<p>So, next year (junior year) I have the option to take either Physics Honors or AP Chemistry (by the end of this year I will have completed regular earth science, biology, and chemistry), and I will take the other course senior year. I am a prospective physics major and I want to apply to top universities (HYPS, etc.) but unfortunately high school scheduling has turned against me! Which scenario would top schools rather see?</p>
<p>A. I take Honors Physics junior year. I [hopefully] do very well on the SAT II, demonstrating my dedication to physics.
I take AP Chem senior year. Colleges see that I am in a college level course, but don't have the actual numbers to prove that I can succeed in a college level science course.</p>
<p>B. I take AP Chem junior year. I [hopefully] get a 5 on the AP test. Colleges see that I can succeed in a college level course. (AP Chem seems to be quite physics-y, so does it also show my dedication to physics?)
I take Honors Physics senior year. They see that I am taking the course, but don't have the actual numbers to prove that I can succeed in physics. I don't have the SAT II.</p>
<p>I don't really see either option as being more promising than the other. I think I've really been stressing too much about this, but maybe you guys can tell me what makes one option better than the other. :)</p>
<p>I agree with your last paragraph. the only advantage either way that I see would be taking AP Chem junior and you could self-report your high AP exam score in your apps.</p>
<p>I would also vote for the first option. Having the SAT 2 results will be a plus. If you are taking the highest level of course available to you colleges will see that (one admissions person said “if we don’t know about your high school we will find out”). Intended major, unless it is to a specific program such as engineering, isn’t taken all that seriously. Several of the colleges my son visited said they just assume people will change majors and statistically that is true. Just take the hardest courses you can and do the best that you can. How are you doing in math? That may actually have more significance than anything else.</p>
<p>It would be very foolish to assume that the Physics honors class would prepare you for an AP exam. It might be true, but I wouldn’t count on it. You could talk to the teacher and get an AP study guide to get an idea of whether or not that would be appropriate. At our very competative AP heavy high school the AP Physics class is fairly weak and has the worst pass rates of any AP class.</p>