If I want to go into economics/finance, which would be better to take my senior year Computer Science AP or Statistics AP? I’m doubling up maths with Calculus BC as well, but I really need some help deciding which would look better to the likes of Princeton, Duke, or Yale.
I have to turn in my selections by the end of the day tomorrow, so it would be really helpful if the responses were quick!
I think most business & economics students take Statistics,& most math & technology students take Computer Science. But either or is fine.
Did you look at the requirements for those schools?
Also you may want a safety or two.
They would be equivalent courses IMO and taking one or the other would not move the needle on any college decision. I’d choose the course that is more interesting to you, has the better teacher etc. (And as noted above be sure to cast a wide net for colleges – the ones you mentioned are reaches for pretty much everyone).
I am in both this year, and while AP Computer Science provides a good foundation for learning code, AP Stats is way more beneficial for your major as Stats classes will be required but Computer Science may not
@ASJackson923 @happy1 thanks. Yes of course I have many more that I am looking at I was just throwing out three top tier schools so people would know that I am trying to get into some harder schools. Will computer science not be beneficial to my major? I am considering taking Computer Science at school and an AP Stat online course at home since Stat seems to be an easier class
Statistics will be required for those majors, CS will not unless you do financial engineering or something like that.
If you have any interest in taking CS courses in college I’d take that class. Better to learn some now than be hit in the head in college. Otherwise I’d take statistics.
Keeping your senior year first semester GPA as high as possible while maintaining rigor should be a consideration. Ask current students in both classes how the grading is. If one teacher is stingy with A’s, then maybe it would be wise to avoid that class in favor of the other.
There are arguments in favor of both. My D had hoped to double up and take both this year (having done Calc last year) but they conflicted and she had to pick one or the other. She chose CompSci and is glad she did, as it helped her to solidify her interest in a CS-related major. My older daughter also recommended (in retrospect) taking CS because she felt at a disadvantage in her college Intro to CS class, as she was in the minority having no coding experience at all.
Stats… on the one hand it’s very straightforward - you should be able to get a good grade if you do the work, and the workload should be steady and predictable (whereas CompSci may have more variability in effort, as some assignments and concepts are harder than others). On the other hand, a lot of colleges won’t take it as anything but elective credit, and you probably won’t need the head start in order to do well in the college stats class you may still need to take.
At HYPS-type schools, you’re unlikely to place ahead based on either of these courses. Either one looks fine as an extra AP class on your schedule. Take what sounds more engaging to you, and/or what’s known for being a better class at your school; there’s no really wrong choice between them.