I have to pick my classes for sophomore year next week, and I am not sure if I should take AP Bio or Precalc next year. Both are good options, however taking one comes with its costs.
Schedule w/ AP Bio:
English 3 Honors
AP Statistics
AP World History
Chemistry Honors
*AP Biology
*AP Biology Lab
Computer Programming 1 Honors
Spanish 3 Honors
Schedule w/ Precalc:
English 3 Honors
AP Statistics
AP World History
Chemistry Honors
*Precalculus Honors
*Orchestra Masterclass
Computer Programming 1 Honors
Spanish 3 Honors
Pros of taking AP Bio:
Secures my spot in top 10 of my class (out of ~520)
Boosts GPA
Lots of other friends taking it
Can satisfy a core credit in college (Looking at Duke, MIT, Harvey Mudd, Clemson Honors)
Looks good to colleges
Cons of taking AP Bio:
Notoriously hard teacher
Takes up two class slots instead of one
Not interested in majoring in a Biomed-related field in college
Pros of taking Precalc:
Easy A (for me, at least; I have over a 100 average in Algebra II atm)
Pertains more to my intended major of choice in college (probably a double-major in CS and Math)
Allows me to fit orchestra into my schedule next year
Can take AP Calc BC my junior year and Vector Calculus/Differential Equations at USC my senior year
Can take more study halls my senior year (yippeee…)
Cons of taking Precalc:
Ruins class rank for sophomore year, as I will be in 2 AP-weighted classes instead of 4
VCalc/Differential are $3000 each and usually don’t end up transferring to other universities, as USC’s syllabi are different from those of many other colleges
I could try taking Precalc over the summer at CC, however it is highly unlikely that my high school will recognize the credit and let me go on to AP Calc BC my junior year. I can also audition for SC Youth Philharmonic, my city’s local orchestra, however there is a chance that I won’t be able to do it, as the orchestra is a highly selective, audition-based one. So in the end, I have to decide between doing what I like and retaining my top 10 class rank, which I hold at the moment, next year.
I know this decision is largely up to me in the end, but would it look badly on me that I decided to not take AP Bio in high school?
Thanks for your time in helping me. I have a very important decision to make here.
Can you take honors pre-calc instead of AP stats? Then do honors pre-calc and AP bio soph year. Junior year you could double up with AP Stats and AP Calc?
They don’t let people take AP Statistics their junior year at my school. The required honors track is Algebra 2 > AP Statistics > Precalc > AP Calc BC, with the option of doubling up sophomore year.
Never ever ever ever mess with your math sequence (unless it’s to get ahead). The priorities (as I see them for any STEM intended major, and college in general) are (and it’s no coincidence that they decrease in difficulty):
Math > Physics > Chemistry >= Biology > Statistics > Beneficial APs (no easy As, stuff like English or History) > Interesting classes > Easy A APs
Stats is a hugely beneficial class for anyone going into research. I took it my sophomore year and don’t remember any formulas, but I can relearn a topic in like two minutes (which is really the point of taking a class like that). However, math is untouchable.
@southernbelle16 Yeah, I can probably double up my junior/senior year, however i was planning on taking AP Chem/AP Physics C those as well. @skieurope Thank you for the insight, I’m now a little swayed towards taking Precalc now. It’s just that I will end up being behind many others taking 3-4 AP-weighted classes next year though
Top colleges only care if you’re in the top 10% (unless you attend a very low-performing school, which doesnt seem to be the case here). They also only expect 4-8 APs; the “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to APs is not necessarily seen positively by colleges - they want you to challenge yourself, but piling up APs isn’t the same as crafting a schedule that’s personally challenging. You need each of the 5 core classes every year (English, Math, Science, Social Science, Foreign Language) and 5 classes at Honors or AP level per year (so, 3 Honors and 2 APs is considered most rigorous, then classes you chose because you’re genuinely interested in them (as the Orchestra Masterclass would be, clearly - and a class that helps you “stand out”.)
The second schedule, with precalc and Orchestra Masterclass, would clearly win in my opinion.
The one golden rule of STEM majors: Don’t EVER mess up the math sequence.
Although, I will grant you this: if you’re taking Pre-Calc in sophmore year, then I’d say you’re ahead by a year (counting on the math sequence they had me take in HS). So, while it would look bad to mess up your math sequence, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Still, I’d advise against it, if possible.
Have you thought about taking out World History? You can just proceed with APUSH or AP Gov in your later years to get units for the subject area World History would fulfill. If you can, that might give you a favorable situation: 3 AP’s, and still continuing your math sequence. Is that possible for your schedule?
@NotYetEngineer A credit of social studies every year is required at my school. They say it’s because it will seriously hurt our chances of getting into a good college. Thanks for the replies, everybody.
One thing I am confused about, though. What do you all mean by “messing up my math sequence?” Does that mean simply stick with what the school track is, or not interrupt Algebra/Precalc with a year of AP Stats, a class which is more sciency than mathy?
Some things I found out today after talking with my school’s STEM coordinator: AP Bio counts as 2 AP classes and as a result drastically inflates one’s GPA. AP Bio also apparently serves as 8 transferrable credit hours to (most) any big state school. VCalc/Diff are also apparently very transferrable as well, as opposed to what I said before, HOWEVER being able to take the classes depends on how many people take Calc BC their junior year.
Not messing up your math sequence means not interrupting your math sequence with anything (unless you’re taking two at a time or skipping one or something). AP Stats is honestly not a math class (although it’s often classified as one), I’d call it a really useful math elective.
Agree that you should not disrupt you math sequence. Also… That AP credit wouldn’t get you out of anything at Mudd. They don’t accept AP credits. Plus, taking gobs and gobs of APs isn’t really the ticket to top schools.
@Stanccepted@intparent Thanks for clarification. Should I just take Stats my junior/senior year? I am thinking about going to my state’s governor’s school for science and math for my junior and senior years of high school, and they offer AP Stats as an elective there
AP Bio also apparently serves as 8 transferrable credit hours to (most) any big state school.=> no, it doesn’t. Typically it gives you 3 or 4 credits and most students who took AP Bio don’t take the credit anyway, since their goal is GPA management, so they “retake” the class.
You shouldn’t think of APs in terms of credit you’ll get - because about 8 Aps (total) is the norm at many top schools, this is considered “normal” HS preparation, and their 1st year classes start from there and don’t duplicate those classes. Public universities will be more closely aligned with the class though and will help you with some credits (English composition, one social science requirement, etc.)