Hi! I’m currently a junior, but starting to make decisions on my senior year schedule with applying to ivy leagues in mind. I’m currently in AP environmental science (I have no interest in sciences, will be majoring pre Law or polisci) but I was wondering if it will look bad if I “go down a level” to an honors science class next year (HS senior year). Thank you!
APES doesn’t really matter to top 50 universities/LACs. On its own, it means nothing.
What matters is your whole schedule:
Do you have four years each of English and history/social science (preferably including AP Lang and apush and/or apeuro or AP world)? Do you have each of bio, chem, physics, plus one more AP? Do you have a foreign language through level 4 or AP? Do you have math through calculus (or precalculus honors)? A total of 6-8 APs, mostly among the core APs and do they reflect your academic interests? Are your extracurricular achievements worthy of state, national, or international recognition?
@MYOS1634 I have 4 years of regular spanish.
I am in Pre-Calc honors this year and will either take Calc next year or AP stats (which should I?)
I have 4 years of english, AP Lang this year and I’ll take AP Lit next year.
I have been in AP social studies since Freshman year and will take AP Gov next year and possibly AP Econ (haven’t decided if I’ll take AP or honors Econ, depends on how many APs I should have for ivy leagues… thoughts?).
I have taken a science each year of HS, AP Enviro this year and possibly AP Bio next year (just to get in another AP science so it looks like I’m still challenging myself, am I correct in this decision?)
My academic interests are law and business, and I have filled my schedule with classes of both and my ECs are worthy of state and national recognition.
Take Calculus Honors (and AP Stats if you wish). Rather than counting Ap’s, for science check that you have one each of bio, chem, and physics at any level; if you do, feel free to add AP Bio, if not take Physics, Physics Honors, or AP Physics1. Law and business HS classes are considered more vocational classes - if you can take classes such as Philosophy (through DE?) and/or AP Euro or AP world it’d help more. What about AP Spanish lang, is it offered at your HS?
@MYOS1634 I took regular Spanish classes so I would be unable to take the AP Spanish classes my HS offers. I took AP world as one of the social studies (sophomore yr) and my school does not offer AP Euro. My school does offer AP Psychology, philosophy is not offered. Should I take AP psych? I’m weary of taking physics because I am not strong in math/science and I don’t want to risk a B. Would I be doing myself a disservice by taking AP Bio instead? I’ve taken honors physical science, honors bio, honors chem, honors scientific research. Would I be doing myself a disservice if I go from Honors Pre-Calc to Advanced Calc? My school offers multiple levels of calculus: college prep (regular), advanced, honors, and then AP. Thoughts?
Advanced calculus would be okay (which you can pair with AP statistics) as well as advanced physics. But yes you should have physics, even if you risk a B, s I’m not sure top 50 universities and LACs consider Freshman Physical science equivalent to physics and they do want you grappling with that subject precisely because it’s hard. You can pair it with AP Bio if you need the AP boost.
Of the four of take AP statistics, advanced calculus, and advanced physics.
AP psych is an AP lite and wouldn’t help.
See if you can take dual enrollment classes - European history or a history seminar as well as philosophy (one each semester).
Your level in foreign language is concerning - most colleges will have a college graduation requirement which means you’ll need to take foreign language and do well - although not necessarily Spanish.