AP Biology or AP Chemistry or AP Physics C for potential CS major?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi all,

I am planning for my 11th grade courses and have some questions.
I intend on majoring in Computer Science in the future and am deciding between AP Biology or AP Chemistry or AP Physics C. I will be concurrently taking AP Calculus as well.
I feel like if I take AP Physics C in 11th grade, I won’t do very well because of the work load of other courses and also because I am concurrently taking calculus. Do you think it is okay for me to leave AP Physics C for 12th grade when I finished calculus? Or does this put me at a disadvantage in terms of college admissions?
Between AP Bio and AP Chem, I find AP Bio more interesting. I have also heard that AP Chem progresses at a fast rate. I am not sure which one to choose and which one will help me in my college admissions. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

(By the way, I have already took AP CS A.)

Thank you all so much!

2

Yes

No

One is not valued more by admissions. It’s your choice. Pick the better teacher or the one that has more 5’s or flip a coin.

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It doesn’t matter to the colleges which one you take. I’d recommend that you take the one with the best teacher. If that’s not an issue, then I’d recommend you take AP Bio, because it gives you a basic understanding of biology that will be of use in helping you to understand things about medical care, even if you don’t ever take another biology class.

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There’s little difference to admissions to which science AP you take. Take the one that interests you, in which you will do well, has the best teacher, etc.

Taking a course in 11th vs. 12th grade makes no difference.

5

It’s smart that you realize Physics will be too much for you.

There are plenty of fantastic colleges out there in CS - and you’ll be fine either way. Focus on your ability to succeed in what you take, even if it’s not what you think they want you to take. Focus on doing well, taking part in school or community activities, sleeping a lot (we know that impacts grades), and the rest will take care of itself.

Good luck to you.

6

You should take a Bio, Chem and Physics and hopefully an AP version of one of those.

Have you taken any Physics? Can you take AP Physics 1?

For Computer Science, are you planning a B.S. or B.A. in that? If a B.S. I would choose either AP Chem or AP Physics of some sort as you may place out of them in college. You would not take Bio in college.

Do not pick based on College admission except for the fact if you feel you won’t do well in one of them.