I have read previous threads and the answer seems to be inconsistent. Are AP Stats and AP Calc AB on par with rigor? Planning on Non-Stem major in college, but dream university doesn’t consider major in application. Would it be a mistake to go from Pre-Calc junior year to AP Stats senior year, rather than to AP Calc AB senior year? Will not have an AP Science course on transcript either, so I am concerned about AP Stats being considered weak comparative to AP Calc AB.
Stat
For some highly selective schools, competitive applicants will choose rigorous courses in all subject areas, so humanities majors will include rigorous math courses, and science majors will include rigorous English courses.
Regarding the AP calculus versus AP statistics question, AP calculus is often considered more rigorous, although AP statistics may be more generally useful for those who will not take another math or statistics course in college. However, if you need to use statistics (e.g. for some social science majors), you may need or want to take a more in-depth calculus-based statistics course, in which choosing AP calculus now makes sense.
Regarding the AP science question, have you taken all three of biology, chemistry, and physics (not necessarily at the AP level)?
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If your school is a rigor seeking school, given you don’t have the science chops, you’d be better with the AP Calc.
Take a look at your top choices and see what they recommend. My daughter was waitlisted at u mich and Wisconsin, I’m assuming it’s because she took AP stats instead of AP calc. Wisconsin explicitly states that they don’t count stats as a math class.
Thank you. Yes, have taken bio, chem and physics, and will take two 1 semester science electives my senior year, just not AP. Will also take an AP language, AP Lit and AP Gov.
AP Stats gets a wide swath of kids. Kids not super strong in math who take it in lieu of AP Calc. Then you get the kids who have finished up Calc BC and need another math so they take Stats, then you have the strong math kids who take Calc and Stats at the same time. So being in the first group may put one at a disadvantage compared to other kids.
For Calc AB everyone has followed the same math pathway.
Despite our concerns, our kid took both at the same time, along with AP Bio and AP Physics 2, AP Lang and AP Gov. 6 APs is a lot, plus a DE. He is doing fine, and appreciates
what he has learned, but it’s intense at times.
What grade are you getting in Precalculus ?
Is it Precalculus or Precalculus H?
Are you aiming for Harvard/Yale/Williams/Stanford/Pomona type colleges (what are your targets?)
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I think these are the key questions. To elaborate from my point of view:
(1) If you are not aiming for the most elite colleges, AP Stats is absolutely fine and in fact, could be very interesting and useful. It could definitely be the right choice for many students. But, if you are aiming for the most elite colleges, choosing not to take AP Calculus when it is available at your school will be viewed unfavorably. It is clearly a step down. Others may chime in to say “not necessarily” or how useful Stats is, but if you want the honest answer, Stats will absolutely be viewed unfavorably in your particular case by the most elite schools.
(2) Whether you are currently taking Honors or regular Precalculus and your grade are also important factors. Despite what I wrote above, if you are struggling in Precalculus, perhaps better to take Stats and do well than take Calculus and end up with a C. On the other hand, if you are currently taking Honors Precalculus and doing well, you should absolutely elect to take Calculus next year. There is no reason to step down in rigor.
To put it another way, your situation is different whether you are getting an A in precalculus honors and intend to major in Economics, or are in regular precalculus intending to double major in Poli sci&Geography or Psychology.
Another factor is what colleges are your targets: very few colleges expect calculus but some do. If these colleges are on your list AND you are doing well in precalculus/honors, then there’s little choice for social science majors.
(There’s more leeway, even at the few above colleges, if your goal is to major in Art, Performing Arts, or Humanities, and your ECs back that up. And outside this handful of colleges, most colleges do NOT expect social science majors to have calculus in HS, except perhaps for economics¬ always -the norm is to be “calculus-ready”)
What level of college is your child aspiring to?
Earning an A in regular PreCalc, not honors. Previously in Honors Geo and Honors Algebra II but had to step down to regular Algebra II mid year due to illness and got behind but I think I am showing a rebound. Aiming for UVA, undecided major but plan to attend law school after graduation. EC’s include court/law related activities. These are really helpful insights, thank you!
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So, you completed regular Algebra2 and regular precalculus with As.
It means AP Calc AB is possible but will likely be a heavy lift.
Ask your math teacher 1° how much of a heavy lift for you specifically 2° if the school offers honors Calc instead of AP Calc and 3° if students who took Precalculus H go straight to Calc BC or are mixed with Reg Precalculus students in AB?
Another element to take into account is what other classes you’ll be taking senior year - keeping in mind that, due to your choice of major (prelaw can be anything that requires a lot of reading, writing, and analysis) you’ll need maximum rigor in your Humanities&Social science classes: your pick from AP European History, AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Art History, AP Lit, AP African-American History, AP Foreign Language, AP lit would all matter if your school offers them and you’ve not taken them yet. Senior science electives would be 100% fine but beside that and 1 math the 3-4 others would have to be high rigor courses in these subjects.
(Do you already know what clasees you’d be taking? How do you feel about the workload as is, keeping in mind all Seniors have an extra, invisible class in the Fall “college applications”?)
Would you be able to devote the considerable time required for calculus (I’m assuming you’ll take the class along with students who completed Algebra2H&PrecalculusH with a B or higher, unless your school has a special track for them - and as such they will be the “target middle” for your math teacher)?
Separate issue: Do you want to?
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My current teacher says I it will be a challenge but that I am capable if I prioritize. Honors precalc students can go either Calc AB or BC, non honors can only go Calc AB. There is no regular Calc offering. I am only interested in taking AP Calc to the extent I want to do everything possible to submit my best application. I think AP stats is more useful for my future, but AP Calc might be more useful for admission and I am willing to do the work if that is what it takes. Currently I am taking AP Lang and APUSH, with As. Senior year I will take AP Foreign Language, AP Lit, AP Gov, science electives each semester and either AP Stats or AP Calc AB. I would consider AP Bio with AP stats if that would be a significantly stronger transcript but I do not think AP Bio with AP Calc AB is reasonable for me. If I take AP Calc I need to stay with non AP science electives.
2 senior science electives is perfectly fine and is unlikely to change anything at all.
Is there another AP Humanities/Social Science (or Honors) you could take so you’d have 6 academic classes - unless your 6th class is sth you’ve been doing for all of Hs like Band, Choir, or Art?
If your teacher thinks it’s possible if you prioritize it but will be a struggle otherwise, it seems that AP Stats would be a better use of your time - because Senior year is not when you want to be spending twice as much time on a class just for a maybe-advantage in Admissions, and risk your grades (or your sanity) in all other classes. 
Again, what level colleges are you aiming for? If you are hoping to be admitted to an elite/hyper-competitive college then the AOs will likely be looking for students who take the highest level of rigor in academics offered at their HS. For the vast majority of colleges, I think AP Stats and science electives would be fine.
IMO it is wise to not overload senior year as you will be spending time on the college application process.
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The dream school is UVA, which I know is a reach for everyone. Without having an AP/high rigor science that my HS does offer I want to make sure the rest of my application is strong enough which is why the AP Stats/AP Calc decision factors in. You all have given great advice.
Not as heavy a lift compared to taking calculus in college, which will be at a faster pace with less hand holding than calculus AB in high school.
OP will not be a STEM major in college so may be able to avoid calculus.
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