AP Bio or APES?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi, I am a junior interested in studying chemical engineering and I’m wondering if it’s better for me to take AP Bio or APES next year. AP Bio seems like it’s more suited to my future, especially since I’m planning to go to grad school and get a masters in either biotech or biochem. However, the class at my school is pretty bad and the teachers have bad reputations. APES is the class I want to take since it’s easier (I don’t want to overload my senior year; I’d rather focus on my extracurriculars).

What do you recommend?

2

For your reaches, which are mighty reachy, and engineering, no question: AP bio.

And you’ve got robotics, but anything else math-sci and collaborative, in hs?

3

@lookingforward I have some other math/science stuff, but not collaborative.

I am applying to some selective summer programs (Boston RISE/SIMR) though. I don’t know if that counts as collaborative?

4

What does your current schedule look like and are you doing well?
What would your total schedule look like senior year?

5

@MYOS1634:

Junior Year Schedule:

  • English 11 Honors
  • Physics Honors
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP US History
  • Analysis Honors (basically precalc)
  • AP Statistics
    **All A’s, have never gotten a B in my life.

Planned Senior Year Schedule:

  • AP English Language
  • AP Physics
  • AP Bio/APES
  • Econ/AP Macro
  • AP Calc BC
  • Nanotechnology
6

Would that be AP physics C?
If so, I’d recommend against taking AP Bio alongside physics C. It doesn’t have to be APES though. AP cs would be a possible replacement, (principles if you want an easier and broader exposition to cs CS A if you want a narrower ‘coding’ class.) Or Cs non AP.
Have you reached level 4 in a foreign language?

7

@MYOS1634 I finished AP Spanish in sophomore year, and I don’t like coding at all, so APCS is out of the question for me.

Yes, it would be AP Physics C. Can I ask why taking bio and physics c is discouraged?

8

bump

Feedback would be greatly appreciated, my course selection is due in a couple of days!

9

AP cs principles is specifically not about finding, but about all the ways cs is part of our lives. It is very project based.

Physics C is basically the hardest AP science course offered. It requires hardcore dedication, a good mastery of calculus and a good background in physics.
Taking it alongside z time intensive class such as AP biology is a recipe for disaster.
Generally speaking AP Bio will lead to natural science majors and pre-med. AP physics C is for future engineers.
So, since APES would be an elective and not ‘the’ science class you take senior year (which would be PhysicsC), you’re free to take APES if you wish, or something else you find fun.
The rest of the schedule is very ambitious.