I really wanted to take both APES and AP Bio this year but my counselor said that because of scheduling conflicts I have to take one or the other.
Normally, I would pick AP Bio. I think the subject is more interesting and it is a harder class. However, I work closely with the APES teacher for a club so she could write me a STELLAR college rec if I took her class.
My main concern is that APES won’t look rigorous enough on my junior schedule. I am planning to major in something science-y. My freshman year I took Honors Bio and Honors Chem, and sophomore year I took Honors Anatomy and AP Chem (got a 5). APES is regarded as a joke AP at my school, but I am still taking 4 other APs junior year.
Take AB Biology. It is looked at much more favorably, and is relevant for your planned major. I’m sure you will do great to get a good recommendation from your AP Bio teacher, or you can still use the APES teacher for a recommendation even if you don’t take her class, since she can write about your extracurricular activities. My daughter aced AP Biology and AP Chemistry, and still found her science classes in college very challenging, so get all the foundation you can get before pursuing a science major.
@mommyrocks Thanks for the advice!! Unfortunately, my AP Chem class had 37 kids so the teacher barely knows me, and the AP Bio teacher is known for being incredibly mean and I don’t think anyone has ever asked him for a rec, ever.
I would still take AP Bio, just senior year instead of junior year. I would take AP Physics also
Sounds great! My daughter also took all the science AP courses. I recommend taking AP Computer Science at some point if you can fit it in. The sciences now use computers a LOT. My daughter has already used over 20 software programs and programmed in 4 languages during her research internships and classes, and she will only be a junior at her university this year. Her major is related to biological sciences.
Don’t take APES because of a teacher recommendation. Take it because it interests you and might fit with your career goals. I have a chip on my shoulder about how APES is considered to be a “joke” because I worked in a natural resource profession for 30 years and the content of the course is very useful if your “science-y” major or career goals are related to issues like climate change, pollutants, water quality, clean energy, etc. These types of environmental problems are becoming increasingly important in the U.S and globally.
However, most colleges probably do look at AP Bio more favorably and admission is mostly based on your grades from 9-11th grades. So it probably would be best to take it your junior year, and then take APES your senior year if you feel it is something you are interested in - but not because it’s considered easier than other AP science courses and not because you like the teacher.
@mommyrocks My school doesn’t offer any computer science courses, AP or otherwise. I may try to take a summer course or something because it is SO important these days! That sounds like a lot for your daughter, I hope I can keep up with people who had computer science in hs!!!
@LeastComplicated
I did not mean to offend anyone by reffering to APES as a joke!!! It’s only considered a “joke” at my school, because they just go on field trips and are graded very easily.
I think environmental issues are very important, I’m actually in an environmental club at school!! I’m just not sure it’s the most stimulating to learn about for a whole year, but I would definitely take it senior year!
@claire250 Oh, I’m sorry - you didn’t offend me in the least. I think APES is considered a lightweight class in a lot of schools - I should have made that clearer that I wasn’t directing my comment towards you personally. I just get disheartened because because it’s the field I worked in for over thirty years, and I wish it would get more respect.
I think the reason that it isn’t as rigorous as most of the other AP courses is because environmental issues require a broad range of knowledge in a variety of different areas: biology, chemistry, earth and physical science, math, ecology, hydrology and oceanography, public policy, etc. So it’s taught in a broad general sense, instead of delving deeply into one specific subject like most other AP courses.
Anyway, no worries, good luck in your last two years and have fun on those field trips!
AP computer sci us still relatively new and not uniformly taught. It may work for many kids, but not universally. And not in place of higher math or lab sci.
OP, if you want to major in something sciencey, gotta take AP bio. Your reaches (and matches) will expect it.
And they’ll prefer a core science LoR. Not enviro.
It looks like the dilemma is…which one is more important, course rigor or teacher recommendation? For your reach schools, unfortunately, the answer is that you need both.
IMHO, the best plan would be to take AP Bio (and get A’s in all your classes), find a solid recommendation from another one of your teachers, and get the APES teacher/club advisor to submit that awesome recommendation for you as an “other recommender”. Double check me on this, but I seem to recall that Johns Hopkins allows applicants to submit up to two other recommendations.
I may try to take a summer course or something because it is SO important these days! That sounds like a lot for your daughter, I hope I can keep up with people who had computer science in hs!!!