Best Soph/Junior/Senior math progression for non-engineer

[ucbalumnus]

@homerdog

Our S19 is a strong math student and is currently taking Pre-Calc H as a sophomore. Doing well in the class. For junior year, he has to choose between AB or BC Calc. At our high school, you take one or the other, never one after the other. I understand the differences between the two classes. He wants to take BC because that’s where his teacher placed him and insists that only the less-smart math kids are in AB. His counselor and I think he should take AB because (1) he has three other AP classes planned and they will be a ton of work, 2) he’s already decided that he does not want to be an engineering or computer science major and (3) AB is probably an easy A for him and he can use the extra time to focus on his other AP classes.

A 10th grader in honors precalculus who is doing well and enjoys the class is typically a top student in math who should be able to handle calculus BC with little trouble (will probably see it as an easy A and easy 5 on the AP test).

@homerdog

I’m looking for advice on what kind of majors would require him to continue on the calculus track in college. Does it depend on the college? If he’s a bio or environmental science major, does that usually require more calculus than the AB course? I’m pretty sure that the AB and AP Stats classes would be just fine for the other majors.

Typical math requirements in college:

Biology or environmental science: calculus (often a year), often also statistics
Economics (not pre-PhD): calculus (often a year), statistics (a few schools require more math)
Economics (pre-PhD): calculus, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, real analysis, calculus-based probability theory, etc…