<p>As a Junior I took the easy route and did AP Environmental instead of AP Chemistry. Is AP Environmental looked at as significantly worse then AP Chemistry? Also what would look better AP Environmental or honors physics?</p>
<p>Obviously the AP is better (but that also depends on the rigor of honors physics and if adcoms are aware of that rigor)
If you’re honestly interested in APES, there’s not too much harm done.
Having said that, yes, APChem would probably look better.</p>
<p>However, if you do not take physics at all in high school, then if you take physics in college, it may be more difficult than if you do take physics in high school. (Why is it that so many students load up on biology, chemistry, environmental science courses in high school but avoid physics in high school?)</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/profile/442990/ucbalumnus”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/profile/442990/ucbalumnus</a> I’m taking AP Physics 1 next year. So does APES not look that bad as Junior then?</p>
<p>If you have all three of biology, chemistry, and physics, that is generally preferable. Having a fourth science course at an advanced level is also good, although AP chemistry would often be looked at as more rigorous than AP environmental science.</p>
<p>What are you planning to study? If you want to be an art major the science you take won’t matter. If you are planning to be a chemistry major there may be a problem. Learn to give all the pertinent information.</p>
<p>The big three (or four) science APs are AP Physics C - Mech & EM, AP Chem, and AP Bio. End of story. All other science APs pale by comparison, they do not substitute in the eyes of admissions officers. Take the others if that is all that is offered or you are interested, but again, they do not substitute. Period.</p>
<p>The big three sciences are bio, chem, and physics - which you really should take at least once at the HS level, even if they are not at the AP level.(It’s fairly rare that students take all three at the AP level, although it is possible in a very rigorous curriculum with good planning.) Even art and English majors should have those three sciences if they want to be considered as having a good liberal arts education, just like STEM majors need to take social studies and English for four years each. A good liberal arts education at the HS level does not have much wiggle room, take a look at what HYPSM expect their most competitive candidates to have taken, there are no exceptions for this major or that major, you are expected to take rigorous courses in all areas and be well versed in all areas or you are not considered well educated. Maybe that’s illiberal or old fashioned but the definition of a well educated person has not changed much in the last 100 years.</p>
<p>If you take AP Chem, you may take SAT2 Chem as well. SAT2 chem may be important for certain program and school application.</p>
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<p>I think you answered your own question. If you think you took the easy route, then what makes you think colleges won’t think the same thing?</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with taking AP ES, if you’ve already taken all three sciences at a sub-AP level. My daughter took AP ES last year, as a sophomore, but she’s actually interested in the topic. Environmental studies/science is a potential major or minor, so in her case, it makes sense.This year she’s taking AP Bio because, again, it fits her interests. Taking a class because it’s easier (and then wondering how colleges will view it) is not a good way to go through high school.</p>