No math, AP Stats, or AP Calc?

Hello All! Upon struggling immensely in Precalculus Honors, I found myself pondering my fate in regard to math senior year. With little room in my schedule, my advisor and other trusted adults suggested I not take AP Calculus AB, at the risk of wearing myself out with an already rigorous schedule and losing my study hall. Since there is really no room in my schedule for math, and I cannot bear to sacrifice my other classes, I am unsure how to approach this situation to both gain a balanced school year and a competitive academic repertoire. I am considering taking either Calc AB or AP Stats online, gaining a head start in the summer as to avoid the stress of starting one of those classes concurrently with my other demanding classes and commitments. I am hoping to major in humanities, so I have catered my schedule to better suit that plan. I do hope to attend a more challenging, and perhaps prestigious university, and I fear that although math is not really necessary for my desired career, my lack of it may still make me a less appealing applicant. Some individuals have expressed concern for my lack of math, while others have encouraged me to delve deeper solely into the subjects that I find more naturally engaging. My friend has told me that compared to our schools Precalculus class (which is designed to be strikingly difficult), AP Calc is a bit of a breeze. I am considering AP Stats, which has been known to be more well-suited for those who find humanities to be an easier realm, but fear that AP Stats will further amplify my lack of Calculus, especially with its reputation for being the easier alternative. I have also been told that it is better to take Calc in high school, as there is more time to understand it than in college. What do you all suggest? As for some context, I am going beyond the average student at my school in terms of humanities courses, as I hope to be an anthropology/linguistics major. I previously almost breezed through all of my other math courses, but, much to my dismay, got a B- in Precalc. Like I said, my Precalc program is known for being challenging to a unique degree, so I wonder, if perhaps it actually prepared me for Calculus. Should I attempt Calculus, with the risk of bringing down my GPA? (Though in theory, since I will be starting in the summer and it is separate from my school I may be able to drop it/spend more time understanding it). Should I take statistics, and risk a less competitive schedule? Or should I let go of both, risking my appearance as a student, but ensuring a less stressful year? Thank you!!

Also, feel free to check my previous thread to see a more thorough explanation of my specific classes, etc! Thank you!

If “humanities” means literature or arts, then calculus will not be required for your major (although some colleges may have it as a general education requirement). Statistics is a good thing to know generally, even if not required for your major.

If you may major in philosophy or apply to law school later, strong logical thinking will be helpful. Among high school subjects, math and computer science are the most related subjects for logical thinking practice.

If you wrote “humanities” inclusive of social sciences (sociology, psychology, economics, anthropology, history, etc.), then statistics is a good thing to know for your major, and may be required. Some social science majors at some colleges do require calculus (economics in particular).

If you do need to take calculus for your major or college general education, AP calculus AB in high school covers material at a slower pace than calculus in college will. However, in college, there may also be an easier calculus-for-business-majors course.

Here are some quizzes to help you determine if you are ready for calculus, if you choose to take it:

http://math.buffalo.edu/rur/rurci3.cgi
https://calcworkshop.com/calculus-readiness-test/
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/ns46/136/ready.pdf

You need a math class.
For linguistics or anthropology you won’t need to take Calculus in college.
So the best move seems to be AP statistics.

I’d also vote for AP Stats in your case. It’s not an “ideal” choice, but if the rest of your application is strong enough and you are not going for a STEM degree, it won’t be a dealbreaker either.

Only skimmed thru this post, way too long. But your peers who are applying to prestigious colleges are taking math, often Calculus. Even if they are planning on majoring in something entirely out of the sciences. So you can understand what this will do to your attractiveness as a candidate.

Instead of trying to game admissions, why not try to figure out why you are “struggling immensely” in pre-calc. Not studying enough? Not studying effectively? Given you see yourself as attending a top college we can assume it’s not lack of ability. Rest assured that in college even non-STEM classes are going to require good study habits. Right in front of you is evidence there is room for improvement. It’s better to figure this out in HS than wait for it to show up again in college.

I agree with the above posters that for your major calculus is not required. Statistics would be a good choice as many social science majors require a Stats class of some sort. If you don’t want to take it as an AP, could you complete it online? Our very competitive high school in MA also has a Math for Economics type class which is CP leveled and is geared toward finances and budgeting and the types of math you actuallly use in every day life.

“Even if they are planning on majoring in something entirely out of the sciences. So you can understand what this will do to your attractiveness as a candidate.”

The OP actually understands this, which you would have known had you actually read the post.

“I do hope to attend a more challenging, and perhaps prestigious university, and I fear that although math is not really necessary for my desired career, my lack of it may still make me a less appealing applicant.”

“Instead of trying to game admissions”

This is not about gaming admissions, again something you may have picked up if you read the post, it’s about making a tough decision while balancing college requirements, stress, a packed schedule senior year among other things.

Anyway OP, I have also heard that precalc honors is the toughest math course at high schools. If Calc is easier or at least graded easier, you may want to consider AB, but I wouldn’t do it online, to get the benefit of APs, you pretty have to take them in your high school.

“Since there is really no room in my schedule for math, and I cannot bear to sacrifice my other classes,”

Not having math will not be good and I’m putting that mildly. You’ll need math in senior year at your high school for most if not all, selective colleges, so I actually would start with AB. You’ll be at a disadvantage for any college that analyzes transcripts for rigor. You don’t need Calculus but you need math. These would be rankings of our options

  • Calc AB - if you can chat with people who took it and if they say it's a reasonable workload, the pace isn't too fast, I'd pick this.

-Stats - easier senior year but it will not look good to admissions that you took stats when calc was available

  • no math class, if it means you sacrifice one of your other courses, you should do it.

First question - aren’t you required to have a math class to graduate? All schools around here require 4 years of math.

Even if not, some math on your senior schedule will be beneficial to both college admissions and you, in the long run. Statistics is typically more beneficial to a majority of humans in their life. (Fraternity brother of mine - https://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_teach_statistics_before_calculus/transcript?language=en ).

As you’re not a STEM applicant, I don’t see a lack of Calc being a big issue. So add my vote for AP Stats.

It also depends exactly what OP means by “challenging, even prestigious” schools. D19 got into a T30 with stats in senior year, while many of her classmates did calc (some of whom got rejected from her college). And yes I know that’s a sample of one…

Do you have enough math with PreCalc to graduate from your high school?

If so, technically, you are done. If not, you need to come up with another math class.

What math classes does your high school offer? Are there only AP classes after PreCalc or are there some other options? If you just need a 4th year of math, you could take Consumer Math or Not-AP-Calc/Stats/College Algebra.

What college/university is your true safety (guaranteed admission, guaranteed to be affordable, offers your major, happy to attend if all else goes wrong)? What are your current reasonably safe options and what are their admissions requirements? What are your current match options and ditto? If you are truly happy with your true safety, reasonably safe, and match list you might find that you don’t need any more math next year.

Math does, as other posters have stated, teach one logical thought. And it is definitely a good skill to have. So, I’m in the camp that a math class your senior year would be advantageous.

Stats would suffice, IMHO, if your intended major is humanities. It might even be the best class for the major. For STEM majors their world revolves around calculus but it doesn’t for most of the rest. Pre-calc, if you really understand it, is enough math for those non-STEM majors and will provide the logical thought process one needs.

Humanities covers a wide area. Look into possible career paths. See what those paths require. Talk to people in the field, if you can, to see what math skills they use.

FYI:

Math is a visual, spatial skill. It may not seem so at first glance but it is. You need to visualize the problem and the solution before you can formulate a way to solve it. The people who I know that struggle with math typically either don’t really study the subject or want to just follow a set proceedure to solve a problem. Not studying, or not studying the right way, is an obvious issue. For the others, a slight tweek to the problem and the proceedure that they are following now doesn’t work.

Problem is that math is a set of knowledge that builds on itself. If you struggled in pre-calc, calculus could easily turn into a disaster. If you want a summer math class, go back and retake pre-calc so that you truely do know the subject. Make and use charts and graphs wherever possible to aid your understanding. Find a study buddy to take the class with you or help tutor you if you can. Then, if you need to take calculus in college, you’ll be ready.