Does AP Environmental Science count towards the lab science requirements for college?

Applying to College
1

Trying to figure out schedule next year. Debating whether to take this class or AP Bio. Any advice would be appreciated.

2

What sciences have you already taken?
What are you interested in studying in college?
Which course content is more interesting to you?

3

AP Environmental Science would fulfill the laboratory science requirement but I would take AP Biology over AP Env Sci unless you have a great interest. I would save AP Env Sci as an additional science elective after completing Biology/Chemistry and Physics classes.

What year are you in HS?

4

I’ve taken Bio and Chem Accel. I’m thinking of going into either business or law. I am interested in environmental science, I love animals. I am concerned about a heavy load next year so am debating between the two. I could take AP Bio senior year or Human Anatomy.

5

If you want to take AP Biology for Senior year, that seems fine since you are not pursuing a STEM major. So AP Environmental should be a good option if you already have a rigorous schedule.

6

My daughter has contacted several admissions reps to ask this very question. So far, she has been told that it counts and she should be fine.

If you know what schools you hope to apply to, it doesn’t hurt to reach out and ask. (Also it will count as demonstrated interest!)

7

Things to consider:

  1. It should count as a lab science. Confirm with your guidance counselor.
  2. Most colleges want to see an sequence of bio, chem, and physics taken in HS. If you have not already taken HS physics that should be the priority.
  3. If you are looking at elite colleges check with your guidance counselor to be sure that your schedule as planned (with APES rather than AP Bio) will qualify you for the “most rigorous” designation in his/her letter of recommendation to colleges.
  4. In general AP Bio is considered to be the more rigorous course as compared to APES.
8

I agree to ask your GC and maybe have a few colleges in mind for that discussion. I’ve always heard that kids should really take bio, chem, physics as well but we know some kids who had no problem getting into top schools with no physics and AP Enviro instead. They were not STEM majors.

9

Why not take physics next year and your choice of AP ES or AP biology the following year?

10

Is APES considered “not a heavy load” at your school specifically though? Despite its “lesser” reputation, at my D’s high school, APES was taught by the AP chem teacher and was just as heavy a workload as the other science APs (even if not as difficult to understand - but a huge volume).

Echo @homerdog ‘s sentiments, that it also depends on major and college. D skipped physics and did APES, got into a T30 as a non-STEM major.