Next year is my senior year of high school and I have to choose between taking pre-calculus or statistics. I’m unsure of which class to choose because stats is new in our school, and not many people are aware of it. I plan on majoring in psychology in college and I’m TERRIBLE at math. If some one could explain the difference between the two and which is a better choice for me that would be great!
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Considering that you aren’t very fond of math, I would take statistics.
Pre-calculus is highly based on algebra and trigonometry. It requires you to think abstractly about problems and apply multiple skills acquired throughout the course. Ultimately, this is a Calculus preparation course.
Statistics is more number based. The math is not as complex as that of pre-calculus, but it has its own way of tackling problems. I would say it is somewhat “wordy” considering one has to explain graphs and charts. However statistics can be very useful in the world outside of high school.
Also considering that you want to be a psych major in college, I am pretty sure that it won’t require abstract math.
A benefit of taking is statistics is that you will have a very good foundation for the AP Statistics Test. If you self-study about 2 months before the test, you may pass it. This will earn you college credit (and you don’t have to pay outrageous amounts for courses) and it also looks nice on your resume.
Hope that helps.
Pre-calculus is more of a foundational math course whereas statistics is more of an elective.
Pre-calculus generally covers topics about functions, conic sections, trigonometry (big one), exponents and logarithms, vectors and complex numbers. (not in that order)
Statistics is exactly what it sounds like.
I think statistics is a very important class for psychology majors, seeing as though all the science in that field is taking large quantities of data and inferring things from it. However, I’d recommend taking a statistics course in college and taking pre-calculus in high school, because I think the college would require you to take a pre-calculus course anyways if you didn’t in high school (I’m not actually sure though), and you’d still have to take statistics as a psychology major (unless it’s AP Stats at your school and you get a 5 on the exam). Plus, like I said, pre-calc is more of a “core” math course. It’s harder that stats, and I think colleges would rather see that on your high school transcript.
I would think AP Stats would be more beneficial than PreCal for a Psychology major, but there is a good chance colleges will have you take a Calculus course, so I’d recommend PreCal.
Precalc. Stats should be taken as a compliment to a core math class, not instead of.
I agree with @guineagirl96. Pre-calculus is a much better choice.
Precalc
Literally same, I have no idea what to take. I want to go into psychiatrics but I need a ton of science and math courses which im not fond of. Any suggestions?
If you are going into Psychiatrics, that is, you want to he a Psychiatrist, you will be an MD and will need to take a ton of science courses in undergrad and a ton in Med school. For med school they often want someone to take Calculus so for you I would say Pre-calc.