i am trying to decide on my schedule and tomorrow is the last day. It is the only ap science at my school so one of my teachers recommended I take it. It is also the only ap the I did not take. I already have taken two years of bio(one being marine bio). I cannot make up my mind on whether to stay in chemistry or ap bio. or both. The other possibility is to take both or one at my community college over the year.
What have you already taken? I can infer from your post that you haven’t taken Chemistry yet. Is that accurate?
What’s your goal? If it’s college, most would like to see coursework in all the sciences - bio, Chem, physics.
The exception might be if you’re certain you want to apply to a biology-related program/major
Most colleges want to see a sequence of bio, chem and physics taken in HS. Have you completed all three (at least at the HS level)? If not I would take whichever core science you are missing.
@happy1 @RichInPitt I have taken two years of biology and physics. I have not done chemistry so i can either take the normal chem at my high school or an
online college class. Wanting to go into environmental policy/science I want to show my interest without being overwhelmed. for info here are the classes im currently enrolled in:
AP calculus ab
Ap Bio
Cotemporary world problems
Spanish 4
Chemistry
American Lit at college
I would take chemistry in HS.
Ask your GC if s/he still considers you taking the most rigorous course load if you do not take the AP Bio. That can be a killer at some Selective schools if they ask and the GC says no. Usually seasoned GCs include that nugget in their LOR—“Student has taken the most rigorous courseload at our school and excelled” is a standard statement
If GC is fine with it, take the chem and leave additional bio for college.
Is your high school well in synch with the online and outside college courses you are taking? Will your GC consider them as great pursuit of additional academic challenges? These are not instead of course offerings at your high school, are they?
Definitely take Chemistry at your HS.
@happy1 @cptofthehouse @bopper
Hi, i talked with my counselor and was told that there will be a chemistry class offered at running start( in the spring.) Would this look okay to colleges if It will not be shown on my transcript?I don’t want it to look like i took three years of bio and didn’t think to take chem… This way I could stay in ap bio and likely get college credit and take a more fast-paced, rigorous course a the college. What are your thoughts?
Running Start is Community College, no? That would be on your transcript.
I would not take two lab sciences at the same time, especially since you weren’t on the “normal” science track (Bio, chem, physics, AP science of some sort).
What do you want to major in?
Most colleges are happy with 4 years of science that include bio, chem, and Physics.
@bopper I want to major in environmental policy or environmental science. Yes, it is at the community college but it wouldn’t be on my transcript or mid-year report because it would be taken in the spring.
Ah, your grade wouldn’t be on the transcript you use to apply to college but it will eventually be on your transcript.
Remember any college class you take (in HS or other) will be part of your college GPA forever (e.g., if you apply to grad school or med school). Also colleges look at your final transcript…if you were to fail a class they can rescind acceptance.
If you haven’t taken Chemistry I personally would not advise taking college chemistry as your first chemistry. It will cover more material in half the time of HS. Also you will have a second rigorous science class at the same time.
But, if you take it, colleges will see that you plan to take it and that will be okay.
Right, the grade will not show, for adcoms to see. I’d say, stick with the hs class. No one can consider college course credit at any college, until accepted by that college. High school chem will complete the lab sci sequence.
@bopper @lookingforward
Hi I think I decided on dropping chemistry. My ap bio/chem teacher is very upset and wrote an extensive email about my¨ very wrong decision¨ but I prefer a motivated, fast-paced curriculum where I can receive college credit such ap bio and a college-level chemistry 161 L . I do still have the concern of colleges not seeing it on my transcript but I will inform them of my plan. Do you think this will look/show my interests and will not look like a red flag due to my three years biology?
I would listen to your AP bio/Chem teacher…they have a better idea on what you can handle.
@bopper I don’t think it’s about what I can handle but rather what I don’t have which is chemistry. I will fulfill this through the collge but my school looks at that as inferior…
@RichInPitt @happy1 @lookingforward @bopper
Hi, I made the decision to drop chemistry due to the class being unmotivated and not focused. Now im worried I made the wrong decision due to looking at minimum admission requirements for certain colleges and saying te minumum requirement is one year of chemistry. Will a quarter in the spring at my community college fulfill this?
Well, a week ago, RichinPitt and happy1 were clear about all 3 core lab sci. And cpt pointed out the rigor issue. And when you asked in August, folks said chem is important
What you do now is between you and your GC.
A semester in college = a year in HS…not sure if a quarter would be enough. I would really really talk to your GC, a person who is paid to do this, and figure out what would be best.