<p>Hey guys, I'm new to this board (well, long time viewre, first time posting), and am hoping to get into a combined BS/MD Program. </p>
<p>I am a Junior and have never taken an AP science course. Currently I am signed up for Bio AP for my senior year, but I am thinking thta Chemistry would be much more benficial, especially considering that many programs such as Northwestern and Boston University require a Chemistry SAT II. What do you guys think? Should I switch Bio for Chem? Thanks.</p>
<p>umm I don't think you'll get enough Chem underneath your belt before you take the SATII in the fall, but obviously I don't know you and you could study for it on your own. Anyway, if you need a Chem SATII, it's definitely more beneficial to take Chem.</p>
<p>Oh, I know that, and so I'll probably be doing self-study this summer for Chem. I'm just asking if it would be better as a Senior to take Chem or Bio.</p>
<p>Im having the exact same problem as Kpphy88..except im a sophomore.. I'm also planning on taking AP bio senior year, and I'm not sure if i should take Chem AP next year.. Is it beneficial.. are there a lot of colleges that require an Sat II chem.. and does AP chem look really good for these BA/MD programs... Because Next year, i dont know if i will be prepared for any of the science SAT II subject tests... and even by admissions.. i will not have a completed a single AP science course.. eek..I took h bio 9th and im taking Hchem right now.. and Hphysics next year.. but no AP science till 12th grade.. Will this hurt me in my application process..?
To answer your question Kpphy.. I think taking Bio would be a much better idea.. because atleast in my school.. AP bio is considered easier and you'd prolly be able to prep for it better.. but i guess it really depends on Which science you feel more comfortable with... And if you really feel you want to chem.. consider taking a local chem course at your community college.. from what ive heard.. this is an excellent option depending how much free time you have this summer.. :)</p>
<p>i think chem is helpful because it'll help prepare you for the dreaded Organic Chemistry in college - both with material and with the fast pace of the class. Both bio and chem are great classes and subjects, so perhaps it'll ultimately depend on your interest.</p>
<p>I took AP chem my senior year and got a 780 on the SAT II chemistry test after half a year in the class. As long as you do some self-study, you should be able to do fine on the SAT II.</p>
<p>Like neo said, you should ultimately choose the class based on your own interests. In terms of self-study, I think that chem is much easier than bio, unless you already have a good background in bio.</p>
<p>kpphy88, I did NOT take Chemistry AP or honors in high school, got the Prinecton Review book and got a 700 on the Chem SAT II and got into both the programs you are interested in- Northwestern and BU.</p>
<p>Oh, that's a bit encouraging, because I have herad that AP Chem is a lot harder than AP Bio. Do you guys think that BS/MD admissions officers will prefer to see AP Chem?</p>
<p>AP Bio is A LOT of memorization (at least that's what i heard since i didn't take it). And I think AP Chem needs a lot less work and a bit more understanding. If you are a type of person who likes to understand each concept rather than memorizing things, and if you devote half a time that AP Bio ppl put into their work, you'll get through AP Chem eeeaaassillly and get a 5 on the exam.
I don't know whether all of the BS/MD admissions officers prefer AP Chem to bio or not. I didnt' take AP Bio (and I only took regular bio in a summer school), but I took regular chem and AP Chem in my high school. I still got into 2 med programs (1 of which was my reachest of the reaches) without AP Bio. But some programs, like MSU's, seem to prefer AP Bio since they require their students to major in bio.</p>
<p>DJLethal, which programs did you get into?</p>
<p>Union/Albany med and Brown PLME</p>
<p>oh Awesome DJLethal. PLME is like my dream. Would you mind posting (or PMing if you're not comfortable with posting publicly) your stats?</p>
<p>Kpphy, you are going to be a senior next year right? so if you take AP bio or AP chem.. will it be beneficial for you because you will have only learned a semesters worth of material or not even so.. and you have to take the sat II's right? Is it possible to know all the info covered on there in a month? I'm going to be in the same dilemma in 12th grade.. and I was just wondering when you plan on taking your sat II's.. is it necessary to take an Sat II in both bio and chem for these BS/MD programs..?</p>
<p>I think that most programs value the sat II in chem than in bio. I'm fairly sure that northwestern requires chem. i also agree with Faithful101. i don't know think it will really matter which one you take your senior year. you can't take the AP before applying to colleges and it will be really difficult to take the SAT IIs without the whole year's worth of material. i took both AP Bio and Chem my junior year, and in my opinion, AP Chem is much, much more difficult. I don't know which class BS/MD programs prefer, but I don't think it will matter very much considering it is your senior year and all they will really see are your grades for the first semester in whichever class you choose.</p>
<p>But wait.. for most you dont need to send both SAT II bio and chem right? one would be good enough?</p>
<p>a few programs specifically require sat 2 chem so if you wanna apply to one of those, you have to self study. bio is really easy to self study so you dont have to worry about it that much.</p>
<p>Faithful, are you asking whether you need to take both or whether the college sees both if you take both? when you send scores through the collegeboard, ALL your scores for ALL tests are sent, whether you would like the college to see them or not. you can't send individual scores from a particular test.</p>
<p>I was wondering if we needed to take both of the tests? Because i thought usually colleges would accept one or the other.. am i incorrect?</p>
<p>no you definitely don't need to take both tests. sorry for my misunderstanding!</p>
<p>Take Both.</p>