<p>My son is homeschooled and has some great standardized test scores. But I have some specific questions....</p>
<p>1) Beyond the summary transcript, is a list of books/materials used enough in terms of course detail? He has had a mix of online-courses and courses that we have put together ourselves using books, video lectures, on-line resources for labs, etc.</p>
<p>2) For his senior year math we are still deciding between calculus and AP Statistics. I believe stats is much more worthwhile given his likely academic and career paths. However, will not taking calculus be seen (at Tufts and elsewhere) as less than the most rigorous choice? </p>
<p>Thanks for any guidance!</p>
<p>I would call or email the admissions department directly with these questions. Too important to rely on the advice of a bunch of internet strangers 
Though most people who answer questions in this forum are knowledgeable, or at least well-intentioned 
Still I would want to hear it directly from the university.
I was surprised that I couldn’t find anything on their website…</p>
<p>Generally speaking Statistics is considered a little less rigorous, but I do think an argument can be made that it would be more useful. My son (in IR) now wishes he’d taken it. I am sure there are students who have “only” AP Stats and probably some who have neither AP course.</p>
<p>You’ll have to ask admissions what they want to see for the transcript.</p>
<p>Thanks! Yes it would be great to get the answer directly from someone in the admisions office. I actually posted this, in part, because of the recent thread welcoming a new Tufts rep, but we are not supposed to specifically ask for his commentary. However, he himself said to reach out if we wanted his input… So, while not wanting to name him speciifically, if someone with a job title that rhymes with Tufts shmadshmissions shmepresentative wants to shed some light it would be appreciated greatly!</p>
<p>Otherwise, I certainly can ask directly. I have asked this same question at a few of the Spring college tours that have come our way and the answers have been a bit vague…</p>
<p>Anyway, just meant the above in good humor. No worries if this is beyond what they want to talk about in this forum.</p>
<p>Statistics will be seen as a less rigorous course than calc.
My son, who was headed for engineering, took both AP Calc (BC) and AP Stat his senior year, but that was because he (a) took no foreign language that year, and (b) wanted to play to his strengths and his intended major.
If an intended academic path will require statistics, then he’ll have plenty of opportunity to take stat (at a choice of level of difficulty) in college. I would recommend the calc now.</p>
<p>Tufts offers a number of one semester statistics courses,at the introductory level (prereqs mostly algebra and a tiny bit of calculus), at advanced (econometrics, self-study, research methods) and even more advanced levels (Math 161/162, graduate courses). I personally think that statistics is fascinating, and even more so when taken it’s taught at a higher level. But to get to that level, you need calculus.</p>
<p>I would take AP Calculus and make sure that statistics is on the radar for college. It’s a great class, but there’s a certain sort of background that makes it even more fascinating.</p>