Help with senior class selections?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi,
I was looking for some advice as to choosing the best classes for my senior year. I know the obvious answer is "just do what you're most interested in", but the answer for that is hard for me to choose!</p>

<p>Our school offers five science APs for seniors:
Biology
Chemistry
Physics B
Physics C (w/ calc)
Environmental Science</p>

<p>I am able to take any of these classes. I took honors bio, chem and physics and did well in them, but I've never taken an earth/environmental science class.</p>

<p>I was originally leaning towards Bio, because I really enjoyed it.</p>

<p>But then I started reading about ES and from the course description the topics sound interesting to me (I'm really interested in the natural science stuff). In addition, its one topic I was considering looking into as a major in college.</p>

<p>I don't really know all that much about ES though, so I thought taking the AP class would be a good way for me to get a taste of ES and see if it really is something I'd like to major in.</p>

<p>But, at the same time, ES is, at least at my school, considered the "easy AP", almost (though not quite) a slack-off class. Which I don't really want, I want to have a very challenging coarse load.</p>

<p>And, if I were to go into ES in college anyways, I would need to take the Physics and Chemistry classes anyways. From that perspective, it might be more beneficial to take one of those classes in High school, where I can benefit from the smaller classes/teacher ratios and get the most out of it. It would also keep my options open to other science fields...</p>

<p>Whats so hard for me is that I feel like I have to decide what I want to major in right now! My current science teachers advice was to just take the class closest to my planned major. I really don't have any direction, outside of a a little curiosity in a few topics, and they're really varied (from history to economics to ES lol). So I really don't know how to choose the course thats best for me :(</p>

<p>Sorry, I hope that made any sense...</p>

2

<p>bumps ? ? ?</p>

3

<p>Most colleges offer minimal credit for ES vs Physics/Chem/Bio.</p>

<p>Bio and ES are said to overlap a lot - you could probably take the ES test just off of your Bio knowledge.</p>

<p>Since Bio looks better and is more rigorous, you'd compromise between your two goals of ES and challenging courseload.</p>

<p>Take Bio.</p>

4

<p>take AP Bio/Chem/ and Physics before you look into AP ES. They are much better at the HS level, but take as many as you can. (2,3?)</p>

5

<p>Okay, thanks. I can only take one because I my schedule is full. I think I've narrowed it down to physics and bio</p>

6

<p>Yeah, Physics/Chem/Bio are more challenging than ES. </p>

<p>Physics C is pretty easy if you have taken Honors Physics and have basic calc knowledge. It it essentially revisits Physics I concepts with a little more depth and basic calculus (derivatives and easy integrals).</p>

7

<p>I'm in 4 AP classes at the moment. If you are a senior, I wouldn't recommend it. It would be really nice to have a joke class.</p>

8

<p>i took bio as a soph and did fine. challenging, but interesting. definitely take it</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
"I'm in 4 AP classes at the moment. If you are a senior, I wouldn't recommend it. It would be really nice to have a joke class."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I wouldn't suggest having a "joke class" if you intend to show a rigorous courseload to top colleges.</p>

10

<p>I'm going to have 5 APs senior year. It would be nice to have an easier year, but its also nice to get those credits</p>

<p>Yeah my honors physics teacher said that our class could just as well be AP if we replaced one of our units with a different required one. He told me that I'd have no problem in either Physics C or B.</p>

<p>However, I'll be taking Calc next year too. Would I be at a big disadvantage taking it concurrently? Most of the people I know doing C took Calc this year</p>

11

<p>Does your teacher teach AP Physics as well? If your teacher said you would be fine in Physics C, I probably would take his advice.</p>

<p>I know many people who took Physics C and calculus concurrently. A good physics teacher will take time (or at least offer time after school) to go over basic derivatives and integrals. If you're concerned, ask the teacher who teaches the class if you'll be okay. He'll help more than anyone here can. Actually, a lot of people I know that took them concurrently said that Physics C helped their calculus understanding a lot, as you might go over some concepts in physics first. </p>

<p>I am taking 5 APs as a senior plus an advanced calculus independent study that is essentially an AP class. It is very tough to manage the classes and it is very easy to fall into the trap of "learning for the test" and not taking the time to really appreciate the material. However, if you are good at time management and motivated enough, you will learn a lot and gain a tremendous amount of discipline. Not to mention colleges will note the difficulty of your schedule.</p>

12

<p>"Does your teacher teach AP Physics as well? If your teacher said you would be fine in Physics C, I probably would take his advice."</p>

<p>Yup, he does.
I don't think I'm that worried about my course load (because I'm kind of a nerd and I like school, lol. And my 6th class is honors orchestra which is an easy A) but because I'm taking orchestra all four years my schedule gets restricted (can't take electives)- I'm just trying to make sure I get the most out of my science period</p>

<p>I was having the same debate with my social studies classes (between Psych or Gov/Micro, but I think I'm going with the latter)</p>

13

<p>Well, good luck. Hope it all works out for ya.`</p>

14

<p>take a joke class boost ur GPA get a higher rank go to a better college</p>

15

<p>3 AP classes and a less difficult course doesn't make an easy course load.</p>

16

<p>Yeah but it makes an easier course load. If you think you can handle it, why not challenge yourself? No one's suggesting that he get himself in over his head.</p>

17

<p>are u from lhs ?</p>

18

<p>never heard of it, sorry...</p>

19

<p>AP bio is murder take chem or environmental</p>

20

<p>I doubt that taking AP ES in favor of AP Physics/Bio/Chem makes your schedule less rigorous, especially when you are juggling a good number of other AP courses. AP ES is thought of the same way in my school, but when kids are taking 4-6 APs senior year, sometimes ES is the only science that makes sense.</p>