How should I go about with science?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

My school is a bit behind in science; for a freshman, the hardest class is honors physical science, and for sophomores it is honors biology. However, I’ve realized that many schools are way ahead of me…I’m currently a freshman in honors physical science, but I need to take more AP classes. Next year I’m taking AP US History and AP Stats, and I’m considering taking Honors Bio over the summer so I can take Honors Chem next year as it is a prereq to AP Chemistry. Our school also offers AP Bio and AP Physics C (I’m taking AP Calc right now), but Chem is a prereq to Physics because we need the “lab experience.” Some people are telling me not to take Honors Bio online (the content is FLVS), as I need the lab experience, and that colleges don’t like to see me taking a science course online.

I want to apply to the top schools in the country for STEM, and I’m really confused as to how to go about with my science classes. I’m likely to go into Com Sci but our school doesn’t even offer AP Com Sci.

What do you recommend I do? I feel like I need to get to the AP sciences as quickly as possible.

Thanks for your help.

2

You want to take more AP classes; that is different than “need.”

Let’s not split hairs; you’re taking AP CSP online, so you’ve found a way. Regardless, APCS is not needed to be a CS major in college.

What do your science teachers and GC say?

3

Colleges will view your app in the context of which courses your school offers, and when it offers them. Speak with your guidance cousnelor about taking a rigorous course load for your school. If freshmen can only take H physical science, that’s not going to be held against you.

4

Seniors are the ones telling me not to take the courses online…my counselor is discussing the issue with me on Friday, but she thinks that if I want to challenge myself I can do so. Speaking to my science teacher won’t really help that much, she’s almost too chill. She would support whatever I want to do, but in general the school wants us to follow what we are recommended; in my case, I’m recommended for honors bio but I need to challenge myself.

Another alternative is I can double up on honors bio and honors chem.

5

If you double up in chem and bio, what will your other classes be?

6

You can also take Honors Bio, Honors Chem and AP Physics 1 and be fine for college.

I would worry more about taking Alg 1, Geometry, Alg 2, Pre Calc and Calc in HS than taking AP stats.

7

Honors Sophomore English
AP Stats
AP US History
Honors Spanish 3
Study Hall (Or some electives/another class if I want)

8

what is your math plan for high school? AP Stats is often viewed as an elective to colleges. Think about which type of science your potential major will need. Can you double up on science one year? Since you only listed 5 classes are you on a block schedule?

9

I’m taking AP Calc AB this year as a freshman; we don’t have BC, so stats is the only other class I can take in the school. We have 7 periods during a day, two days of the week are block days where we only have half of our classes but twice as long.

10

Can you dual enroll at a nearby community college? Is there an online option ?

11

I’ll have to ask, but do I have to take a different math class other than stats next year? Or can I wait until junior year?

12

I would ask about dual enrollment or online class or something for math. It seems a bit strange to get so advanced in math just to take an elective math class. If it is your only option then take it and guidance can include a note- our school now allows 10th graders to take 1 dual enrollment class 2nd semester but it used to be not until 11th grade