<p>I'm a sophomore in high school, and right now I'm trying to figure out what classes I should take for my junior year. Right now I have two science credits, which is the minimum amount of credits needed to graduate and to get into the university I want. They are DES-Dynamic Earth Systems and Biology. Most kids my age are taking Chemistry next year. However, I don't really want to take it. Should I suck it up and take it anyways in order to increase my chances of getting into my dream university (which is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign btw.) I'm thinking about getting a degree in either Business, Journalism, or Political Science.</p>
<p>IMO colleges will definitely want to see chemistry. Not necessarily physics but definitely chemistry - I’m surprised it’s not required for graduation.</p>
<p>It is best to have one year of bio, chem and physics in high school. Also don’t base your decision on one colleges requirements. You could change your mind about where you plan to apply in the next year and a half. Take chemistry next year.</p>
<p>Colleges/unis prefer students who have at least 3 science classes under their belt, and if anything these are the prime ones; biology and chemistry being the most important. Depending on what you want to major…etc., you could substitute physics with something else like materials science, astronomy, and/or environmental science.</p>
<p>(What my counselors in addition to both my chemistry and physics teachers told me.)</p>
<p>In my school you are required to take biology and one year of either chemistry or physics, and then additional science credit of the student’s choice. Most kids these days are getting 3-4 science credits, if not more by doubling up. If I were you, I’d double up on something related to what you really enjoy and continue with some kind of science for your remaining years in high school. Just to be safe. Your college choice might change, as well as your desired major. And who knows, maybe you’ll like chemistry.</p>
<p>Take Chemistry. Biology and Chemistry are really, really important - to the point that we are required to pass a state wide standardized exam in Biology in 9th grade (lovely MCAS) and our school requires that all students pass Chemistry as well, in order to graduate.</p>
<p>All the kids at my school who are college bound, whether it be to in-state public universities or private colleges have AT LEAST three science courses under their belt, and most have 4.</p>
<p>You’ll be competing against people with a sextet…Honors Bio, Honors Chem, Honors Physics, AP Physics C, AP Bio, AP Chem…do you really want to compete against them with just 2?</p>
<p>I don’t mean to divert the thread, but as someone interested in science, particularly bio/medical, is it preferable to take precalc or physics next year? I don’t want to take either one, but I’ve heard that colleges want both four years of math and science. Since I can’t pull off both, which takes priority? I’m an incoming senior. (And do NOT say a word to me about how I’m behind in math. I had no choice practically speaking about what to take.)
If I took two science classes this year, so that throughout high school I’ve taken bio, chem, AP bio, and genetics, does that mean that precalc is probably the better idea?</p>
<p>My school requires 4 years of Science. These are their exact words:
“Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include Earth Science, Biology, and one chosen from Chemistry or Physics. The fourth can be from Earth Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics”
I think this is a pretty great requirement. It requires you to take pretty much all the classes a college would require or recommend.</p>