Having trouble selecting science course for senior year

@NCKris

Freshman year: Honors Biology
Sophomore year: Honors Chemistry
Junior year: Honors Physics (equivalent to AP Physics 1 & 2)

I see where you’re coming from with the hesitation taking APES. I think I’m safe to rule it out at this point. With that said, do you see much of a difference between AP Chemistry versus AP Biology + AP Statistics. Also worth noting, I’m thinking about taking Honors Computer Integrated Manufacturing, which definitely isn’t an easy course.

I think you need to also consider what will benefit you the most in college. The end game shouldn’t be college admission, it should be setting yourself up for success in college courses. If you do CS in a college of engineering, AP physics will help you immensely. Unless you live in TX where you need to worry about auto admit percentages, as long as you wont fall out of the top decile, I wouldn’t worry about ranking.

AP Chem will be more useful in college than AP Bio, since you have already done Hons Bio. DD is going through the same issue and thinking about AP Chem+Bio or AP Chem+ Physics C(M). Her school splits AP Physics C in 2 year long classes.

AP stats will NOT be useful. It’s a math class for advanced kids who can’t or won’t take calculus. For those with calculus, it’s an elective, you could take Introduction to Painting it’d have the same effect on rigor (but make you less well-rounded :slight_smile: )

Make sure you appy ED to a school where CS is not in COE.
Make sure your GC will check the “most rigorous” box when evaluating your schedule.

Choose AP Bio OR AP Chem. Forget AP stats.

Take 4 AP’s, choose them carefully.

And colleges don’t care about your precise rank, as long as you’re top 10%
(your exact rank is like a chocolate medal given the best HS kids: it has no value in the adult world although it’s a nice thing to have. Don’t shortchange yourself for it.)