<p>If you have the opportunity to take Calc, which is the hardest class you could potentially do well in, and choose to take a much much “jokier” AP, you have NOT taken the hardest course load possible.</p>
<p>I think taking non-AP Calculus would be preferable to taking AP Stats, if taking AP Calc is totally out of the question. Does your school have Honors</p>
<p>Calculus is a MAJOR jump in mathematical thinking and not being familiar with it will be a substantial handicap in college, even as a freshman, in many courses.</p>
<p>EDIT: Calculus is necessary to know for the economics classes required by IR. While the Math department does the job of teaching you Calculus, I would think your high school math teacher could provide a less harried, more relaxed introduction to the material.</p>
<p>EDIT: There are lots of cool stats classes at Brown, which you will be able to take regardless of AP Stats preparation, but many of which require calculus.</p>