<p>I'm going to be a junior and am planning to take AP Chem this coming year and then the Chemistry subject test next spring/summer after I take the class. This is because I just took Pre-AP Chemistry sophomore year and I remember much of the information I learned. However, recently, someone told me that it might be wise to consider taking AP Bio and then the respective subject test for Biology instead if I want to apply for premed so that when I apply for college I have these Biology credits down. Otherwise, I will have to take AP Biology senior year and will not be able to have the subject test in Biology. (I only have room to take one of the science courses)
So which is the better route to take?
Do colleges like seeing that you credits/subject tests in Biology if you are trying to apply for premed? Or will Chemistry ones suffice?</p>
<p>It would be helpful if you are a premed student who has knowledge of this topic, thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t see why you would sacrifice AP Chem for AP Bio because pre-med students must take both chem and bio. I took AP Bio as a sophomore and self-studied AP Chem, and took the subject tests for both. For me, chem was definitely a lot easier to self-study for (less memorization and more math). You could choose to do both in one year; it’ll look good on your apps and you’ll have more experience in managing time wisely. I’d suggest you to take subject tests that you are comfortable with, not the ones that med schools require. Hope this helps, and good luck!</p>
<p>Also, having AP credits (or whatever else you get them from) won’t help in terms of having shortening time or requirements as med schools don’t accept things such as AP credits. If you choose to use your credits for a subject of which there is a specific requirement (e.g. a year of biology) then because you would have skipped general biology, you would have to do a year of a more advanced form of biology e.g. a year of molecular biology.</p>
<p>Some undergrad schools will not allow majors to use their AP credit to gain advanced standing in their major. (D2’s doesn’t. No AP bio credit allowed for bio majors. No AP chem credit for chem majors, etc)</p>
<p>Unless you know for fact that the school you will be attending next year does permit advanced standing, then take whatever class you prefer. In the long run, it doesn’t make a great deal of difference.</p>
<p>Undergrad admission only care about the exam scores you earn in your AP courses; they really don’t care what subject they’re in.</p>
<p>undergrad colleges do not care what subject test(s) you submit, as long as they are high scores. Thus, taking Chem Jr year and Bio senior year would not be an issue for admissions.</p>
<p>And colleges won’t care in which order you take the AP tests, but as others have noted, you accept AP credit in the premed prereqs at your own risk.</p>
<p>OP, the few schools that require SAT 2s almost always want you to take them in different areas of study. For example, I applied to several schools that required them and submitted scores in Chem(a science), Math 2, and French Lang(humanities). This is what they wanted.</p>