Take AP Stats or AP Macro?!?!

ucbalumnus
Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:30:05 +0000

In some universities, the introductory economics course is a single course, for which AP Economics credit may be allowed if you do well enough on both the micro and macro tests.

AP Statistics is non-calculus based; it is likely that economics majors at good universities will have to take a calculus based statistics course. If that is the case at the university that you attend, then AP Statistics will not give any worthwhile credit, although the material may be of some help in the university statistics course.

Note that the economics major in universities is often heavy in math, at least if you are considering graduate school in economics. Calculus and university sophomore level math (multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations) would be typical courses (these are the same math courses that physics, chemistry, and engineering majors take). Some universities offer a “light math” version of the economics major requiring just freshman calculus, though it is less suitable for those planning graduate school in economics.

At most universities, the most useful AP tests will be English and Calculus (preferably BC).