AP Calc bc or AP Stat

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bnbn203

5-Year Member
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Jun 3, 2012
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Hi I am a junior right now and I am in AP Calc ab. My teacher isn't the best, and in the past years, students have complained about his teaching methods. I was wondering if next year I should take AP Calc bc or AP Stat. Thanks you for your time.
 
No brainer, imo. Calc.

For while it might well be that you'd learn more math from the top-shelf Stats teacher, IF your issue is USNA appointment, which we must assume in light of your message and its locale, what the Admissions Committee will see and know is ... Calc ... or Stat.

And what they prefer is Calc.

Go at it and work your tail off to get it would be my counsel.
 
Agree with WP. Especially, if the only issue you are mentioning is the teacher!

My teacher isn't the best, and in the past years, students have complained about his teaching methods.
Click to expand...

Think of the many options/resources you have in getting help....after school hours with the instructor, other teachers, other students, etc. etc. Trust me, even at USNA you might have this problem and you have to deal with it.
 
Thanks for the info. I was leaning towards wanting to take Calc, but was wondering if it would make a big impact.
 
I was a candidate last year who unfortunately got the TWE, but I am also a reapplicant this year. I began the summer of 2011 at the first session of the Naval Academy Summer Seminar and we were instructed multiple times -- at seminars, classes, speeches, presentations, etc. -- to NOT take Stats. While it looks good that it is AP, it is of no use for admissions purposes. If you want to be competitive (and prepared for that matter) take Calculus.
 
You will have to take Calculus at the Academy, so taking Stats in lieu of Calculus just makes your Plebe year unnecessarily harder than it needs to be.

Off topic observation: Stats and Probability at 10x more useful in real life than is Calculus, except for those who pursue careers in Engineering or Physics. However, with the Academy's commitment to graduate 65% of Ensigns with STEM degrees, the preference for Calculus is clear.
 
Wouldn't disagree about usefulness in life. Problem is we're talking more immediately about competitiveness for a USNA apptment AND preparation for Plebe academics.

Stick with what the BGO/ex-Mid recommends. Calculus. Take your stats as your math major or as complement to research for your masters degree.
 
USNA does not consider h.s. stats to be a math course. We can agree or disagree with that position, but that's what USNA has stated. When asked whether someone should take calc or stats, USNA said calc.

The above said, if you've already taken calc and chem and physics and want an extra, solid course that will help you at USNA, I'd add stats to the mix. But not at the expense of calc.
 
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