I have indirectly discussed this in a previous thread, but my question is more incisive and goes on a slightly different tangent this time.
Some context: currently, I am planning on taking AP Bio next year, on the assumption that not having an AP science (APES doesn’t count in my opinion) will be deleterious to my college apps. However, I also want to take AP Studio Art next year, because I really enjoy it and think I could do well in it. There is no room for my schedule for both: I either have to take Art or Bio.
So, the purpose of my thread is:
Assume I will be able to keep a nice A in both of them (assume. :)))
Thanks in advance for your insights.
Take art. Bio is a hard class and clearly you want to be in art. Also, apes still is an ap class that you can get science credits for. Colleges won’t view it and say “oh this isn’t a real ap class so we’re not counting it.” Unless you don’t have enough science credits for a college, it really won’t matter.
@jennacwa: Are you of the opinion that it “really won’t matter” for selective colleges (Duke, Cornell, UChicago), or just for most colleges?
What are you planning on majoring in? When you look at your total application, what appears to be your passion?
You can certainly be an “artist” who plans to major in something else…but if it is the sciences, I would probably do AP Bio since most other science majors will have AP lab sciences on their HS transcripts.
If you are majoring in the humanities, you can certainly take AP art and not worry.
My Dwas able to take an independent study in art in senior year. Maybe that might be another option?
@uskoolfish: I’m pretty incognizant about what I want to do. My (desired) schedule next year is kind of all over the place:
I’ve recently become more and more interested in pursuing a pre-med track while majoring in Business Administration or something of that ilk.
Please note that I do harbor some trepidation that taking BC, Physics, and Bio concurrently will be a bit of a strain on me. However, I am reasonably au fait with the notion that Bio is, quite candidly, “worth more” in the eyes of the AdComms (unless I’m applying with a bent towards the humanities, as you rightly pointed out).
The difference between 9 ap classes and 10 ap classes is basically nothing, so taking art instead of bio won’t really have a huge effect if any at all. I do think what you want to major in should affect what you take, though. How many science credits will you graduate with if you don’t take ap bio?
I’ll have Honors Bio, Chem, and APES. @jennacwa
Just an FYI, AP Studio Art is a huge time drain. You have to submit 24 pieces for the portfolio, so that means a minimum of 24 complete pieces that are your best work. Usually more are required to get the 24 pieces. There may be a lot of work done out of class to get the required pieces.
Look up how many science credits are required by the schools you’re interested in. 3 should be enough but you definitely want 4 if you want to major in a science. If you wanted to do engineering, I would think you need to take ap physics. I usually would say go for the fourth science credit, but I also really want to be able to encourage you to take art because you clearly enjoy it.
@18yrcollegemin: I’m aware of that. AP Bio would be as well. I’m pretty motivated in art; I also think I’ll try to explore lots of different techniques/printmaking/mixed media during the summer.
@jennacwa: I might–might–be able to replace Honors Spanish 4 with AP Studio Art, so I can take both AP Bio and Art. But would knocking off a fourth year of a language hurt me more than taking AP Bio will help me?
Good luck to you. I would think that with the other sciences you have, plus AP Physics, the fourth year of Spanish would be more helpful. If you really like art, take the art. There may not be many more opportunities to take an art class.
AP Physics 1 is a science.
