my sciences course load in highschool so far has consisted of Earth Science, Chem, and AP Bio…next year the only option i would consider would be AP Physics, however, considering i really am more of a english/social studies person i was planning on not taking a science and instead taking 1 semester of an honors level Philosophy course (counts as a 1/2 a social studies) and 1 semester of an honors level Shakespeare course (counts as 1/2 an english)…the remainder of my course load for next year (senior year) is going to be AP Psych, AP Calc (AB), honors english, spanish, and then advanced photography courses. if applying to schools like NYU, Oberlin, Wash U in St. Louis, Vassar, etc…is my choice to ditch the science risky, or will it be acceptable to colleges because of the fact that i plan on focusing more in the humanities area once i get there? any advice would be wonderful
<p>You already have a lot of science classes. I think there shouldn't be a problem.</p>
<p>If you gravitate toward humanities courses, thats straight. On the opposite side of the line, prospective science majors aren't expected to have AP english (though it looks nice). I applied to A&S @ Cornell and got in having taken a full, balanced, regular or high-level course load through junior year, and senior year not taking science or history, but instead taking AP Music Theory and AP Macro and Micro.<br>
Colleges are happy to see one challenging himself in a field he likes or wants to explore. What they don't want to see is someone taking slacker courses.</p>
<p>my school has a very limited selection of AP's, frustratingly enough they don't have AP english, which would basically be my dream come true. I plan on having 3 AP's by the time i graduate, majority of the others being honors (1-2 courses each year not honors courses, however i have never not taken honors English or math). also, the 2 courses i am replacing physics with are definalty not slacker courses, both honors level and both very demanding so i hear. thanks for you input, all the APs offered at your highschool make me so jealous</p>
<p>Don't worry about not having all those APs at your HS. (yea, music theory is a dream come true for me. Public school w/ a teacher who on the side has sung @ the kennedy center, teaches at Princeton, sang the "aaaah"s in the Dunkin Donuts omwich commercial- not bad at all.)</p>
<p>Anyway, your school sends a profile to the colleges. They see how many APs are offered, so they'll understand your course selections. My guidance counselor was worried I'd look like a slacker taking "No math and science" senior year, but Music Theory and Econ are both AP so she's just a dumbass.</p>
<p>I so regret taking (regular) physics. Oh well.</p>