<p>I'm a sophomore and am currently in Algebra 2. After Algebra 2, people at my school can take whatever math class they want to fulfill their last 2 (or 1, if they took Algebra 2 as a junior) math credits. Most people go on to take Pre-AP Pre-Calculus junior year and AP Calculus senior year. However, I got my PSAT scores back today and it showed that I had AP potential in Statistics and Computer Science A, whereas it didn't recommend I took AP Calculus. So I could take Statistics as my math class junior year, and Computer Science my senior year (or vice-versa) instead of taking the Pre-Cal/Calculus route. Do colleges look down on students who don't take any calculus-related courses?</p>
<p>Stats is a completely different type of math class. Do you like your standard math or would you be willing to learn math a different way with more writing? Complete opposite types of math</p>
<p>Edit: However colleges look ore favorably at Calc but AP Stats shouldn’t kill an app</p>
<p>I feel like I would do much better in statistics than anything calculus-related. I’d rather do well in AP Stats than bomb in Honors Pre-Calculus. As long as it doesn’t look horrible to colleges I’ll probably end up doing that.</p>
<p>Well you have 2 years of math left so I’d take precalc and if you like it and do good in it then you can move on to calc but on the other hand if you don’t enjoy it and struggle you can always take stats the next year</p>
<p>Yes you must.</p>
<p>i wouldnt pay too much attention to the psat recommendation…</p>
<p>Calc is pretty much a must have to get into elite, top tier schools if I’m not mistaken. AP Stats helps, but not as much as Calc.</p>
<p>OMG. Calulus is NOT remotely needed. You do not NEED to take it. I would do precal though. But if you want to do stats go ahead, same with Calculus. Just don’t think you need to take Cal to get into colleges, most people stop at algebra two. Most college goers stop at pre Cal.</p>
<p>Sent from my LG-VM696 using CC</p>
<p>If you want to take something useful, take calc.</p>
<p>And this is coming from someone who takes both.</p>
<p>Also be aware that some schools want 4 years of pure math and do not consider comp sci to fall under that category.</p>
<p>I’m not saying Calc is needed, I know that most high school students don’t take it (obviously people here at CC are the exception). But I do believe that to get into elite schools like Ivies, Stanford, Duke etc., calc is very helpful.</p>
<p>Only thing though you’re only taking Cal cause you were in honors. It would help but I wouldn’t do it if you want to “look good”</p>
<p>Sent from my LG-VM696 using CC</p>
<p>In general, colleges want to see 4 years of math. The very competitive schools claim they prefer Calculus, preferably AP, even if you intend to major in a non-STEM field. One of the schools my D applied to (a competitive state school) strongly insinuated that if you did not have AP Calc you would be at a great disadvantage. Maybe that’s true. For an in-demand school with way too many applicants for spots available the Calc could act as a filter to dump otherwise capable candidates without the adcoms having to nitpick each application over lesser details. That said, it makes one wonder why these schools still teach first year Calc if everyone was supposed to have taken it already in high school (unless, of course, it is for those poor souls who did poorly on the AP test).</p>
<p>If you are pinning your hopes on an Ivy or an elite LAC and you are sure you can handle it, then take the AP Calc. If not, if you think AP Stat or Comp Sci will make you happier then take it because if you are happy you’ll be more motivated to do well. I’d still do the pre-calc though. That way if for some reason you are stuck taking Calc in college as a distribution requirement you’ll be ready to roll.</p>
<p>I took the easy way out and will not be taking AP Calc next year either. Freshman year I took geometry honors, sophomore year I took part of Algebra 2/Trig honors, but switched to regular Algebra 2 before we got to Trig. Having not taken trig, I couldn’t sign up for Precalc honors, so now I’m in what’s called “Math Analysis” which is like supppppeeerr dumbed down Precalc. So I plan on taking AP stats next year because the only other courses left now besides AP Stats is Precalc and AP Calc. I hear some colleges don’t consider it a math course that counts towards your years of math, but I’m sure it won’t look bad because it’s not like you just skipped out on taking math. Yes they prefer AP Calc students, but I’m sure they don’t hate AP Stats students either.</p>
<p>Simple answer: if you’re going to absolutely suck, MAYBE not. But 9/10, the answer will be YES - IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.</p>
<p>Take both?</p>
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<p>Sigh I think this is telling enough.</p>
<p>I sort of suspect arghfrustrated was being sarcastic, but I’m not sure.</p>