 credit course-double period) and then ap stats (which I’m using an elective slot for). As for BC Calc, there’s no way for me to get there on my track and I’m satisfied with AB+Stats
@VickiSoCal It’s not a “requirement” but ND says “our most competitive applicants will have four units in each major academic area” so it is recommended. By the way, I meant 4 years of social sciences not solely history.
@bluebayou Most schools I’ve looked at (ND, Umich, NW) have History/Social Sciences clumped together as one category so Econ/Gov should count. Btw, I took Accounting 1 this year (sophomore) and really liked it but missed out on a core history class (would’ve gotten me 4 years total). Content-wise, I really enjoyed it and feel like it kind of transitions into Stats and later econ/gov but idk whether it’ll hurt my transcript even if I’m applying for a business major.
Agree, if it is social science then geography, government, econ all count, not just history.
I know that some schools here in the bay area do not offer history or social sciences in 9th grade, so it’s only three years, it’s part of the profile or the gc explains it, and the kids do fine wrt selective colleges.
“My 3 years of social studies are: APHUGE, Normal US History (summer school), and AP Macro/Gov.”
This is going to look really unusual to adcoms. So you didn’t take any social science class in 10th grade during your school year? I’d recommend taking APWH then over stats.
You need to take a non-US history class. Everyone does, and not just for college admissions.
@theloniusmonk So stats will help my application as an undergrad Finance major in no particular way vs. APWH? It’s hard having to drop a class I love just to take a class that colleges want me to take.
So just how selective? For the more competitive colleges, AP HG and a non competitive summer US history are going to look light. The majority of applicants will have APUSH, then APEuro or AP World. (And APHG if it’s customary in the hs.) It’s risky to take accounting instead- or stats. We don’t know what math classes. But we do know top colleges like to see rounded rigor. In many cases, taking AP econ/AP gov without the grounding in core history isn’t enough.
Ask your GC if this qualifies as the “most demanding” courseload.
@lookingforward One last question. Do you think that potentially not receiving college credit for AP World at colleges that only takes a 5s is a well worth risk vs. taking Stats which is a much easier 5 for me considering that World would look better admissions wise?
Getting college credit is an issue after you get admitted. Seems to me, your first and critical issue is presenting the right span of classes, when applying. Adcoms look at the transcript, see the choices, those grades, not just gpa or scores.
And no, most of CC will tell you that taking an easier class for the grade boost or potential AP score isn’t the way to do it (when speaking of highly competitive colleges.)
You need to ensure you know what course distribution your targets look for. And how your competition will exceed that. And while you’re on their web sites, looking for that, try to learn what holistic else they do look for when choosing whom to admit over others.
@lookingforward Ok, you’ve convinced me to change to AP World. I’ll probably learn a lot about history that I didn’t know, and I can rest assured that I’m making the right choice for my future. Thanks for your advice!
It’s really your choice, all we can give is our thoughts. You could do as you wish and take your chances with less competitive colleges. But when you mention, say, Northwestern, the stakes go up.
I just want you to make an informed decisions that work for you.
Best wishes.
“@theloniusmonk So stats will help my application as an undergrad Finance major in no particular way vs. APWH? It’s hard having to drop a class I love just to take a class that colleges want me to take.”
You need breadth and depth so too much quantitative at the expense of rigorous non-stem classes could be a concern, as lookingforward mentioned, focus on getting in, then the AP credits.
Hey guys, so I just came back from my 1st day in summer school for Normal US History and I found out that he’s the only AP World teacher at our school. He’s an amazing teacher so I think that APWH is the right way to go, plus, I found out that I don’t mind history so I should be fine in the class. As for AP credit, idk what’ll happen but getting into these schools is much more of a priority than college credit so it’s w/e. Once again, thanks for the great advice!