This is what I have for course selection:
AP bio
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Spanish
AP Physics 1
Pre Calc
Health Science
I will have only 3 credits needed for graduation in Sr year. Should I add something like photography etc or this helps since the GPA will have one less subject to calculate against?
I asked the councilor and I am allowed to do this and get early release. I can concentrate on the AP subjects this way and have a little more time for other for college prep stuff
thoughts? disadvantages?
This course load is plenty rigorous for any college application (for this one year, in isolation).
My D has a similar courseload this year (AP Calc BC and Honors French 4 instead) and has one period taken by Band. I have no concerns about anyone questioning the rigor of her courseload.
The impact of one additional A or one fewer courses in the divisor of your GPA will likely make a .01 or less difference. And many schooIs recalculate a core GPA so an elective would make no difference.
If there is a course that interests you, I believe that additional learning is always a good thing. Weigh it against what you would realistically do with an extra 40 minutes at home each day.
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I have been suggested to move AP Bio to Sr Year. is she doing 2 AP sciences as well?
Yes, AP Chem in school and Physics online/cyber. She really wanted to take AP Chem this year and AP Physics C next year. It is certainly out of the ordinary and only taking one science would be fine, as long as you get through the initial Chem/Bio/Physics courses at some point in high school.
One challenge with Sciences is that they’re usually lab courses, at least at our school. So taking two regular classes consumes at least 3 class periods.
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Taking three sciences (Health, AP Bio, AP Physics 1) is overkill.
Did you complete Algebra 2H? If not, perhaps wait till senior year to take AP Physics 1.
What classes would you take senior year?
Colleges expect you to have all 5 core classes (which you do have) + 1 personal pick. Choose your 6th class and you’re good.
Photography can be a good class to add, especially if you’ve not taken art before. Exploring creativity is always good and some colleges require 1 year of art/music/drama.
An example would be
Jr Year
AP bio
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Spanish
Photography
Pre Calc
Health Science
Sr Year
English Honors or AP Lit
Calculus or AP Stats
AP World history/Euro/Gov/Econ
AP Physics 1
2 classes of your choice
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I have done choir as my art cred. I think what you have above is perfect! I am currently taking AP World, so I might do Gov/Econ next year to qualify for FHSP+ENDORSEMENT with option of DISTINGUISHED LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT. I have taken PAP Chem now, so no taking AP CHEM in Sr year? Thats where I was going with 2 science APs now
What type of major are you thinking of?
pre med track. Science major, Bio possibly
Don’t major in bio, unless you can handle Biostatistics or Bioinformatics - most premeds don’t make it into med school so plan B is crucial, and due to the oversupply of premeds+regular bio majors, there are no job openings. Biostats and BioInformatics are the exception.
(Premeds can major in anything.)
In that case, having both AP Bio and AP Chem is useful.
Does your school offer regular or honors physics in addition to Physics 1?
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Yes we have regular physics! So take that instead of AP? in Jr year with the AP Bio?
Yes, take Physics (nonAP) instead of Health Science, along with AP Bio, then AP Chem senior year.
AP Chem is very hard and is essential to succeed as a premed, since the chemistry courses tend to be the most weedout.
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