For top schools, should you take 4 years of sciences if you are not majoring?

[chestnutt]

<p>For top schools, should you take 4 years of sciences if you are not majoring in sciences?</p>

[Philovitist]

<p>Details, please.</p>

[Sikorsky]

<p>You should, unless you can find a compelling reason not to.</p>

[ucbalumnus]

<p>One each of biology, chemistry, and physics in high school is generally preferred.</p>

[gibby]

<p>Which top schools are you apply to? It varies from school to school.</p>

<p>Harvard recommends:

the study of science for four years: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and preferably one of these at an advanced level

</p>

<p>Yale recommends:

Generally speaking, you should try to take courses each year in English, science, math, the social sciences, and foreign language.

</p>

<p>Princeton recommends:

at least two years of laboratory science (including physics and chemistry for students interested in engineering)

</p>

[watchmesoar]

<p>Took three years of science (honors bio, honors chem, AP bio). I could have taken AP chem senior year but didn’t (because I thought it would be a stressful timesuck). Got in Yale SCEA.</p>

<p>Everyone’s different. The ideal is 4 years and the 3 sciences, but sometimes the right choice is what you actually <em>want.</em></p>