Hi! I am currently a junior and beginning to decide which courses to take next year. I so far have taken 3 years of science (College Prep Bio, Honors Chem, and AP Physics 1) and received all As. I am interesting into going to an Ivy League or top school, but to study political science/ international relations. Will it look bad if I do not take a science next year, even if it is not what I am interested in studying? Thanks
Most of the other students that are applying will have 4 years of science. This is true for applicants that are targeting the Social Science/Humanities areas.
Check the college web pages for the requirements of the specific colleges (ivies and others) to which you would like to apply. Keep in mind there is a difference between looking outright “bad” and simply being a little less competitive an applicant (in one area of an otherwise holistic review) as your fellow hopefuls who do have the maximum suggested years.
Does your school offer AP Environmental Science? That might be a nice alternative. The knowledge you might glean from the class might be useful since the fact that global warming and pollution are hot button political issues, and it would count as the 4th year of science.
hmm that’s interesting… I’ve never thought about taking a science that could be applied into my other interests. I might do that! Thank you!
You can google the common data set for almost any college and look at section C5 and it will list the HS courses required/recommended by that institution.
That said, it never hurts to have 4 years of science and I think @Groundwork2022 had an excellent suggestion about looking into APES since you already have taken bio, chem, and physics.
What else would you be taking?
I second (third) APES due to your interests.
I am planning on taking classes like American foreign policy, AP Euro, APLAC, and others that fit my intended major closely next year. Also, I will be taking multi-variable calculus in the way of STEM next year since I am already taking AP Calc this year. The other sciences at my school besides APES that I could take are anatomy, astronomy, and others that I don’t think would be that applicable or personally interesting. I just don’t want admissions officers to think I am slacking off senior year by not taking a science, especially since it has an increasing importance in society.
With that schedule, you wouldn’t look like you’re slacking! APES would be a good choice since it’d be a good way to show intellectual curiosity and to learn about the interdependence between policy and science.
In terms of international relations and science, some countries are worried about their land completely disappearing if sea level rises.