Course selection [AP calculus AB versus AP statistics] and AP Score [4, 4, 3] question for highly selective college

[MYOS1634]

I agree the situation is different if the psychology major at the ED college requires calculus.
The universities I know don’t but either there was a more quantitative track or they were not STEM universities (ie, not GTech, VTech, Purdue, etc).
If the “20% acceptance rate” ED university requires calculus for the Psych major(ie., no alternative, no choice of track), then taking it as a HS student, perhaps as Honors Calc, perhaps by removing another class from the schedule, is a good idea. An alternative is finding a university that’s similar enough to ED College yet doesn’t require Calc for it’s psychology majors.
If the ED university doesn’t require calc, then taking AP stats is a better choice because senior year is stressful enough without adding a class the student isn’t ready for and is anxious about.

[Luna9]

Thanks everyone. A few points in no particular order:

1. Thanks for all the comments on reach, type of school required for grad school, etc. We are aware of all of this. She has a wide and balanced list, but wants to put forth the strongest application possible for her ED school. It is where she felt most at home on all of our many college visits.
2. Her ED school has a true test optional policy - about half the kids accepted don’t submit, so it’s not a gatekeeper. The ED acceptance rate is closer to 50% and the overall acceptance rate is 20%. She meets general profile for admitted students.
3. Her extra curricular is truly unique - there will only be about 50 kids with this activity/certifications graduating next year in the entire country. This year out of the 50 seniors in the program, 20 were admitted to ivy leagues, and several to highly rejective schools. So, the activity truly should give her a boost.
4. There is no regular calc option at her school.
5. She thinks she’s going to talk to the teacher and find out more the first week, and then make a decision whether to switch to AP stats. mental health is important to her.
6. we know she will need grad school and we know it doesn’t matter where she goes for undergrad. That said, our family has decided to support her desire to ED to this school, and yes we know that ED is a commitment if accepted.

[tsbna44]

@Luna9

mental health is important to her.

This is very important. But she will need to balance this going forward as well once at school.

No matter where she goes there will be academic challenges and stress

The good news is - whatever she decides to do - whether she gets into this college or another - she’ll have a chance for a great education.