Right now I am really struggling in AP Bio. I barely manage to get a B last semester (82%) and I most likely failed this first test in 2nd sem. I plan on taking AP Chem next year but I don’t know if I’ll survive the class since I have heard it’s harder compare to Bio. The concepts of AP Bio are not hard for me but the applications are logic problems that require you to input your knowledge of the subject. Plus are tests are weighted 80% of each quarter and labs/mastering/homework barely change it at all. I have always been a math-oriented student so Chem just clicks for me. Should I take Chem next year or no? My current unweighted GPA is 3.94 out where the 2 B’s I received was Honors Chem(89% in 2nd sem because I didn’t try on final) and first-semester bio. The rest of my classes were A’s. What are your thoughts or advice? My intended career is pharmacy at Purdue.
If you want to go into pharmacy, I would definitely try to take AP Chem, even if you think you might get a B. Schools will be expecting it for that major, and it’ll help prepare you for chem classes in college – it’s better to get it over with now than try to catch up later!
It is a hard class, but it’s less about logic and more about math. Obviously you have to understand the concepts, but if you understood Honors Chem well, AP Chem will likely include a lot of units that build off of your previous knowledge (lots of kids in my class commented that AP Chem felt like a pretty seamless continuation of Honors Chem). Also, the AP exam for chem tends to test similar topics each year and there’s a lot of practice material online, so preparing for it is somewhat easier than for, say, a history class.
I would also ask other students at your school how they feel – having 80% of the grade be tests seems a little unusual to me, so maybe try to see what you can find out about how AP Chem is graded.
At our school, bio is objectively harder, but that’s due to the teacher really. Overall the consensus is that AP Bio is easier than AP chem.
They are both science classes, but they are different. Chem is more math oriented. For some people (my kids for example) that makes chem seen like the easier class.
If you are pre-pharmacy, you are going to need to know the info. I would make freshman year easier by taking it in high school.