I’m leaning towards business and was wondering if I should take AP Chemistry next year. AP chem is notorious for being the hardest course and it requires constant all-nighters. I am taking Honors chem this year and I’m positive that I can handle the course load and get an A in the class, if I basically give up on my social life and get 3 hrs of sleep every night… I’ve been told that it’s a really important class (tho only around 5 people graduating each year take it). I don’t want to seem like I slacked off, but is it really worth all the time expended? Plus I also have to take the SAT I next year :’(
Not really (except it will show a more rigorous curriculum). Ask your GC (since they are the ones who state how rigorous your class selection is) what they would do based on that class or not.
@supernerd679 AP Chem probably won’t be too useful as a business major, but it is more rigorous (as Erin’s Dad said), and many universities require chemistry as a gen ed requirement - a high score on the AP Chem test may grant you credit.
Also, I don’t think any high school course anywhere requires constant all-nighters.
IMO, no. As long as you have one year of chemistry in high school, that is sufficient. In my D’s school, students have the option to take chemistry or honors chemistry in 10th or 11th grade, and then can take AP chem in 12th, but it is usually only the prospective STEM students who go on to take AP Chem. Your honors chem is fine. You do not have to take every AP class your school offers. Focus on activities and classes that will allow you to create a compelling narrative of who you are that you can relay in your application.
I don’t think it that taking that would help much for a business major. I have a similar problem, except I’m deciding whether or not I should try AP Cal. ^#(^
@luloobee For starters, you really should not hijack another person’s thread - it’s considered rude.
It depends. Are you saying that the AP Chem class is the only AP class that the student is considering, or that AP Chem is the school’s only AP option? Regardless, a student should not feel obligated to take this, or any, AP class just to check off a box. Additionally, the question is really unanswerable without the context of the student’s entire schedule; if the balance of the schedule is rigorous, then just adding an AP class will nor significantly increase the overall perception of rigor.
@tierra137 Business majors usually have to take calculus I and II in college. Some of the more competititive business colleges will prefer to see AP cal on your application for direct admission to your major. I’d suggest you take Cal AB, not for credit but to have some cal exposure.
That’s the thing @JAMCAFE , AP Cal is the only AP class that my school offers and no one comes out of there with a grade higher than a C-. We don’t have AB classes and I only really just found out about weighted and unweighted GPA. Can someone please explain that to me? Sorry @supernerd679 !
If you are aiming for the very top schools, ask your guidance counselor if he/she will check that you have taken the most rigorous schedule available if you don’t take AP Chem. If you are not aiming for those schools, then you can skip it.
Many business school have gotten very competitive, so the AP Chem class will help in that it shows that the student was willing to challenge herself. Best of luck to you!
Hi I take AP Chem right now and will be finishing the course of with a B (:/, started the year off with not so good study habits for chem), but in all honesty the class is not that hard. If you want to show colleges that you like to challenge yourself I would say take it. Also if AP Chemistry will be the only AP class you’re taking next year, you definitely won’t be doing all-nighters. I take three AP’s (Lang, World, and Chem) and only spend about 2-3 hours a week studying for chem and have gotten an A in the class the last two quarters
