Dropping AP Bio replacing it with Physics?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi all. So I guess I’m your ‘average’ student. This year I’m taking
-Precalc
-AP Bio
-SUNY/College Spanish
-English (switching into AP Lit)
-Gov/Econ
-Scientific Research

Last year I took chem and did very well. However I couldn’t fit Physics. Ive been considering dropping AP Biology and taking Physics instead. I’m struggling tremendously in bio and feel like itll pull down my grade totally ruining potential scholarships and getting kicked of National Honor Society (88+) and National English Honor Society (90+). I know I would do fantastic in physics because of how it is taught at our school.

If I drop bio Ill take on AP World as well to have at least two AP’s this year. Is this a wise or unwise decision?

Colleges I’m applying to are:
Stony Brook
Uni. Buffalo
Uni. Binghamton
Cortland
Oswego
Brockport
Plattsburgh

Creditials:
450hr community serv freshmen, sophomore, and junior year.
25 ACT
3.7 GPA (with AP,Honor, and SUNY credits)

2

Have you taken any bio? What other science besides chem. What year are you? A senior? If you already took biol then I would think physic would be as good or better than AP biol.

3

Did you take Living Organisms or Bio freshman year? If so, you’re fine taking APWH this year and AP Physics 1 next year. Your schedule is quite competitive for the schools you’re targeting. I’d also look into St Lawrence and Hobart&William Smith.

4

@lostaccount I took Honors Biology Sophomore year. This year would be Physics (first time) or AP Bio

5

@MYOS1634 I took Bio Honors 10th grade, Earth Science 9th. Im most likely going to leave AP Bio and take physics instead.

6

Considering a combination of bio, chem, and physics is seen as preferable by most colleges, dropping AP bio to take Physics would indeed be good, plus AP World would be a good addition to your schedule (and would allow you to take the Subject test - those may put into play more colleges with excellent financial aid. World History, Spanish, and English Literature are three excellent subject tests to have if you intend to go into a Humanities or social science field.)

What’s your EFC? What’s your parents’ budget?
Are you a boy or a girl?

Your GPA isn’t bad (I know it’s weighted… was is it, unweighted?) and your ACT is roughly in the top 20-25% nation-wide, so not bad at all. Depending on your budget, you may have a lot of choices next year, thanks to your strong curriculum rigor and good grades. Retake the ACT for a 27, as it’ll maximize merit scholarships.

If you’re a girl, Simmons in Boston, would be a strong possibility. If you’re a boy, Wabash would be another strong possibility.

Reaches: Forsham, SUNY Geneseo, RIT, Stevens, TCNJ, Muhlenberg, Skidmore (if you take subject tests), Loyola University Maryland,

Matches: Syracuse (not Engineering or Newhouse), Ithaca (including Communications), SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Albany, Clarkson, Marist, Baruch, Penn State (not Engineering), Allegheny, Ursinus, Susquehanna University, Temple, UScranton, Goucher.

Safeties: Cortland, Oswego, Brockport, Alfred, Plattsburgh, Fredonia, Wells, LeMoyne, St Bonaventure, Siena, Hartwick, Drew, Rider, Widener, Lebanon Valley, Duquesne, Point Park, McDaniel, Towson.

7

@MYOS1634 Wow! Thanks a bunch for that. I am a boy so I’ll look into those. I really liked SUNY Buffalo (Not Buf. State). Do you think that’s reach for me?

Also, my brother (twin) has the same credentials, however his ACT is lower (20 composite…) He is interested in SUNY Albany and SUNY Buffalo as well, how does his outlook for those colleges seem?

8

SUNY Buffalo would be a match for you provided you do take AP Lit+ AP WH, this year, and calc + physics next year. Run the NPCs on the colleges I listed and study to bring your ACT to a 27.

SUNY Buffalo is a very high reach for your brother, SUNY Albany is a low reach. The ACT score indicates course rigor, content mastery, and work ethics aren’t as good as yours, or may indicate a LD if work ethics has never been a problem. He needs to increase his ACT so both of you must study hard and retake it (can you register for the waitlist/standby option on Oct 24?) The safeties I listed for you would be matches to high matches for your brother.

9

@MYOS1634 SUNY Buff would be a reach for him? When he spoke to a representative she explained that they did sliding scale (so the high GPA (92 I think) and low ACT would cancel each other out). I just feel badly for him, but I want the best for him as well.

10

It’s not that automatic and I don’t think a high GPA can cancel out the score.
Your brother and you both have to prep hard for the next ACT (Oct 24) if you can. This may result in thousands of dollars in scholarships in addition to admissions to universities you like.
http://admissions.buffalo.edu/apply/admissioncriteria.php

11

Duquesne is not a safety when avg SAT is 1130 making a 25 act a match

12

Furthermore orig poster will get into all schools they are applying to for sure, except bing and stony brook, where he or she still has a decent shot to get in