<p>I'm planning on taking 3 of the following science courses next year:</p>
<p>Chemistry Honors (Highest Chem course at our school)
AP Biology
AP Enivronmental Science</p>
<p>This year, I'm taking AP Physics B and I have A's for both semesters.
I also have some other choices- AP Stats, AP Music Theory, AP Computer Science that could be chosen in place of APES. </p>
<p>Would some of the information learned in each be useful for the other classes? I heard that APES is a bit of everything including chemistry and biology. In that case, should I take APES even though it is considered the "easy" AP? Do most competitive colleges just unweight the extra 1.0 GPA or what? From what I've heard, most people self-study this course instead. Why/why not should I take AP Environmental Science? </p>
<p>I have fair interested in the subject and it would probably help improve my reading and writing skills (which I need for the SAT). I loved Biology this year and I love learning about life in general. Mostly about cellular processes and things related to that.</p>
<p>Generally, should junior courses be more rigorous than senior courses? I have the following senior courses mapped out:</p>
<p>AP English
AP Econ
AP Amer. Govt.
AP Comp Sci.
AP Music Theory (mabye)
AP Stats (if enough people sign up for it)</p>
<p>Since I'm planning to take Chemistry Honors in my junior year and the same teacher teaches AP Comp Sci (he doesn't teach at all and gives hard tests/quizzes), it would be a better idea to take the classes in different years right? That way, if I really do hate his teaching style, I'll be free from more stress than if I took both of the classes together. He is the ONLY person who teaches both classes... unfortunately. =[</p>
<p>"I would either not take APES or take it in senior year."</p>
<p>Why not take this in my junior year? I mean I have AP Bio and Chem H that could back me up and it is the only AP left that I have the most interest in (I would also love to do Comp Sci but again, I don't want two classes of the same teacher just in case I don't like him).</p>
<p>If you're interested in the subject, take it. If not, don't take it. On the margin, it won't matter enough that you shouldn't take a class you'll enjoy.</p>
<p>in my school if you're in IB/AP biology, you're not allowed to do IB/AP Enviro systems. I don't know why but probably because the biology syllabus overlaps materials done by the enviro class but less depth... who knows!</p>
<p>I don't think it's looked down upon. I will say, however, it doesn't look amazing. I would take AP Stats, but that's just because I'm a math person. I think it ultimately depends on a) what you want to major in b) what your more interested in</p>
<p>APES has lower % of 5's because more non-science oriented kids as well as "dumber" (no offense) kids take it.</p>
<p>Not to mention that most schools have many prerequisites for AP bio (bio and chem) and AP chem (chem and physics) and usually only biology as a prereq for APES.</p>
<p>Stats seems so boring though lol. I'm not going to take it over APES which sounds more interesting. =] So if I study and keep up with the class and course outlinse I should be able to get a 5 with ease then right? If so many "dumb" kids take it then shouldn't the curve be A LOT higher? Soo.. it would be of benefit to others who actually study right? </p>
<p>Also, for those of you who have taken APES. How much chemistry/biology is there in the course? Do you think taking chem and bio concurrently with the course would help tremendously? Are there information you could use interchangeably among the two? Thanks guys.</p>
<p>"If so many "dumb" kids take it then shouldn't the curve be A LOT higher? Soo.. it would be of benefit to others who actually study right?"</p>
<p>No, they keep the curve normal so only the kids who actually know their stuff get a 5. In our school, the AP course with the lowest percentage of students taking the exam for that class is APES because so many slackers take that class.</p>
<p>APES is generally seen as the option for "dumb" kids who don't want to take H Chem sophomore year of AP Chem/Bio later on... but, I took it with AP Chem and found it to be incredibly rewarding. It really did change my outlook on life (obviously, I knew how stupid the human race was BEFORE the class... but APES actually gave me hope, too). It's a very topical and relevant course.</p>