I’m thinking about applying to UC Berkeley, and I’m either going to pick Bioengineering and Chemical Biology, but I’m not sure which one.
I do not have AP Chemistry, but I have had chemistry, physics, biology, and biotech. I know how important AP Chemistry is, but I also read that it isn’t even recommended to skip the class if you get a good score on the AP exam, so why bother.
PS I also have a website where I write about chemistry among other things, and I have moved high school 3 times.
AP chemistry is not required for admission to UCB in any major, although choosing it if available may make an applicant to the College of Chemistry more competitive.
College of Chemistry majors (chemistry (also in L&S), chemical engineering, and chemical biology) take a more advanced general chemistry sequence with quantitative analysis (CHEM 4A, 4B) the first year; skipping with AP chemistry credit is not allowed. Prerequisite is high school chemistry and physics, and calculus which may be taken concurrently.
Other biology-related majors may take regular general chemistry (CHEM 1A; prerequisite high school chemistry). The organic chemistry courses that follow (CHEM 3A, 3B) specify a prerequisite of CHEM 1A or 4-5 on the AP chemistry exam. However, not all majors allow skipping CHEM 1A with AP chemistry credit.
If you are interested in sciences, as you state you are, then I strongly encourage you to take AP Chem if your school offers it. Yes, it is a hard course at most schools. But you should challenge yourself and take it, especially if that is your intended area.
I am already in my Senior year and I do not have the opportunity to take it, although I would have if I had chosen it, but I have only been in America for 2 years, so that might be a reason, what do you think?