Currently I am a junior in high school picking classes for senior year. I’ve taken physical science, honors biology and anatomy so far. I want to sign up for Ap english, Honors math analysis, Ap gov/econ and 3 other electives on top of that for next year and the chemistry class at my school is very rigorous even if you don’t take honors. I really don’t want to be stressed out next year especially since I’ll be spending time applying for college and scholarships and dealing with everything that comes with senior year. Would not taking chemistry ruin my chances of getting into a uc or csu? My major is undeclared if that helps.
Hmmm, I agree you shouldn’t get yourself overly stressed. I also think colleges expect to see chemistry in a high school transcript. At least competitive ones do. First though, have you checked the websites of UCs and CSUs to see what they require? What are the three electives you are thinking of? How about two electives, one of whihc is chem, and a study hall, so you have plenty of time to do the work or get extra help if needed?
I think it is very important to look at their websites and find out what high school classes they expect to see. There are usually “required” and “recommended”. If you REALLY want to get in, you will have as many of the recommended ones as possible. Your three electives give you plenty of flexibility and opportunity, so use them wisely.
The a-g course requirements include 2 years of lab science providing fundamental knowledge in two of the following three areas, biology, chemistry or physics. Thus, lacking chemistry does not prevent you from being qualified for admission, although the colleges consider that 2 year requirement as the minimum and having more is usually helpful in getting into not just “a” UC (or CSU) but one you may prefer.
However, what I cannot tell is whether you have actually met the two year requirement. I do not know if the courses you mention, “physical science” and “anatomy” were a lab science. Moreover, anatomy would typically be thought of as a biological/life science course and thus may not count as the second lab course you need that is not biology. Physical sciences include both chemistry and physics and thus I am not even sure what you had when calling it just “physical science.” If it was just a general overview course without a lab, it would not count toward the requirement. In essence, if you are really considering not taking chemistry, you should be working with your counselor to make sure that the courses you do have meet at least the two year UC (and CSU) requirement.
Anatomy and Biology fufill the Lab science requirement so you are at the minimum for the CSU’s and UC’s while Physical Science is under category g college prep elective. Since you are Undeclared, Chemistry is not necessary but it could be a requirement in College depending upon which area if study you plan to pursue. It is also many times a “weed” out class for many majors so it would be helpful to have some background. You do not have to take an AP course. Both my sons preferred Physics so they just took regular Chem and AP Physics. Since so many UC’s and CSU’s are competitive, any extra advantage could help.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/csu-uc-a-g-comparison-matrix.pdf
For CSU, you need at least one biological and one physical science, at least one from the (d) area (the other can be from the (d) or (g) area). For UC, you need at least two of biology, chemistry, and physics.
Use https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/search/all to find out what courses at your high school qualify.
If you plan to major in any science, it is best to have chemistry and physics in high school, since these are often recommended as prerequisites for the college courses in those subjects. Prospective biology majors should also have biology in high school.