APES or AP CHEM

<p>I've been contemplating whether I should take AP Environmental Science or AP Chemistry. I heard that AP Environmental Science is easy but just a lot of work while AP Chemistry is extremely hard and has lots of work. In addition, I will be taking a foreign language 7/8, AP Language, Trig/Pre Calculus. My current English honors teacher says that AP Language is extremely difficult and homework will take around 4 hours (for annotation) and an essay every week. However, I've asked people who are currently taking AP Language and they say that it's pretty easy but it's hard at the same time. I'm taking regular Chemistry classes instead of Chemistry honors because I wanted to fully understand the basics of Chemistry before I attempt to take on AP Chemistry. I really don't know what to do. Your take on my current dilemma?<br>
Thank you.</p>

<p>Are you taking other APs besides those 2? What grade are you in?</p>

<p>It depends on what you hope to concentrate your college studies on - I took AP Environmental and it was one of my favorite classes; I have no first hand experience with AP Chemistry other than the horror stories I hear from my friends. AP Chemistry is probably looked upon more fondly by college admissions officers but that depends on my first point which is what you plan on studying in college - if you’re shooting for STEM, take Chem (haha, it rhymes) - otherwise, either one will suffice. </p>

<p>APES is seen as an easier class. But it is vastly different from AP Chem.</p>

<p>As the above poster said it depends on your career interests. The AP Chem test would probably knock out more convenient credit hours your frosh year than would the AP Es, it’s more of a subfield under bio in my opinion, and many of the colleges I’ve looked at don’t even give credit for APES.</p>

<p>I would argue that besides AP Physics C, AP chem is the hardest class you can take in high school. I am scheduled for AP chem next year and my teacher said that the school may drop it because not enough kids are taking it. I am kind of relieved but also heartbroken, because I have been studying so much in Chem honors.</p>

<p>It depends I guess OP.</p>

<p>It really depends on your college choices.</p>

<p>Off topic, but 4 hours of homework for a single class every night? Good God where do you guys go to school haha</p>

<p>I enjoyed APES and am enjoying AP Chem. The workload is similar at my school. I think I had more work in APES, actually. My AP Chem just checks homework for completion, so I can fake in answers if I want. I still read the textbook and notes and try to understand each chapter, though, so I get A’s (B’s and A’s uncurved) on each test. I read the textbook in APES too. The thing with APES, though, is that you have to read the whole textbook since there are plenty of obscure facts on the test, while AP Chemistry is 100% concept based. I received a 5 on the APES exam, hoping for a 5 on AP Chem. Anyways, it comes down to what seems more interesting. I like APES for the tangibility of everything we learn about and how the stuff we learn relates to society. AP Chemistry is kind of interesting too. AP Chemistry will also look more appealing on the college application, but it won’t really matter unless you plan to go a selective school.</p>