I’m a sophomore and we’re doing scheduling next week, and I can’t choose! I have taken Bio Honors in freshman year and Chem Honors this year (we’re not allowed to take APs until junior year), and I really really really hated bio, because it was so much memorization. Chem, on the other hand, I really like. So, my current dilemma is that if I don’t take AP Bio, I can take AP Econ and AP Euro, which are both more relevant to my interests, and the career path I want to pursue. However, I want to get into the University of Pennsylvania, or other similar top colleges, and I am unsure how they will view this decision. I plan on taking AP Chem in senior year, by the way, so it’s not like I’ll completely stop taking science courses. Also, I am afraid that if I end up changing my mind and decide to pursue a career in STEM related field, rather than the humanities, this will have an adverse effect on my application. Please help!!
Colleges look more at your ACT and SAT scores. Getting scholarships is usually the reason people take so many AP’s and do so many extra curricular activities. Take the classes that help you in what you love. And take the required classes to graduate. Focus real hard on your ACT and SAT and colleges will love you.
AP Euro should be a breeze (prob because I was fascinated and loved to read about European history my entire life). Econ shouldn’t be too hard either.
I heard AP Bio is pretty soul crushing though.
bump
What about physics? You mention Honors Bio and Honors Chem, but not physics. It doesn’t have to be AP, but you should have all three during HS.
If you took H Chem this year, you should take AP Chem next year, then you can take a physics class senior year.
Choose AP Euro or AP Econ for next year, then take the other one senior year.
Well, then that answers your question. Take what interests you and is more aligned with future goals.
Penn, or any other college, will not think anything about this decision. In the 12-15 minutes spent reading a app, nobody has time to wonder, “Gee I wonder why whimsy did not take AP Bio?” For no college is AP Bio a prereq for admissions. Top colleges, like Penn, want you to take the most challenging courses you can handle, but do not specify any specific AP courses that must be taken.
I would recommend taking what you are more interested in. Go with AP Euro and AP Econ.
At my school, AP Euro was a lot of work but genuinely fun. AP Macro is awful, imo. AP Bio isn’t too bad.