how necessary is it to take biology, physics and chemistry in high school? i want to attend a uc and major in engineering/computer science
with the way my school pathways are, you have to take the regular version of a class before the ap version, and can only take one science class a year (this will be noted on my application). bio is required, and then you can choose between physics and chem for sophomore year and then go on to the aps junior/senior years. if its really necessary, i can take chem if i dont do ap physics c/take ap bio senior year, but how necessary is it to take all 3 science classes, and will it hurt my chances for ucs (uc san diego, davis and santa barbara specifically) if i don’t?
also a quick side question - some of my classmates are doing bio over the summer while i can’t; and will be taking honors chem/physics freshman year. will that hurt my chances if colleges see people from the same school are a year ahead of me and taking an honors class freshman year? bio is required so the only way to get ahead would be to take it over the summer, but a lot of my classmates are doing it so im a bit concerned for my chances.
If you want to major in engineering, you really do want to have both chemistry and physics in high school (and biology for some majors like biomedical engineering). Otherwise, chemistry and physics in college will be more difficult if you have not seen it at the high school level.
What is wrong with taking for your four science courses as biology, chemistry, physics, AP chemistry or physics C?
i dont think i can compete with others that have several ap sciences on their transcript if i only take one ap science, which is what im mainly concerned about
@golddust489 - the admissions depts know that schools have different rules about APs and so they judge “rigor” of coursework relative to what the school offers not relative to what students at other schools take. My D had a similar situation and took only one AP science in high school after taking the basic Bio, Chem and Physics courses. She was admitted to several very good engineering programs and many of her engineering friends came in from science magnet schools where everyone took advanced math and science. After the first year she said everyone was at the same level. If you’re aiming for good engineering schools outside the T-20 don’t over-think it, just work on the admissions basics - get the best grades, scores and rigor you can - and then do something else with your life that you enjoy so you have some ECs to brag about. 
Take biology, Chemistry Honors, Physics Honors, and either AP Chem or AP PHysics C. You’ll be fine.
There is no expectation from any US college that an applicant needs multiple AP sciences. Similarly, there is no expectation that any student take summer school classes to accelerate science.Indeed,many HS do not allow it. If you take bio/chem H/physics H/one AP science, you’re covered.
If the California UC’s are your target, then you definitely want to have a Biology, Physics and Chemistry course on your transcript. As pointed out by @skieurope, you do not need to take AP levels for all these courses. Depending upon which College rankings you are looking at, UCLA and UCB are in the top 20 schools.
It is very important to take Bio, Chem and Physics.
It is not important to try to take AP versions of all of these.
Try to take either AP Chem or AP Physics if you can.
Given the following possible science choices, which do you think an admissions reader for a highly selective college will look at most favorably for an applicant who wants to study an engineering major?
- biology, chemistry, physics, AP chemistry or physics C
- biology, chemistry, AP biology, AP chemistry
- biology, physics, AP biology, AP physics C
I’ll pile on that taking one of each, and then an AP in one of them is the best recommendation - the first option above.
And I’d say that AP Chem or Physics should be the ones to chose from (unless you have a very specific Biomed or related major in mind)
Ok, you have 4 years of high school, so you could theoretically take the 3 basics plus one AP. I presume the problem could be that you don’t have enough space in your regular schedule to fit all 4. You say that you cannot take a science over the summer, but can you take a different subject to make space in your schedule? Any electives or one of the social studies courses? Have you checked the possibilities with your school counselor?