How important is 4 years of science?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm a high school junior and looking into business as a major. I'm strong in humanities and math but NOT science. While I've taken AP Euro, AP US History, and AP English, I have never taken an AP science class. I took honors biology, honors chemistry, and regular physics instead (and did well in them although I did not enjoy them). Next year, I'm planning on taking AP Calc BC, AP Gov, AP Macroeconomics, and AP Spanish. If I were to take a science class, I would take AP Chemistry, but I know this would stress me out greatly. Plus, it doesn't relate to my major at all. If I don't take a science class, I would like to take AP statistics and computer science honors which relate to my major and will be helpful in my future. Would not taking a higher level science class or 4 years of science hurt my chances of getting into schools such as University of Michigan, Notre Dame, or University of Illinois?</p>

2

<p>4 years of science is important. Remember that you’re not applying as a business major, you’re applying as a freshman who has a 60% chance of changing majors.</p>

3

<p>Perhaps more important than the number of years of science is (at least) one each of biology, chemistry, and physics (which you have).</p>

<p>Check the admission pages of the colleges you are interested in.</p>

4

<p>Yes, its mandatory for most if not all collehes in the US. You my think you have it all planned out but when you start college it’ll probably be a different major. Don’t run from science because you may end up being required to take gen ed bio classes. You’re on the right path though just don’t forget 1 thing… live life you’re only about 17 academics isn’t everything.</p>

5

<p>It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to not have 4 years of science, but I really don’t think the answer is AP Chem, which is notoriously difficult. AP Bio is much easier, but consider just another science class like astronomy or geology or AP Enviro. That will be plenty good enough for your state flagship or some better privates, but probably not the elite level colleges, if you intend heading in that direction.</p>

6

<p>Is there a local CC where you could take a summer science class before your senior year? That would demonstrate that you understood the importance of a fourth science class although your senior year schedule did not allow for taking one then. (Our CC allows HS students to take classes for free.)</p>

7

<p>Michigan requires three years of science, four for those applying to the engineering or nursing divisions: [High</a> School Preparation | University of Michigan Office of Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.umich.edu/drupal/high-school-preparation]High”>http://www.admissions.umich.edu/drupal/high-school-preparation)</p>

<p>Illinois requires two years of science but recommends four: [U&lt;/a&gt; of I Admissions: Freshman Admission Requirements](<a href=“Page Not Found, Illinois Undergraduate Admissions”>Page Not Found, Illinois Undergraduate Admissions)</p>

<p>Notre Dame requires two years of science (must be chemistry and physics for engineering or architecture applicants) but says that “our most competitive applicants will have four units in each major academic area and in the most rigorous level their high school offers”: [Evaluation</a> Criteria // Admissions // University of Notre Dame](<a href=“http://admissions.nd.edu/admission-and-application/prospective-first-year-students/evaluation-criteria/]Evaluation”>Evaluation Criteria | Apply | Undergraduate Admissions | University of Notre Dame)</p>

<p>Others:</p>

<p>MIT recommends one year each of high school biology, chemistry, and physics (total three years) as preparation: [What</a> To Do In High School | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/highschool]What”>What to do in high school | MIT Admissions)</p>

<p>Harvard recommends “The study of science for four years: physics, chemistry, and biology, and preferably one of these at an advanced level”: <a href=“https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/choosing-courses[/url]”>https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/choosing-courses&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>California public universities require two years of science, three recommended for UC, chosen from specific sciences: <a href=“http://www.calstate.edu/sas/publications/documents/csu-uc-a-gcomparisonmatrix.pdf[/url]”>http://www.calstate.edu/sas/publications/documents/csu-uc-a-gcomparisonmatrix.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;