Does taking AP Enviormental Science senior year put one at a disadvantage?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>For my science class in senior year, I am taking AP Enviormental Science.
My guidance counselor and I decided that it would be a more suitable choice for me than AP Bio or AP Physics because I am a student who is very passionate in history. I participate in multiple extracuriculars that are history based, but understand the importance of not having a narrow academic view.
Will this put me at a disadvantage when it comes time for admissions?
I am grateful for any thoughts on the matter.</p>

2

<p>AP credits vary depending on the college. At Harvard, unless you opt for “Advanced Standing” (graduating in 3 years instead of 4), the only AP that matters is foreign language. Scoring a 5 on your AP for Spanish, French, German, or Latin will exempt you from all foreign language requirements. (At Yale, however, scoring a 5 on those same AP’s will exempt you from 3 out of 4 terms of that language, but you would still be required to take one semester of that language in college.)</p>

<p>With regards to AP Environmental Science, Harvard will not give you college credit even for Advanced Standing. See:[Advanced</a> Standing Advising Programs Office](<a href=“http://apo.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k73580&pageid=icb.page388448&pageContentId=icb.pagecontent823379&view=view.do&viewParam_name=asgeninfo.html#a_icb_pagecontent823379_a_icb_pagecontent825552_apexams]Advanced”>http://apo.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k73580&pageid=icb.page388448&pageContentId=icb.pagecontent823379&view=view.do&viewParam_name=asgeninfo.html#a_icb_pagecontent823379_a_icb_pagecontent825552_apexams)</p>

<p>The following College Board Advanced Placement examinations may NOT be used for eligibility:
Art (Studio and Portfolio)
Comparative Government and Politics
Computer Science A
Environmental Science
Human Geography
International English
United States Government and Politics</p>

<p>By way of comparison, Environmental Science is not on Yale’s table of AP credit, so I imagine they would not give you credit as well: <a href=“http://yalecollege.yale.edu/content/table-acceleration-credit[/url]”>http://yalecollege.yale.edu/content/table-acceleration-credit&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>I understand that I won’t recieve credit, but I was wondering if anyone thought that taking APES would make my application look academically weaker to a point that would jepordize the 5% chance of getting in</p>

4

<p>It’s a neutral. It won’t help or hurt.</p>

5

<p>If it’s your one AP class or something, it might be seen as less rigorous a courseload than AP Bio or AP Physics which are generally considered tougher. But if you already have a rigorous courseload, one AP choice shouldn’t really matter and you should go with what’s more interesting to you.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the advice.
I am taking three other AP’s (Latin, Modern European History, and economics).
And thanks for not trolling like some College Confidential members.</p>

7

<p>My senior year my guidance counselor recommended I take AP Bio because of the caliber of schools I was looking at. However, I had a few friends taking APES and I wanted a nice, easy class (and I heard bio at my school was awful). I ended up taking Environmental Science, absolutely loved it, was still accepted to Harvard and Dartmouth. My advice would be to take the class you’ll enjoy.</p>

8

<p>I don’t think so. I took it senior year and things turnout out fine for me. But then again, I did take 5 other AP classes that year, including another science (physics).</p>