AP Science Selection

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m choosing courses for my senior year of high school and I am deciding between AP Environmental Science and AP Chemistry. I am very passionate about the environment and have fine extra curriculars relating to the field and have great interest in studying environmental science beyond high school. The easy choice seems to be APES but apparently the course is a joke and looked down upon by colleges.

I am not completely sure what college I am going to apply to, but I was wondering if APES really is not worth taking and if I should just take AP Chem. I’m planning on majoring in environmental science but AP Chem seems to be more respected.

Will APES negatively affect my chances of getting into a good college?

2

If environmental studies is your intended major it would be wise to take APES

3

You may want to look up the environmental science curricula and AP credit charts for some possible colleges (start with your in-state public universities if you have no idea).

It is likely that environmental science curricula require both general chemistry and introductory level environmental science. AP credit may give subject credit and/or advanced placement for both, one, or none of these.

4

In one of your other threads, @momofsenior1 recommended that you to take AP Chemistry based on a more complete listing of your junior and senior year courses. Are you moving away from that advice?

5

I think I will move away from that advice. I’ve been wanting to major in environmental science since 9th grade and since my high schools offers APES, I’d prefer to take that course over AP Chem since I’ll likely need to take chem anyways in college and already took chem honors. If my line of thinking is flawed, please call me out

6

It’s fine, as long as you had all three sciences (bio, chem, physics) as well as art through precalculus or calculus.
Environmental Science supposes a good handle on various issues, so consider taking AP Comp/US Gov as well as AP HumanGeo if you can.
Complete with English and, if need be, a foreign language at level 3 or 4.

7

Thanks for the reply, I didn’t think about taking Ap comp gov, but that’s something I’ll definitely consider.I wanted to take AP Econ since economic and environmental sustainability have become more related to each other in recent efforts to address climate change and other environmental issues

8
  • as well as MATH through precalculus (not sure why autocorrect changed that to "art"....)
9

Have you taken Bio, Chem and Physics?

What classes will your peers who are going into Environmental Science be taking?

Can you take AP ES as an elective? and take AP Chem?

10

There’s no way APES could hurt your chances. Might not help, but can’t hurt.