Course selection time. My Louisiana student is going to be a senior next year. She has had a tough science year currently (Organic Chem and AP Chem–As in both!), and next year really wants to take Honors Physics instead of AP Physics. I’m encouraging her to do that, especially since she loves biology and is going to take AP Bio. Otherwise, she’ll also have a tough schedule. She is currently No. 1 in class at tough school, and she thinks she can retain that through this year; 35 on her ACT, and probably a NMSF (high index). She is also very active in student council and tennis. That is why I’m encouraging her not to take AP Physics. Is that a bad move? Her top schools are W&L, UofR, Tulane, with Princeton as a reach.
as long as she is not applying as an engineering or physics major it should not make a difference if the rest of the schedule is competitive.
What’s her major? If it’s anything tech,engineering, or math related,then take AP Physics 1,2, or C
Since you’re doing bio, you should take AP Environmental or Anatomy.
No. Just because a school offers them, and just because a kid likes STEM, does not mean she needs to take every AP science. Honors Physics + AP Bio/APChem/Organic Chem + whatever sciences she took as a frosh/soph, is more than enough for any college (assuming she is not going into engineering).
Actually, she is considering a liberal arts major with a science minor–wants to attend med school. Thanks for advice. She is a strong science student, just not a “science genius” (does that make sense?). She did get a 36 on her Science ACT, but that seems mostly reading comprehension.
In which case, I definitely would not push for AP Physics. Most med schools will not accept AP credit as meeting science prerequisites, so she’ll need to take physics in college anyway.
I totally agree with skieurope on this. Honors Physics + AP Bio would be plenty, especially considering the science classes she’s already taken.
Make sure she takes English, Math, Social Science and Foreign Language through senior year if possible - regardless of her major, with such potential and attending a top school (I’m assuming a private school?), having 4 years in all core subjects will be expected.