How important is taking an AP Science?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi, I’m a Sophomore who will be graduating a year early (I don’t have a say in this so please don’t say to delay my graduation) and I have been looking extensively at my choices for a senior year schedule. I already made a similar post that was just a very bad idea (which was taking 6-7 College Courses in one year). Anyways, I’ve been told that an AP science course is very important for applications (My school list is: Princeton, Columbia, University of Florida, University of Southern California, New York University, University of Central Florida, Florida State University, and University of South Florida.)

The problem is my school does not offer any AP science courses except for Biology & Environmental Science. I’ve heard Environmental Science is an easy course and looks bad for colleges. I also can’t stand Biology. If I had the options to chose from the 3 main sciences I would take Physics but I really can’t. I want to go into government and become an elected official. I would likely be studying Economics w/ a minor in Political Science and I would go for a higher education degree afterward (J.D, MBA, MPP, MPA, I don’t really know this yet. Although if I get to Columbia I would take their Economics - Political Science Degree.)

Anyways I attend BVS which is an online school and I am currently the valedictorian (for now). My possible courses are basically the same as flvs: https://www.flvs.net/flex/courses + AP World History + Integrated Science. Anyways I was going through some college schedules and this is what I have in mind although I am not sure what to do about Science:

AP Literature & Composition
AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC or Calculus Honors
AP Statistics
AP Government (Semester-Long) and Microeconomics (Semester-Long)
Earth Space Science or Anatomy and Physiology or AP Environmental Science or AP Biology or any other recommendation.
AP World History or some other course or nothing so I can focus on my other classes I’m not sure.

Anyways, can anyone help me out here? Will not taking AP Biology really hurt me? Would a science course + statistics make up for it?

These are the classes I have already taken or will take:

Middle School (These were high school courses and are counted as):
Algebra 1 Honors
Biology Honors
Spanish 1
Spanish 2

9th Grade:
English 1 Honors
Algebra 2 Honors
Marine Science Honors
Spanish 3 Honors
Personal Fitness
Fitness Lifestyle Design
Emerging Technology in Business

Summer 2018:
English 2 Honors
Algebra 2 Honors

10th Grade (I am here):
AP English Language
Pre-Calc Honors
Physics Honors
World History Honors (Did not realize I had the choice of AP)
AP US History
Drivers ED
Critical Thinking & Study Skills (I was told it was an SAT prep course, it was not.)
AP Macroeconomics

Summer 2019:
Chemistry 1 Honors.

Any help is appreciated, thank you.

2

Given that you’re not planning to major in STEM, it’s probably fine not to take an AP science, but I would say to take AP Bio senior year anyway, because it’s objectively the easiest of the three “core” AP sciences - not a lot of math, just memorization and reading comprehension - and it will help you prove that your schedule is rigorous enough for Columbia, Princeton, and USC. (I’m assuming that you’re a FL resident from your school list. Your schedule is more than enough for any of the FL schools you listed, and if you qualify for Bright Futures you have an excellent shot at all of them.)

Out of curiosity, why don’t you have a say in whether you graduate early?

3

Okay, thank you. I don’t know why it slipped my mind but I should probably research what the modules are like especially since online courses aren’t too focused on memorization since most classes allow you to use your notes for everything (so that could make it way easier). I need to finish my service hours to apply for bright futures but I feel like I’m on the right track.

I don’t have a say in moving because of financial/family issues. My house has two flights of stairs and my mom (single mother) suffers from chronic pain and her physical and mental health declines drastically every day in this home. She plans on buying a condo and retiring but we can’t sell the home until 2020. So we would sell the home when I go off to college (2020) without A. Disturbing my late junior/early senior year & B. Without staying longer in this house as her health declines.

4

You sound like you have figured out the whole graduating early thing…but make sure you talk to a Guidance Counselor. What would be the issue with moving during senior year?

5

It’s more of a personal thing. Adding moving and a new school on top of college applications and financial aid applications seems like a poor idea plus I also worry I’ll lose Valedictorian in a public non-online school simce there’s more competition.

6

Does it matter if you are Valedectorian? In some states, e.g., Texas, class rank matters for admissions to Public Us.

For others, it may not …it may be better to be prepared for college courses. I took Calculus and only got a 3 on the AP exam, but when I took it again I had already taken it in HS so it was MUCH MUCH easier.

7

I’m not worried about taking more difficult courses to be valedictorian. I’m worried someone will have a severe advantage over me at another school.

8

I would say AP Lit, AP Calc AB, AP Stats, AP Gov/Econ, AP World, and APES would be a super duper rigorous schedule. No need to add AP Bio into the mix, especially since APES is more relevant to political science and economics.