I would like to major in the humanities in college, possibly art history. I wanted to take AP Art Historyl next year, but I would then have to take out multivariable calculus from my schedule. Both classes are only available in one period. Which one should I pick? MVC is the highest math class available at my school, so I’m thinking colleges would like to see that. But Art History is more aligned with my college plans. If I do pick art history, I would take AP Statistics as the required math class. If I pick MVC, I would take AP European History or AP World History as a social studies spot.
Art history makes more sense as a prospective student of the humanities and as someone who has already maxed out the available math courses at their school. I would feel comfortable with taking AP Stats.
Remember that AP Stats is very challenging so it may be an advantage to take it during high school, when you can surely devote more time to it.
Art History. If you are through BC calc successfully (assume you are), no one would expect more unless you plan on a math-intensive college major.
Since you’re planning to major in Art History or Humanities, AP Stats + AP Art History would make more sense and would confirm to colleges that you are, indeed, interested in the major you’re saying you’re interested in.
+1 for Art History.
Plus a vote for remembering that HS is not just a pathway to college or about somehow proving something to college adcomms: it is an important time in your life in it’s own right. Doing something that is genuinely interesting to you has value and is entirely appropriate (in fact, MIT recommends it: Applying Sideways | MIT Admissions)
Luckily, in this case it is not even hard to square the circle: you will presumably be looking at their Art History departments when you start shortlisting colleges to apply to, making this an easy piece of the ‘why this college’ essay.
Assuming you’ve taken Calculus AB or BC, you don’t have to take M/V calc, you can take stats or a/h, so yeah go with your interest, a/h.
I would recommend MVC. Check the college you want to apply to and see if they offer credit for AP art history.
I would agree with the majority. If you have taken AB or BC Calc already then AP Art History + AP Stat would be perfectly fine, especially given your interests.
AP Art History was one of my STEM kid’s favorite classes in all 4 yeas of high school. Take it.
Multivariable calculus is unlikely to be necessary for a humanities major (though you can take it in college if you want). Of the humanities majors, philosophy does make use of logical thinking for which math gives practice, but multivariable calculus is not specifically better than other math courses for this. Statistics is generally useful, though if you are strong in math and find statistics interesting and/or useful, you may want to take calculus based statistics in college.
If you are considering art history as a major, taking art history in high school may be a good way to see how interesting the subject is before you have to decide what college to attend (i.e. so you know whether to place importance on whether a college’s art history major is good).
Colleges will not care. AP Art History + AP Stats is a legitimate option, and one probably better suited for you.
I concur…AP Art History and AP Stats.
Multivariable would only be useful if you were an engineering major…even if you were pre-med or something you wouldn’t need it.
The only reason I think MVC would make any sense is if you REALLY love math, might minor in it in college, otherwise Art History for sure. AP Stats is an excellent real world-type class to take.