In short, I’m pretty sure that AP Calc will look better, as without it I won’t be taking a “core” math class this year (although I am in AP Computer Science), but feel that I will have more success and have a better time in AP Psychology. How much of a difference do you think taking Calc over Psychology will have in being accepted into colleges? For reference, I’m going to be applying to schools like Michigan, Michigan State, and Notre Dame, and plan to major in something in Social Science.
If you are applying for top schools, like you seem you are, it’s best to take calculus before college.
take both
It is useful to remember that Caclulus is a college-level math topic, and even then isn’t needed for many majors. If you aren’t going to need math beyond College Algebra or Stats for your likely major, take stats or consumer math this year. The real-life math content in one of those classes will be much more helpful for you than calculus would be.
Advantages of taking calculus:
- Selective colleges like Notre Dame will expect to see four years of math taken during high school.
- Many other applicants to very selective colleges (like Notre Dame) will have taken AP calculus. You are competing against them.
- You might test out of all or part of your college math requirement if your AP score is high enough.
- Even if your AP score isn't high enough to test out of your college math requirement, taking calc at college would be much easier after taking it in high school than if you had never taken any calc before.
- If your major should require anything more than basic statistics, more advanced statistics courses require calculus as a prerequisite. Taking calc in high school might cover that prerequisite if your AP score is high enough.
- If you don't take calc senior year, you will be rusty by the time you get to college.
^
Some social science majors like economics are likely to require calculus.