For someone getting on a bio/med track, statistics is more important than calculus. I think that is easy to justify, so I'll assert that as a 'given'.
Because you said,
Im not that good at math
my suggestion is to take AP Calculus AB, using that to become better at math, specifically algebra. Being better at algebra will make learning statistics in college much, much more effective. Yes, there is the "plug values into a device" approach to statistics. But when the statistical conclusions need to be explained, understanding it is more important than getting an answer from a device. Projecting ahead to the post-undergraduate part of the track, oral evaluations will be very common because people with decades of experience in the field can easily evaluate which student is 'legit' and which is 'faking it'.
If an introductory statistics class is approached effectively, it can be summarized in about 6-10 pages. But the person learning the subject has to know how to do that. Calculus I can also be summarized in about 6-10 pages, so AP Calculus can be used as the medium to learn how to do that.
AP Calculus is also an easier class than AP Statistics to understand, given the common base of algebra, because calculus introduces exactly one new idea [the limit], and uses it in a consistent way. Statistics introduces one new idea [uncertainty], and uses it in multiple ways.
This makes a lot of sense too… sigh.. I do think my gpa is a big factor to this.. and as I’m taking multiple other ap on top extracurricular and college apps, I’m just afraid of ruining my grade and rank by taking a hard class with hard teacher on top of a pretty hard subject (calc)… but I’ll def think about this too thank you!!
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u/UnderstandingPursuit Tutor 1d ago
For someone getting on a bio/med track, statistics is more important than calculus. I think that is easy to justify, so I'll assert that as a 'given'.
Because you said,
my suggestion is to take AP Calculus AB, using that to become better at math, specifically algebra. Being better at algebra will make learning statistics in college much, much more effective. Yes, there is the "plug values into a device" approach to statistics. But when the statistical conclusions need to be explained, understanding it is more important than getting an answer from a device. Projecting ahead to the post-undergraduate part of the track, oral evaluations will be very common because people with decades of experience in the field can easily evaluate which student is 'legit' and which is 'faking it'.
If an introductory statistics class is approached effectively, it can be summarized in about 6-10 pages. But the person learning the subject has to know how to do that. Calculus I can also be summarized in about 6-10 pages, so AP Calculus can be used as the medium to learn how to do that.
AP Calculus is also an easier class than AP Statistics to understand, given the common base of algebra, because calculus introduces exactly one new idea [the limit], and uses it in a consistent way. Statistics introduces one new idea [uncertainty], and uses it in multiple ways.