Easiest AP science course?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi everyone, I am trying to decide what AP science class to take for my senior year. I have taken 7 APs so far and plan on taking 4 next year.

For science, I have fulfilled all my requirements but would like to take a 5th year. I took Honors Biology, Chemistry I, Physics I, and AP Environmental (scored a 4). I got A’s in all four classes.

I want an AP science class that is interesting, but this will technically be an elective, so I cannot devote a ton of time or effort into this class.

Honors Bio and Physics I were quite time-consuming and had large workloads, but I enjoyed them the most.
Chemistry I was basically a review from 8th grade for me and its workload was minimal. AP Environmental was very simple but it had a LARGE workload.

I know that the difficulty/workload can depend on the teacher/school, but any advice would be appreciated.

My choices are:

  1. AP Chemistry
  2. AP Biology
  3. AP Physics I
  4. AP Physics II
  5. AP Physics C
2

First, do you have any idea what you’d like to major in?

Next, if you haven’t already, read your high school’s course catalog. In our HS, AP Chem and AP Bio meet for 1.5 periods a day (this is not universal among all high schools, but it is not unusual either). Physics C, while only meeting for one period a day in our HS, requires students to have taken AP Physics 1 & 2 (it is a combo class that meets 1.5 periods, usually in the junior year). Yes, that is different than what the College Board indicates is necessary, but different high schools have different rules. Any of these “twists” can come as a surprise to some students.

So while any one of your choices will be acceptable to colleges, and demonstrate rigor, you should do more research at your high school level to find the answer that is right for you.

3

Well, that eliminates AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Physics C (unless it covers only mechanics over the year and not E&M).

4

I would like to major in accounting or finance. Each class constitutes the same class time (one block period) at my high school.

5

The AP Physics C at my high school does cover E&M. I guess I am deciding between AP Biology and AP Physics I. Could you explain why you included AP Bio in your eliminations?

6

AP Bio is a huge time commitment, lots of reading and memorization. On the other hand, it will be easier than the other classes mentioned. AP Physics 1 should be very easy for you because it is an introductory course and meant to be taken by someone who has had no prior physics experience. I might consider Physics 2 as well because a) you will be extremely bored in AP physics 1, and b) colleges might not like to see AP physics 1 after having already completed a physics course. Based on your parameters, AP Chem and Physics C should be eliminated for sure.

7

Easiest is AP marine biology and Ap apes

8

@CindyLeuWho: No such course as AP Marine Biology. The poster has already taken APES.

9

As you said, it depends on the teacher, but in general AP Bio and AP Chem are huge time sucks by virtue of being an AP plus the extensive labs (and lab reports) that accompany it.

10

Does science need to be AP? How about a science that isn’t offered as an AP Science. honors biotechnology and honors forensics are popular here.

11

An additional math class would be more in line with your intended major.

12

Of those listed it’s certainly Physics 1.

13

Given that you have taken Bio, Chem, Physics and AP Env…do you need to take another science given your major?

Could you take an electivey science like marine science or forensics or the like?

On the other hand, what colleges are you thinking about? If you are eyeing top colleges, then you have to think about what your peers are taking.

14

I agree with the others that an additional math class or statistics may be a better choice for your major.