At my school, AP Bio is the best taught AP science and AP Chem is the worst. I am currently in AP Physics, and need to select one of the other two for my senior year. I would prefer to take Chem, since bio is not my particular strong suit for some reason. However, the AP Chem class is largely self taught, and are unprepared for the AP, while the AP Bio classes are always fully prepared. I’m just really not sure which one to take, or which one looks better on college applications.
If you are motivated enough to self-study Chemistry, I would say go for it because it interests you more. However, if you are unsure if you can take on such an endeavor (remember that you have to complete college applications during senior year), sticking to Bio isn’t a bad idea. It’s better to get a better grade than AP Bio than a lower grade due to poor instruction in AP Chem, and both classes will look good on your transcript.
I would say that it depends on the relative reputation of the courses within your school. If you feel motivated to go through a lot of mathematics and memorization, go for it. At my school AP Chem has a reputation of being a great course, but being incredibly hard and painstaking while Bio has a good teacher but has like 30 page readings every night; not to mention, the class average in Bio is like an 82. Good luck.
Idk if this is true for all schools (I am a freshman) but chem/AP chem are said to be TONS easier than bio/AP Bio because chem is half numbers half theoretical and bio is all theory. Talk to both teachers and guidance councellor for their two cents.
take the one you’re more interested in
Try asking around and going by reputation, also decide what kind of work you’re willing to put in. On CC, most people tend to see AP Bio as an “easy” AP science, but at my school it’s the hardest. Honestly, though, if you find yourself enjoying and understanding chemistry, it’s probably a good idea to take it, although it will definitely take up a lot of your own time and a lot of discipline… weigh it out with your other classes. If you’re going to take AP Chem, try and level it out with some easier classes, or less demanding classes. Make it your only science, if you can.
Understand how much discipline and self-teaching will be involved… ask people in your school who take it as well.
They’re viewed similarly.
Personally, I would take the one that interests you more unless past students have performed really poorly on the AP exam. In which case, I would go with the class that has better results.
They’re viewed the same - both are extremely demanding, time-intensive classes. Go with the best teacher or the class that prepares you best for the AP exam since it means you’ll be well-prepare for college.