<p>I'm a current junior trying to figure out which course to take senior year. My interest in each subject is about equal, but there are some key differences between the classes at my school.</p>
<p>Background: I'll be applying as a math/CS/math+CS/undecided major, depending on admission policies. I self-studied Physics B (5) last year and Physics C this year (expecting 5 on Mech, and it's a toss-up between 4 or 5 on E&M). I'm applying to MIT, Caltech, and Harvey Mudd, which is why I'm really conflicted about taking a science.</p>
<p>AP Biology</p>
<p>Probability of getting the bad teacher is about 0.5
Heavier workload
Fourth year of science (took Bio H, Chem H, AP Chem); not willing to take any of the other science courses
Mostly juniors, so I won't have a clue who most of the people are</p>
<p>AP World History</p>
<p>Only one section, with a good teacher
Light workload
Third year of history (took World, APUSH)
All seniors; I'll know who almost all of the people are</p>
<p>Does the possible admissions benefit from AP Bio at techy schools outweigh the negative factors? (Especially since biology isn't particularly important to my desired majors...) I'd really like more time to relax/do math or physics or some other cool stuff/work on college apps after this hectic year. Whichever one I'll take, it'll probably be the most rigorous courseload.</p>
<p>(If it makes any difference, I already have prep books for AP Bio from preparing for tests as a freshman, so I guess I would save money by not taking AP World...)</p>
<p>I don’t think major affects your chances at MIT.
My suggestion: if you take Bio and get the bad teacher, switch to World History.
I don’t think it will make a huge difference either way.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m really only thinking about how major affects admissions at a few schools (mostly CMU and some UCs); I’m not really going to worry about the rest.</p>
<p>The thing is, it’ll be extremely difficult to get a schedule change next year due to budget cuts making the scheduling very tight, and especially since 2/5 of my other classes will only have one section each. So I’m stuck with whoever I get.</p>
<p>I would go with whatever you would personally prefer, and what do you mean by “bad” teacher? As in the teacher does not relay information properly, grades strictly, is insane, or what? Regardless, to be safe, I would still do World seeing as how it is your senior year and would probably just be the nicest option for you in general unless you were guaranteed the good teacher for Bio.</p>
<p>Some schools might wonder why you skipped science in senior year as a possible math/CS major. But, if you can put a reasonable explanation of that into your application, and have good AP scores in chem and physics, you are probably fine.
What math course will you have? Could you double math? Is there any sort of CS course?</p>
<p>I actually will be taking a decent amount of math. I’m taking Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra and Finite/Discrete Math as courses on my HS campus, for credit from the local community college. Both are one-year courses, so it’ll be four semesters of math at my school.</p>
<p>I also plan to take Differential Equations at the local CC in the spring if there’s enough space in the class (some of our local CC’s classes look pretty packed…) and if I feel there’s enough time to get the work done. Transferring all these credits would fulfill most, if not all, math major prereqs at the UCs, my in-state schools.</p>
<p>I guess you could say I’m “quintupling” on math since there are five semesters, each with a different topic. xP</p>
<p>(Our school doesn’t have any CS courses, and I would rather have more time to work on college apps in the fall instead of taking a programming class at the local CC.)</p>