Hi,
I’m a current freshman looking to take an AP class next year. My two choices are AP chemistry or AP world history. I have heard many things about both, but I am currently leaning towards AP chemistry. I feel that I do better at comprehension and math instead of reading textbooks and memorization. I have talked to a few sophomores currently in AP chemistry and neither took a summer course. However, the school does recommend taking one. I was hoping to take the Khan Academy chemistry course to learn everything so that I would gain a good amount of background knowledge but wouldn’t have to go through the stress of taking a college class over the summer, but labs are obviously not included online. Are labs an important part of AP Chem? Can anyone tell me their experience going into AP chemistry having not taken Chemistry I? If anyone took any summer courses, did that prepare you for AP Chem, and where did you take your summer course? Also, does anyone happen to know, if I were to take AP chemistry at a community college over the summer, would the grade I get in the class go on my transcript? The reason I want to take an AP course is to improve my college applications and hopefully increase my GPA. If I by chance don’t do great in the class, I don’t want that impacting my GPA negatively. Also please keep in mind that I am a very motivated, and ready to work student. Is AP Chem a good choice?
ap chem is an extremely hard class, it’s very fast-paced and the material is college-level. I believe that less than 6% get a 5 on the exam. But if you’re willing to do it, then go for it. Just don’t do it in your junior year *I hate chemistry and I’m not taking it anytime, but this is what I’ve heard from friends
AP chem is one of the hardest AP classes, it’s also very time intensive with the labs. It’s designed to be a second level of Chemistry study, it is not designed to introduce you to chemistry. Imagine going into Russian 2 without Russian1: you would not even recognize the directions or the signs. So, take chemistry honors next year and AP chemistry junior year, and AP world history if you wish. Or take summer school chemistry to have at least a basic introduction. But don’t take AP chemistry without any background in chemistry.
I’m not sure if taking a summer course wouldn’t go on your transcript. It probably will. And what’s the point of taking AP chem if you take the actual class at college? The point of APs is to get college course credit so that you won’t have to take the class in college.
Well, since general chemistry in college is two semesters, you’d only be wasting one semester. So if you take a course in the summer, that would cover Gen chem A, and if you pass the chem exam it could cover Gen chem B (depending on your score).
Unless you’re aiming for Harvard or something, I wouldn’t waste my summer taking chemistry. Just learn some introductory material to prepare you for the AP class.
Like I said, unless you’re aiming for an ivy league, don’t ruin your high school summers. Later in your college years you may be working/studying over the summers, and after you get a job, unless you’re a teacher or something, you won’t have summers off. These are your last few summers so make the most of them.
I would suggest taking Honors Chem next year and if you are interested, take AP Chem as a senior.
@heba165: the “point” of AP courses isn’t to get credit, but to challenge yourself and demonstrate ability to handle rigor. (Many top colleges assume A as the default pre-college level and don’t give any credit). They expect 4-8 over the course of HS, because they consider it suffices to show ability to handle difficult material and willingness to challenge yourself. Obviously many flaghips and directionals will offer more generous credit but it still shouldn’t be the primary criterion for choosing an AP course.
Also, “summer courses” or “summer school” is usually offered through a HS or a virtual HS.
It’d be totally counterproductive to take a college General chemistry course which is already weedout for college kids who took Honors chem AND AP chem in high school, and compound it by taking it as a compact, intensive six-week college course.
@studenttales: take chemistry before you take AP chem.
Thank you all so much for your replies, I found your advice very helpful. I think I am going to stick with Honors Chem, so that I am not rushing into anything without being prepared.