conflicted over junior year schedule

Pre-Med & Medical School High School Student Topics
1

So yesterday we had an assembly on scheduling, and as usual, I started freaking out. I remember this being much more enjoyable when I was in 8th grade coming into high school, but shrug.

Anyway.

As of right now, I am interested in pursuing a career in the medical field, so I know my focus should be on science and math. I finished Honors Biology and Geometry last year (freshman year) with A- and A, and am currently taking Honors Chemistry and Algebra 2. My school year is divided into trimesters (bleh), and I got solid A’s in both of the first trimesters of chem and math. I haven’t taken any AP classes yet (not available to freshman, and I really hate learning about history in school so there was no way I was about to pick APUSH), so I’m nervous about taking an AP science class next year.

I am conflicted over what science classes I should choose for this year and I suppose next year too: AP Bio, AP Chem, or AP Physics. I really enjoyed Bio, not so much Chem though my grade would suggest otherwise, and everyone I talk to has pain behind their eyes when AP Physics is brought up lol.

I was thinking AP Chem junior year, and AP Bio senior year, but I;m not sure if I really should be trying to take AP Physics For someone who is interested in the medical field, can you leave some comments regarding a suggested game plan for my junior year?

2

I would say you should try to meet the following constraints:

  • Take at least one each of Bio, Chem, and Physics.
  • If you can only take 2 of the 3 APs, choose AP Bio and AP Chem (over Physics).
  • Between AP Bio and AP Chem, take the easier one in junior year since both semesters’ grades and the AP score will go on your college apps.

Based on the info you gave, I would suggest AP Chem in junior year, then AP Bio and (regular/honors/AP) Physics in senior year.

3

Are you looking to get into one of the BS/MD programs right out of high school? If not, you can get in undecided and pick your major when you are in college which might put a little less stress on you if science is not your strength while in high school. My daughter is pursuing the medical field as well. However, while in high school science and math were never her strengths so she applied undecided and picked the neurology major once she was in.

These classes are all very difficult. My D took AP Physics as a junior and barely got a B-. Most of her math/science classes were taken as regular, not honors level. She only took 3 classes at the AP level AP Bio, AP Calc and AP physics. Didn’t get an A in any of them though. But she still got into great colleges and received quite a few merit scholarships.

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@goldenbear2020 But Chemistry is harder for me than Bio, so I was thinking I should just get it out of the way.

5

At my school, people tend to take AP Bio first and AP Chem the next year after a successful completion of both Honors Biology and Chemistry, but only because people at my school tend to find Biology a lot easier as its unit based. You should definitely try to take Physics, as it’s necessary for premed and on the MCAT.

Are you only considering science APs for junior year? Do you not do too well with humanities subjects? Some medical schools like seeing humanities such as Psychology and History being taken as it shows interest in people, but if you’re doing stellar in STEM and you absolutely suck at English and Social Studies then protect your GPA and forget about humanity APs.