<p>Hi guys,
I am currently a junior and have to pick my classes for senior year. I'm in a dilemma over which AP classes to pick, so I need some help. I am definitely taking AP physics, Gov AP, English 4AP and Computer sci. AP; however, I cannot decide my 5th. Should I take AP Environmental Science or AP stats, which is the only math I can take because I'm currently taking calc BC. I'm leaning more towards Environmental Science solely because I heard it's easier, but will taking stats be more beneficial? My ideal college is Stanford and I want to major in Mechanical Engineering, so are these choices good for such a competitive school?
Thanks!</p>
<p>bump. anyone?!?</p>
<p>I’d guess that an extra year of math would be better than environmental science if you plan on going for engineering. Plus, prob & stats is typically an easy AP.</p>
<p>Neither AP environmental science nor AP statistics is worth any credit at Stanford:</p>
<p>[Office</a> of the University Registrar - AP Credit Chart | Student Affairs](<a href=“http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/registrar/students/ap-charts]Office”>http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/registrar/students/ap-charts)</p>
<p>Knowledge of statistics is generally useful in a lot of areas. However, the [url=<a href=“Stanford Login - Stale Request”>Stanford Login - Stale Request]checklist[/url</a>] for mechanical engineering at Stanford indicates that at least one calculus-based statistics course is required anyway.</p>
<p>thanks ucbalumnus! I think i’ll sign up for stats now. :)</p>
<p>Do you have an option to take courses at a local college? Even at schools that do accept them, AP environmental science and statistics are typically credited against only a semester course each (so they would be considered lightweight AP courses if your high school spends a year on them). So you may be able to get a true college level statistics course in a semester (perhaps even a calculus-based statistics course if offered).</p>
<p>Other schools’ mechanical engineering programs may or may not require statistics, but if they do, they would likely require a calculus based course (i.e. AP statistics would not count).</p>
<p>AP Environmental Science is not highly valued at most colleges, and I’d guess that AP Stats would look more impressive and be of more use to you. Plus you’ve already got AP Physics as a science.</p>