AP Statistics or PLTW Aerospace Engineering for a Mechanical Engineering Major?

ucbalumnus
Tue, 07 Aug 2018 22:35:23 +0000

PLTW will help you determine how interested in engineering you really are. AP statistics will not likely be useful for subject credit in an engineering major in college, since engineering majors that require statistics are likely to require calculus-based statistics. AP statistics may be somewhat helpful in determining interest in industrial engineering, which is heavily statistics-based, but you seem to be more interested in mechanical engineering for which the PLTW course will be more helpful in determining your interest for.

For UC purposes, calculus validates all lower high school math except geometry (i.e. algebra 1, algebra 2, precalculus/trigonometry). Assuming that you took an actual geometry course (or integrated math courses that include geometry) in high school or middle school, completion of calculus easily fulfills UC math requirements and expectations for frosh applicants. See page 17 of http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/quick-reference-2017.pdf for validation of math courses.