I have to take AP Physics 1 and AP Calc BC over AP Chem next year, but I’m still interested in chemical engineering. Do you think admissions officers would look negatively upon me not taking AP Chem?
Have you taken any chemistry?
Yes, I took Chemistry Honors sophomore year and got an A. But, I’ll be a senior next year.
Why do you have to take AP Physics?
Don’t think it will mater at all. If you took honors Chem your fine. Many schools have this same progression with Calc bc and AP Physics Calc… Just do well in it.
My school has these things called pathways, and my pathway requires me to take AP Physics in order to graduate. Do you think it would look bad taking physics over chem?
No not at all. Again it’s a very typical progression. Just do well in them.
It depends on the selectivity of the colleges you plan to which you plan to apply. Certainly there are some colleges (most selective colleges, actually) where, if you tell them you want to major in chemical engineering, they’re going to be looking for AP Chem on your transcript and they’re going to want to see you did well in it. Although it is not the only factor they’re going to look at, in some ways it would help validate your interest and your potential to handle the work.
But those same colleges are going to want to see the biology-chemistry-physics trifecta on your transcript too. Had you planned accordingly, you would likely have all three by end of junior year.
So that leads to the question of what science classes have you actually taken in your high school years so far?
Taking AP Physics, AP Chem, and Calc BC next year would be a very challenging schedule, and dropping from AP physics to a lower level might only make it marginally easier. Is taking physics in the summer an option?
I would take a close look at the colleges you’re targeting, see what they they want and are looking for. Form a plan from there. If you don’t take AP Chem, there will still be a college for you, but, assuming you’re going to stick with that major, it is probably not going to be one of the more selective ones.
I think you are fine. And if you need to take AP Physics to complete your HS requirements then it is what it is. Don’t spend time and energy to worrying about things that are out of your control.
You can discuss with your guidance counselor if it makes sense for him/her to include a comment in his/her college recommendation letter noting that you did not take AP Chem because you had to take AP Physics to complete your pathway and get your HS diploma.
Thank you. I have already taken bio honors, chem honors, and physics honors with A’s in each. Do you think I should also write about this scheduling conflict in the additional information section of the Common App since I plan on applying to top 20s?
IMO it would be better coming from your guidance counselor – that way it would come off as independent factual information.
Don’t make excuses. As stated have it come from your counselor. Graduating is a good thing… Do you have other things like Ecs for engineering… Doesn’t have to be chemistry but if you were like a peer to peer tutor… That would look good.
The problem isnt how it’d look. The problem is that chemE is brutal and you need AP physics AND AP chem AND AP calc to increase your odds, unless you’re not applying to super competitive programs (it’d still be here but wouldn’t be a disaster, ie., NCSU v. Duke, VTech v. Cornell.)
So where are you planning to apply?
@Knowsstuff I am actually peer tutoring in physics this year, and I might peer tutor in math next year as well. I would peer tutor in Chemistry, but the teacher doesn’t allow that.
@MYOS1634 I am planning on applying to top 20 schools. If I didn’t take AP Chem, my schedule for senior year would be: AP Calc BC (taking AB this year), AP Physics 1 and 2, AP Lit, AP World, and AP Comp Sci A.
You are fine. IMO, AP Physics will be viewed as a more foundational class than AP Chem for STEM majors. This is particularly relevant if you are also considering other engineering fields.
Your fine… Others will disagree
You’re challenging yourself which is good. Colleges like things like peer tutoring . Shows compassion and expertise at the same time. Plus nice way to make some money on some campuses. In any engineering field you need to get physics and Calc down pat. Just continue with that. That will help you more then chemistry will. Some weed out classes are physics and Calc… Not so much chemistry.
My D is a chem e major. She said AP physics was more helpful than AP chem in her first year but almost everyone came in with both. If there is any way to take both she would recommend trying to make it work.
Peer tutoring in physics can’t make up for not studying advanced chem.
Folks should be considering the competition for a spot. There are more challenging and out of the box ways to show compassion and have some impact in service. There are applicants taking it all plus the relevant ECs and outside experiences.
Maybe OP wants to rethink his major, in the app. What shows he’s headed for chem E other than taking one honors course?
It’s a jungle out there. You want the right matches and safeties, too.
AP Physics C would be fine for a senior science course after hitting all three sciences.
AP Physics 1 not so much, as it’s algebra based and is often interchangeable with a first year Honors Physics course. Honors Physics followed by AP Physics 1 is odd.
You don’t have access to AP Physics C?
(I strongly disagree that “ you need AP physics AND AP chem AND AP calc ” or it’s a “disaster”.)
@momofsenior1 Did she say AP Physics C was more helpful, or AP Physics 1?
@lookingforward I agree there isn’t much on my application other than traditional STEM extracurriculars (math league, science olympiad) to show that I am interested in Chemical Engineering. Do you think it would be more viable if I applied under a different STEM major such as computer science, and then switch into Chemical Engineering during my first year in college?
@RichInPitt Unfortunately my school doesn’t have AP Physics C, which I would take if they had it. Do you think adding on AP Physics 2 in addition to AP Physics 1 would look any better?