Which is considered more "rigorous": AP Statistics or regular Calculus?

Applying to College
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Wondering if my rising Senior should take AP Stats or regular Calculus next year. Her interests are in Fine Arts and English and she will definitely NOT be on a STEM path in college. Our school offers a regular Calc class in addition to AP Calc AB and AP Calc BC, and the regular is supposedly a slower-paced version of AB. Daughter is doing very well in pre-Calc this year, but has no interest in either Calc or Stats. Stats might be more valuable to her in the future, but my question is about which is seen as more “rigorous” by admissions officers? I know AP Calc is seen as more rigorous than AP Stats, but is the same true for regular Calc?

She’ll likely be applying to an assortment of schools, ranging from more to less selective - say between 25% and 65% acceptance rates (with the higher end definitely seen as a reach.)

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Calc is seen as more rigorous, but AP stats might earn a higher rigor rating from the GC. Plus AP has the weighted GPA bump.

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Sorry - new to this: what is GC? It’s a good point about the GPA bump.

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Guidance counselor

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Ah, thanks!

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I suspect they would be seen about equal in terms of rigor by colleges and a GC (who you can ask).

For someone planning to pursue a non-STEM career, Stats will probably be more useful in life.

(See the TED talk on the topic by a fraternity brother of mine - Arthur Benjamin: Teach statistics before calculus! | TED Talk)

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7

For someone who will not need calculus, it can make sense to learn statistics instead.

However, someone who will learn calculus anyway may want to learn calculus first, because calculus may be helpful in getting a better understanding of statistics taught with calculus.

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As OP stated

she will definitely NOT be on a STEM path in college.

I doubt she is

someone who will learn calculus anyway

9

Also look at her potential major at potential colleges and see what their math requirements are for that major.