<p>After looking over the classes I signed up for next year, I realized the only negotiable classes are AP Spanish and AP Biology, and I can only take one or it won't fit. </p>
<p>Spanish is one of my favorite subjects and I've taken it the past 4 years, but then bio would be useful if I want to do bioengineering... but I'd have to take bio in college anyway when I could probably test out of Spanish if I took another year. Spanish is a lot less work than bio as well, but they're both fun.</p>
<p>Here's what I'm taking for sure:
AP World History
AP Physics C
AP Calculus BC
AP English Lit
student assistant</p>
<p>The reason I can't get rid of student assistant and take spanish and bio is because then I wouldn't be able to handle my schedule.</p>
<p>Ap Bio has my vote. In the end, it will benefit you more by giving you that advantage from seeing some of the college material beforehand.
You can always take Spanish in college and with more depth compared to high school Spanish classes.</p>
<p>I would seriously reconsider taking student assistant, especially if this is your junior year. If you can handle taking 5 AP's, i'm sure adding AP Spanish won't make your schedule that much more difficult, especially if you like the subject. Also, colleges don't want to see you substituting an AP course for a much easier one such as student assistant. It's better to get a B in an AP course than not take it at all.</p>
<p>AP Spanish has my vote. You've taken it for the past 4 years so if you take it for another year it shows continuity and dedication to a subject. Plus you said it's one of your favorite subjects. You have the rest of college to study biology as a bioengineering major. With all the other AP classes you are already taking, allow yourself to take something that you feel would be a lot less work and something you enjoy.</p>
<p>And remember, just because you enjoy the class doesn't mean you're taking the easy way out. AP Spanish (although it may be easy to you) is by no means an easy class and colleges will recognize it.</p>
<p>And finally, it'll show how well-rounded you are since you're already taking AP Physics.</p>
<p>True, AP Bio would give you an advantage, but Biology in general is really not that difficult to understand. I find that it's more of a memorization subject. To be able to study Spanish for a year instead of a semester seems to be more beneficial.</p>
<p>both look good on apps; it just depends on your plans
If you're not planning on majoring in Spanish or doing anything foreign-language related, I'd go with AP Spanish. Even though the test is harder than Bio, a 5 will likely get you out of all or most of your foreign language requirements. The problem with the Spanish exam is that you don't necessarily know what will be on the exam. That is, it's set up similar to the English exams in that it looks for mastery of the language. That means you need an extensive Spanish vocabulary, fluent speaking skills (because they test you on that) and amazing comprehension skills. From what I've heard and seen of it, I don't think 4 years of Spanish is enough to do well on the exam (but I've never taken it, so what do I know?)</p>
<p>Bio test is easier because you know what will be on it - it simply requires memorization. A 5 will get you out of a freshman bio class and if you're planning on doing anything bio related it's great to have that solid foundation before you start.</p>
<p>I would take AP Spanish if you enjoy it more.
You should take courses that you enjoy because you will perform better in them. Plus you already have a lot of APs for next year, so why not take one that will come easier for you? You can always self-study Bio on your own to get ahead for college.</p>
<p>sup, this is schedule is for my senior year of high school, and my counselor basically said he wouldn't let me take 6 APs since I already do sports and lots of clubs, so the student assistant hour is basically the time when I work with the advisor on stuff for SADD because I'm the president.</p>
<p>LadyInRed, is the Spanish test really that difficult to get a 5? I've been taking Spanish ever since it has been offered, so I took advantage of all the opportunities to learn it.. do people really have to be that fluent to take the AP test?</p>
<p>sophomore, I've already taking 2 other years of biology, as well as chemistry and physics, so would it make that much more of a difference if I took AP bio?</p>
<p>michael_pham, do you think it would be a good idea to self-study bio over the summer and then take SAT2 Bio in October? Would a good score on an SAT2 be as impressive as taking the class and getting an A? But then again, if I study bio all summer, why wouldn't I just take the class since I'll already know a lot for it?</p>
<p>Yes, you could take the SAT II for Bio in October. It wouldn't be as impressive as getting an A in the class though. If possible, self-study and take the AP exam for Bio, even if you don't take the class. It shows you have determination and work ethic. </p>
<p>In my opinion, if you plan on continuing to speak Spanish in the future, then you shouldn't take a year off from speaking it. </p>
<p>Otherwise, you could as well take the Bio class. It is up to you. Take the class you have more passion for.</p>
<p>I took AP Spanish last year and it wasn't that great. (But then again, you have a different teacher, so your class might be better than mine.) Even though I am pretty strong in Spanish, I opted not to take the exam (which turned out to be a good choice because the smartest kid in our class, the valedictorian, said it was one of the hardest.) If you are really strong in Spanish then you should take it, but only if you have <em>excellent</em> pronunciation and writing skills. Otherwise, I would take bio instead.</p>
<p>I'm taking AP Bio next year... too bad I hadn't taken them both already or I would have been able to offer better advice! =)</p>
<p>
[quote]
LadyInRed, is the Spanish test really that difficult to get a 5? I've been taking Spanish ever since it has been offered, so I took advantage of all the opportunities to learn it.. do people really have to be that fluent to take the AP test?
[/quote]
From what I hear I'd say it's more difficult than any of the other exams. But I've never taken it, so I don't know for sure. I know it's structured like the AP English Exams. The multiple choice is comprehension and then 3 essays, in spanish obviously, analyzing some speech or poem or story (depending on which test) and then there's an extra oral section. You hear some dialogue, they ask you a question once and you have 20 seconds or so to answer.</p>