I got a C+ in Chemistry 1 honors, but this will be my only C over the four years. If I do well in AP Chemistry and get an A/A-, will colleges ignore the grade I got in the honors class?
No.
My bigger concern is why you think it will happen?
In the big picture, the C+ will be included in your GPA.
In the Chemistry picture…why would you want to take AP Chem if you got a C+ (over the whole year, I presume) in CHem? If you are not going to major in something that involves chemistry, then take another AP science.
Agreed, the C+ will be part of your GPA no matter what you get in another chemistry class. But what makes you think you can get an A in AP Chem?
The Chem Honors class I had was taught by the hardest teacher in our school. My AP Chem teacher is the easiest teacher in the world. I had friends in that AP Chem class and I knew more than thin with a C+ in my class so it’s very possible to get a good grade.
If you’re very confident of an A go for it. But if there’s another AP science class you are more confident in id take that.
Agree with others. And it might really make adcoms wonder why you would choose to take another chem class when it isn’t your strong point. I think you are assuming a lot that you will get an A because the teacher is allegedly “easy”. In our school there was always a rumor that AP Env Sci was really easy, but the reality was that it was not true. No one knows why the class has that rep, but it persists. Meanwhile, it is a very difficult class to get an A in. If you take AP chem and get Cs, that isn’t going to be good.