I am a junior trying to decide my schedule for next year. This year I am taking 4 AP courses (Lang & Comp, Physics 1, Euro History, Psych) Spanish 4, and CP Trigonometry. I have always hated math, but started taking high school math in 8th grade so I’ve already completed my required 4 years. I want to be a nurse, so I was thinking of replacing the math course with CP Anatomy & Physiology, (they don’t offer AP or Honors.) I also really want to take the media/issues class because I love the teacher. However, I’m concerned about how this will look to colleges I may apply to. So far next year my schedule will be:
AP Literature
Spanish 5
AP Macro/AP Gov
AP Bio
Modern Mass Media/National Issues
Anatomy & Physiology
The question is, should I replace Anatomy with AP Statistics? Math is not my strong suit. I scored 1960 on my first SAT (710 Writing, 670 Reading, 580 Math) I have an unweighted GPA of 3.78; weighted 3.93. Vanderbilt is also my dream school…Thank you so much for your help!
Stick with the A&P. AP Stats isn’t the greatest anyways and you said math isn’t your strong suit. Don’t become an AP monger monster just for the heck of it. You have to maintain a good GPA.
Is there any other math you could take besides AP Stats? I would take a math class your senior year, especially for Vanderbilt.
If a Calculus or Pre-Calc course is available, you should take it over the A&P. If not, do the A&P over AP Stats.
You should take statistics if available - in addition, it’ll be useful to your field of future study.
I would advise you to take AP Statistics. You’ll take Anatomy and Physiology as a nursing student, it’s really an elecive in HS, whereas math is one of the core classes. If they offer Honors Statistics, you could take that instead of AP stats if you’re worried about AP being too hard. Ask your current Math teacher what s/he thinks.
Went through this same situation with D who started HS a year ahead in math (due to a move), and wanted to stop after junior year (she would have taken stats senior year). We heard all the pros and cons from teachers & counselors. She ended up not taking math senior year, and doing Econ instead, which she enjoys. It doesn’t seem to have hurt her in her applications. If she needs stats later she can pick it up in college.