Hi, so I am a junior planning on majoring in environmental science after high school. I was wondering which of these two classes would be the most beneficial for the major? Just some key points:
- I am currently in regular calculus at my high school. I am allowed to take AP my senior year, despite this.
- I have taken biology freshmen year and really enjoyed it
- I have taken chemistry 1/2 my sophomore year and really enjoyed it
So, I was wondering which of those would be best to take. I am able to choose two of those three courses. Let me know, thanks.
My son an Environmental Major graduate found all three AP classes helpful since all these subjects were course requirements for his major.
Calculus AB is the equivalent of a one semester college course. I don’t know how much slower regular calculus could be, but that’s a question for your math department.
Which two do you think he thought were the best?
Actually all 3 since his major required a year of each subject as lower division requirements. Although he could have gotten credit for AP Calculus AB, he is not a Math person so he felt it would be better to retake the Calculus course. Did not get AP credit for Biology or Chemistry which were major requirements but it definitely help to have prior knowledge since both the General Chem and Biology series were known as weeder classes.
I agree that all three would be useful. You seem to be in a bit of an odd situation:
If you only have 1/2 year of Chemistry, AP could be challenging.
Two AP science courses is always quite challenging.
If you’re taking a Calculus class already, Calc AB wouldn’t seem to add a lot more, as it’s an intro Calc class. Is regular Calc then Calc AB a normal sequence at your school? Did you take pre-Calc?
Bio seems to be the easy choice. The other depends on the questions above. (assuming you meant “which two of”, not “which of these two”. If it’s only one, then Bio)
No I took Calc because AP didn’t fit in my schedule. Normally people take pre-calc/trig then AP Calc. And I took Chemistry 1 and 2.
I don’t think taking a second year of Calc as AB would be a good idea. It won’t look very rigorous and you likely won’t learn much new. Two lab science classes can be a challenge, but if you can fit them, have done well, and enjoy them, that would seem to be the choice if limited to two of these three.
No other options at your school? You’ve taken at least 3, maybe 4, years of a language, at least one or two AP social studies classes, have no good elective options, etc?