<p>Obviously it's an AP class, but I heard it's one of the easiest. And would it only help for environment majors, not all science (physical) majors?</p>
<p>kimberlyy, of course they dont take it seriosly, 99% of people dont care about the enviornment (no offence). take it if u want an easier class</p>
<p>Disregarding the above post…</p>
<p>I believe they take it seriously, though not as seriously as the other AP sciences. It’ll help for a science major. Colleges want you to follow your passions, not just take the hardest classes possible.</p>
<p>Yea, they’ll definately take it seriously. And besides, it’s not an AP class for nothing. If it wasn’t taken seriously, then it wouldn’t be an AP class. CB would take it off to save their face.</p>
<p>The data does not support the idea that APES is one of the easiest AP exams, but it does support the idea that many students think it is and don’t prepare adequately. It has one of the lowest ‘pass’ rates (3 or above) and one of the lowest average scores of all exams. </p>
<p><a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/Student-Score-Distributions-2010.pdf[/url]”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/Student-Score-Distributions-2010.pdf</a></p>
<p>I don’t know how seriously members of admission committees take it, but it doesn’t surprise me that fewer colleges will give credit or placement for APES than Bio, Chem, or Physics. Even at the colleges with environmental studies departments, there is not yet an established, nationally accepted curriculum or idea of what a freshman course should look like. Moreover, majors in those core sciences require their own freshman to take a freshman course in there subject, while some environmental science departments will not. They may prefer that their freshman majors start by building up their skills in the core sciences to prepare to apply them within environmental science. Because the APES curriculum cannot assume a strong background in the core sciences, unfortunately it is often reduced to a lot of hand waving, a bit like AP or introductory economics is without calculus.</p>
<p>Even though APES is not as rigorous as the other AP science subjects, it can still be very useful to students with a sincere interest in environmental science. My daughter thinks she wants to be an environmental engineer. Aside from APES self study, she will probably not see any coursework on environmental science till her sophomore or junior year of college. APES can help to motivate (or demotivate if appropriate) students interested in the field. </p>
<p>It is also helpful for providing environmental literacy to a general audience. This is probably its primary aim, for which different people will hold it in either high or no esteem.</p>
<p>But whatever you think, don’t assume it’s an easy exam like all the other students did who went on to do poorly on it.</p>
<p>As long as you do well in the exam and the class, I see no reason why they shouldn’t take it seriously.</p>
<p>^^i wonder why nobody from that link is from an Ivy…haha i find that good.</p>