Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 08:05     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Calc AB is more rigorous than AP Stats. Further Calc Ab is already the calc class for humanities leaning kids, serious math kids are taking Calc BC and often several years of advanced math after. Most kids take AP stats and Calc, not either or. Colleges know all of this.


It depends. Stats and Calc are two “different” math. I don’t think it fair or accurate to say one is more rigorous. I didn’t read rest.


What are you talking about? The rigor between these two AP tests is a known thing. Stats is considered one of the easier AP classes. AB Calc is medium. The main reason OP’s kid is moving down is to be in the easier class. Both my kids took AP stats and AP AB Calc at different private schools.


I am talking about the fact that for some kids, stats is easier, for some others, Calc is easier. AP Stats is not moving down from Ap Calc. I don't care what your kids took.


There are very few kids for whom Calc AB is easier than Stats. You just want to argue. OP’s own kid os switching out of the belief that Stats will be easier.


So you agree that it’s not cut and dry situation like you first stated


You have a problem with reading comprehension. Yes, different kids can find a generally considered easier math class harder for them. All AOs will not care because they all will think stats is easier than calc and the kid took the easier path.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 07:19     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DD took AP Calc (AB). She applied to a college where we found out after the fact that for her major, they would "only consider applicants taking AP Calc (BC)", but this ended up not true, had zero baring in her case and they offered her a place on that major.

So even when it's in writing there's not always a hard and fast rule about it, especially if they are looking at various other aspects of your application.


Which school and major requires AP Calc BC?


CalTech is the only school I am aware of with a requirement of Calculus is some form based on what is accessible.

https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/apply/preparing-for-caltech/selecting-high-school-courses
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 07:13     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Calc AB is more rigorous than AP Stats. Further Calc Ab is already the calc class for humanities leaning kids, serious math kids are taking Calc BC and often several years of advanced math after. Most kids take AP stats and Calc, not either or. Colleges know all of this.


It depends. Stats and Calc are two “different” math. I don’t think it fair or accurate to say one is more rigorous. I didn’t read rest.


What are you talking about? The rigor between these two AP tests is a known thing. Stats is considered one of the easier AP classes. AB Calc is medium. The main reason OP’s kid is moving down is to be in the easier class. Both my kids took AP stats and AP AB Calc at different private schools.


I am talking about the fact that for some kids, stats is easier, for some others, Calc is easier. AP Stats is not moving down from Ap Calc. I don't care what your kids took.


There are very few kids for whom Calc AB is easier than Stats. You just want to argue. OP’s own kid os switching out of the belief that Stats will be easier.


So you agree that it’s not cut and dry situation like you first stated
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 07:10     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Calc AB is more rigorous than AP Stats. Further Calc Ab is already the calc class for humanities leaning kids, serious math kids are taking Calc BC and often several years of advanced math after. Most kids take AP stats and Calc, not either or. Colleges know all of this.


It depends. Stats and Calc are two “different” math. I don’t think it fair or accurate to say one is more rigorous. I didn’t read rest.


What are you talking about? The rigor between these two AP tests is a known thing. Stats is considered one of the easier AP classes. AB Calc is medium. The main reason OP’s kid is moving down is to be in the easier class. Both my kids took AP stats and AP AB Calc at different private schools.


I am talking about the fact that for some kids, stats is easier, for some others, Calc is easier. AP Stats is not moving down from Ap Calc. I don't care what your kids took.


Yeah, sorry but I agree with the other poster. Sure, they're different, but so is addition and multiplication. One is generally considered easier to master than the other. Colleges view AP stats to be an easier class than AP calc. Yes, you can take both and many kids do, but if you finish your math sequence with stats instead of calc colleges will consider the sequence to be less rigorous.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 06:12     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:My DD took AP Calc (AB). She applied to a college where we found out after the fact that for her major, they would "only consider applicants taking AP Calc (BC)", but this ended up not true, had zero baring in her case and they offered her a place on that major.

So even when it's in writing there's not always a hard and fast rule about it, especially if they are looking at various other aspects of your application.


Which school and major requires AP Calc BC?
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 04:34     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Calc AB is more rigorous than AP Stats. Further Calc Ab is already the calc class for humanities leaning kids, serious math kids are taking Calc BC and often several years of advanced math after. Most kids take AP stats and Calc, not either or. Colleges know all of this.


It depends. Stats and Calc are two “different” math. I don’t think it fair or accurate to say one is more rigorous. I didn’t read rest.


What are you talking about? The rigor between these two AP tests is a known thing. Stats is considered one of the easier AP classes. AB Calc is medium. The main reason OP’s kid is moving down is to be in the easier class. Both my kids took AP stats and AP AB Calc at different private schools.


I am talking about the fact that for some kids, stats is easier, for some others, Calc is easier. AP Stats is not moving down from Ap Calc. I don't care what your kids took.


I think you’re confusing two things:

A. You’re saying for some kids, ap stats is harder than ap calc ab, so for those kids, electing for ap stats IS taking the harder math path.

What everyone else is saying:

B. ap calc ab is universality considered harder than ap stats by college admissions officers. Taking it over an ap calc class will be viewed as taking an easier path.

B is always true even if A happened to be true. If the school offers ap calc classes and the kid elects to not take them, it is viewed as taking an easier math path.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 02:31     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
My DD took AP Calc (AB). She applied to a college where we found out after the fact that for her major, they would "only consider applicants taking AP Calc (BC)", but this ended up not true, had zero baring in her case and they offered her a place on that major.

So even when it's in writing there's not always a hard and fast rule about it, especially if they are looking at various other aspects of your application.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 00:35     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Op, I would have gotten a tutor and given your kid a chance in AB. The school year has barely started.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 00:30     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
OP's kid is switching because Stats is a better fit and more useful as a humanities major.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 00:23     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Calc AB is more rigorous than AP Stats. Further Calc Ab is already the calc class for humanities leaning kids, serious math kids are taking Calc BC and often several years of advanced math after. Most kids take AP stats and Calc, not either or. Colleges know all of this.


It depends. Stats and Calc are two “different” math. I don’t think it fair or accurate to say one is more rigorous. I didn’t read rest.


What are you talking about? The rigor between these two AP tests is a known thing. Stats is considered one of the easier AP classes. AB Calc is medium. The main reason OP’s kid is moving down is to be in the easier class. Both my kids took AP stats and AP AB Calc at different private schools.


I am talking about the fact that for some kids, stats is easier, for some others, Calc is easier. AP Stats is not moving down from Ap Calc. I don't care what your kids took.


There are very few kids for whom Calc AB is easier than Stats. You just want to argue. OP’s own kid os switching out of the belief that Stats will be easier.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 20:19     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
[twitter]
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DP: My senior DC is similar to OP’s, but wants to be a psychologist. Does a psychology major need to take AP Calculus AB?

My DC is gifted verbally but has a math learning disability. My DC has received As in previous honors level math courses with the help of a tutor but AP Calculus AB is supposed to be much harder than the honors pre calculus class they took last year. DC is currently signed up for AP Stats instead.


What district? In MCPS, Honors Pre Calc is widely considered more difficult than Calc AB.

Psych majors at some colleges will need Calc as a pre requisite for some stats and other data science classes. You can take Calc in college though so it’s a question of whether it’s needed for admission. For highly selective colleges, successful taking of Calc will make for a stronger app. For most colleges below that top level, it’s not necessary.


This is true in many places. But it's that precalc is more difficult than AP Calc.

College Calculus, at least at ivy league schools, is more difficult.


Huh? AB is an AP course. I’m distinguishing it from BC. Colleges typically refer to the first semester calculus course as Calculus 1. We’re just talking about Honors Pre Calc vs AP Calc AB.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 19:59     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Calc AB is more rigorous than AP Stats. Further Calc Ab is already the calc class for humanities leaning kids, serious math kids are taking Calc BC and often several years of advanced math after. Most kids take AP stats and Calc, not either or. Colleges know all of this.


It depends. Stats and Calc are two “different” math. I don’t think it fair or accurate to say one is more rigorous. I didn’t read rest.


What are you talking about? The rigor between these two AP tests is a known thing. Stats is considered one of the easier AP classes. AB Calc is medium. The main reason OP’s kid is moving down is to be in the easier class. Both my kids took AP stats and AP AB Calc at different private schools.


I am talking about the fact that for some kids, stats is easier, for some others, Calc is easier. AP Stats is not moving down from Ap Calc. I don't care what your kids took.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 19:26     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh I hope he takes stats, OP! It’s a great class, arguably the most useful math class you can take in high school unless you’re headed to a math/engineering degree, and even then I’d argue it’s a valuable elective. It’s just so relevant to be an informed consumer of data.

I’m biased, I teach AP stats, but every year I have liberal arts kids who didn’t take calc but get into great schools. English majors at UVA, art majors at RISD, psych majors at Vtech. Not taking calc will keep them out of MIT or any competitive math program, but your humanities kid didn’t want to go there anyway.


I should add that my advice is always to look up your intended major at your desired schools. If that major requires calculus, you should take it in high school. If the major does not require calculus, then stats is probably an equal or better option.


Solid advice


Except that colleges directly compare rigor among kids applying from the same school.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 19:26     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Calc AB is more rigorous than AP Stats. Further Calc Ab is already the calc class for humanities leaning kids, serious math kids are taking Calc BC and often several years of advanced math after. Most kids take AP stats and Calc, not either or. Colleges know all of this.


It depends. Stats and Calc are two “different” math. I don’t think it fair or accurate to say one is more rigorous. I didn’t read rest.


What are you talking about? The rigor between these two AP tests is a known thing. Stats is considered one of the easier AP classes. AB Calc is medium. The main reason OP’s kid is moving down is to be in the easier class. Both my kids took AP stats and AP AB Calc at different private schools.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 19:10     Subject: Need advice: AP Stat vs AP Calc AB
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh I hope he takes stats, OP! It’s a great class, arguably the most useful math class you can take in high school unless you’re headed to a math/engineering degree, and even then I’d argue it’s a valuable elective. It’s just so relevant to be an informed consumer of data.

I’m biased, I teach AP stats, but every year I have liberal arts kids who didn’t take calc but get into great schools. English majors at UVA, art majors at RISD, psych majors at Vtech. Not taking calc will keep them out of MIT or any competitive math program, but your humanities kid didn’t want to go there anyway.


I should add that my advice is always to look up your intended major at your desired schools. If that major requires calculus, you should take it in high school. If the major does not require calculus, then stats is probably an equal or better option.


Solid advice