Hello everyone. I am a rising senior and I have 4 science credits. I wanted to know if it was worth taking an extra one senior year? i have already taken accel biology, accel chemistry, gifted physics, and AP Environmental Science (I got a B in both APES and physics first semester of junior year because they’re hard at my school). The only science classes i haven’t taken are AP Bio and AP Chem (my school offers a few general science classes that aren’t worthwhile to me). If anything, I will take AP Chem just because i liked chemistry sophomore year. Will colleges care that I took a 5th science class? Or is it not worth it?
If you are interested in a STEM field, I could definitely see it helping. Even if you’re not, it can still be pretty impressive that you continue to challenge yourself. I say do what makes you happy while still challenging yourself - if you’re interested in taking AP Chem, then do it. But don’t think you have to overload yourself in your senior year. Conversely, you still need to challenge yourself, which is what colleges will be looking for in your senior year. If you feel the rest of your schedule is already rigorous enough, the 5th science may not be necessary. I’ve noticed that AP Chem at the majority of schools can be pretty brutal, so keep in mind that you will probably be dedicating a large portion of your time to the class. Challenge yourself, but don’t overwhelm yourself to the point that you can’t enjoy your senior year!
^^^ Plan your future major, but no matter what, another AP class, especially AP Chem, will help you in the process. Also, I have heard the AP Bio is a breeze as far as AP science classes you, so you may want to keep that in mind.
I think colleges will care mostly if you are an engineering or science major. If you are not, I don’t think it would make any difference to your application. Also, I took AP Bio last year, and I know it was a hard class. So I would NOT suggest taking AP bio and AP Chem together (that would be hectic) because they both require a lot of work. So maybe you could take AP chem and an easier (non-AP) science (ex: my school offers anatomy and physiology, biotech, forensics…etc).
@rosa1748 @diane11 @bwulv24 Thank you all for the input! I am more interested in the STEM field more than anything else. So I figure I might as well take it because it’ll do more good than harm.
btw AP bio is not a breeze. At most schools it’s one of the hardest ap’s offered. It’s all subjective to your school so ask around and see what’s the most manageable for you.
Well I will have 9 by the time I graduate.
@APScholar1 Well, considering my school barely offers 6 science classes and 3 of them have pre-requisites…it’s not that easy.