Course selection in HS!! [please help asap]

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>hey,</p>

<p>so course selection in my school is due soon and I need some advice. I want to get into a med program, such as at boston u, rice, northwestern....brown? lol</p>

<p>I am a junior, and I am selecting courses for next year. This is what I have so far [Block scheduling]:</p>

<p>-AP Calc BC
-AP Bio [10 credits, so it is like two courses, not one -- takes up more room in my schedule]
-AP Euro
-AP/honors english -- depends if i get into AP
-gym
-Spanish IV Honors
-AP Psychology</p>

<p>Now, there have been SO many problems with my scheduling and counselors, i cannot even begin to explain but, i will try not to express them as excuses.</p>

<p>I wanted to take AP chem junior yr, but my STUPID counselor made me take a "required" study hall in 10th when i transfered to my new hs, [after freshman yr]. I took chem over the summer, but by then, ap chem was full so i couldnt take it.</p>

<p>SO, if by some rare chance i dont get ap bio, ap chem is my next choice.</p>

<p>I would do both, but again, ap bio, chem and physics c are all 10 credit classes and i dont have room.</p>

<p>^^ Thats my biggest concern there, there are a few other things:</p>

<p>1] I dont think I can get into calc bc because we have to meet certain pre-requisites. Although I took AP Calc AB sophomore yr [grades were not that good] but I got a 5 on the ap exam. and i took ap stat this year. Should I take SAMCLA [Scientific applications of multi-variable calculus and linear algebra] if i do not get into BC?? i dont want to NOT take 4 maths as it may loog bad, but multi-variable calc is EXTREMELY hard from wat i hear and can considerably hurt my grades.</p>

<p>2] This most likely will not happen, but I have a couple other choices incase other things dont fall through. Please tell me what is best for the med path
-ap physics b or c [i took honors college physics but not the ap exam, another counselor mistake]
-ap art history
-ap econ</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<ul>
<li>Rip</li>
</ul>

2

<p>load up on as many APs as you can, given all your conflicts. That's all to be said.</p>

3

<p>^^^
yea. also, know that BU and Northwestern emphasize test scores. 2200 - 2300 range. Brown is more holistic though. test scores matter but aren't nearly as important.</p>

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<p>Thanks. Yeah, taking an AP no matter what is expected. I'm just freaking out because I'm not one of those geniuses and I desperately want to get into a program. Still, are any of the mentioned options preferable over the others?</p>

5

<p>I doubt colleges would prefer any of the APs you listed over any of the others. I recommend taking what you are interested in. However, if you haven't taken SAT IIs yet, know that AP Physics could help you on the Physics SAT II. Also, Northwestern and Boston require the Chem SAT II. This does not necessarily require AP Chemistry coursework but it could certainly help because AP Chemistry solidifies and expands the material you learn in basic honors chemistry. AP Biology also really helps with the Biology SAT II. Therefore, try and take either AP Biology or Chemistry (as you mentioned) and I personally would recommend Physics for the other one but that's just me. As regards to BC/Multivariable, will your school let you take Multivariable without BC? It seems like BC should be a prerequisite. I would check on this as many of the integration techniques in BC are continued on to Multivariable (at least in my math classes).</p>

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<p>Take as many AP's as you like but do remember that anything below a B/B+ shall reflect poorly on your part.</p>

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<p>BC might be a pre req but when i look at our course listings booklet, it just says completion of calculus. I dont think multivariable is for me, as thecalccobra pointed out, low grades can hurt me. </p>

<p>I plan on taking, or at least want to take, the SAT II chem and bio. I cant take both ap chem and bio because they r 10 credits in my school, so I chose ap bio over chem. Either way, im taking it senior year and i have to take my SAT IIs soon, so the classes wont help me. I have to self study :(</p>

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<p>You definitely need BC to do moderately well in multivariable. It was a very tough class for me, but linear algebra is much less calc based (so far, in my class)</p>

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<p>I see, thanks.</p>

<p>A new problem has raised though. I may not get into BC for various reasons. obviously , according to what I learned, multivariable would be extremely hard to do without BC and honestly i prefer not to take it. Since accelerated med programs want 4 years of math, what can I do?? I'm freaking out</p>

10

<p>Load up on AP's to an extent. If you think you can keep a good gpa along with those classes, then certainly go for it.</p>

<p>btw, these are my classes for junior year and im thinkin about the programs as well for the future. </p>

<p>-AP Eng. Lang (not sure if i should take this or stick with regular)
- Acc. Trig
- AP Chem (i need some advice for this class)
- Reg or Honors Physics ( some say just go to AP in 12th but im not so sure)
- AP Gov
- This last hour im thinking of doing CO-OP which is school-work. I will get employed and it will count as credit. Plus it will be in hospital since im going into medical field. But i have a feeling that school and work will put me under too much pressure. I need to do some ECs as well. So for you who are experienced or want to help, please do.</p>

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<p>You should load up on as many ap classes as possible</p>

12

<p>what if that means that GPA goes down from 4.0 to say somewhere 3.8?</p>