I am a Sophomore who has had an absolutely dreadful experience with Chem 1 Honors this year. I’ve struggled greatly, lost a lot of sleep and I will barely get a B. I’ve realized that Physics 1AP, the typical science course to take after Chem, would be a similar experience, so I devised a plan where I would take Human Anat H Junior year and physics AP senior year, when I won’t have to worry so much about that one class tanking my GPA and quality of life before I send out college apps. Do you think this is a sound thought process? I know I need physics AP on my list of courses for the colleges I want to apply to, but at the same time I don’t plan on being a STEM major and I need to keep my quality of life in mind. My main reservation is whether or not admissions will truly care whether I took the class junior or senior year. The only reason I can see why they would is that if I take it Senior year, they won’t have a letter grade on the transcript to judge from, but does it really affect their decision, especially for a prospective non STEM major? For extra context, here are some schools I’ve thought of applying to: Wesleyan, USC, UCLA, Boston University, Texas at Austin, NYU, Princeton, Dartmouth, Penn (last three obviously reach) As a student, I’m in the top 10% of my class, GPA of 3.8ish currently, all H and AP classes except math, but after taking regular calc next year I’ll move to AP Stat senior year. In addition to 5 core subjects (my foreign language is Spanish), I’m taking AP Gov/Politics next year and AP Economics senior year) Informed answers appreciated.
Wesleyan is a reach. USC is a reach. UT Austin and UCLA are reaches if you are OOS.
Why do you need to take AP Physics? It is a really tough class. If you are not interested in STEM, I suggest you take regular or Honors Physics and try for the best grade you can get. Fill the rest of your schedule with rigorous classes. If science isn’t your thing, I can’t imagine you will get a high grade in AP physics. One regular class isn’t going to destroy your chances at reach schools, especially if the rest of your schedule is rigorous.
Can you take AP Env Sci as a junior of senior? Do that, and take reg or honors physics for the other year. That way you can have an advanced Sci class on your transcript. In your shoes, I would choose that route over anatomy, which colleges don’t care much about.
All of these colleges you listed are competitive. Look at other boards on CC and you will see stats of students getting accepted this year. All top schools look for students to take the most rigorous course load available to them. I agree with @Lindagaf, you should take Honors Physics next year if that is offered at your school. Anatomy is not considered a challenging science class (and neither is a non AP calc class). Your senior year course load is important and you will likely have to submit mid-year grades senior year, as many of the schools you listed are ED (and you can only apply to one ED school). Talk to your high school counselor and see what he/she has to say. As you proceed through junior year, you will have your standardized score and a clearer picture of your course load and GPA.
Why do you need AP Physics if you’re not planning to be a STEM major? It sounds like you’d be much better off if you took a lower level science class and got a better grade. Focus your APs on subjects you find interesting or are more related to a potential major. Don’t overburden yourself trying to be someone you’re not.
One of my kids is in the Honors College at an excellent state university. One is heading off to a superb liberal arts college next year. Neither took any AP science or math. They did take Honors and AP classes in History, English, Economics, and a language.
You don’t HAVE TO take AP Physics 1. Honors Physics or even regular Physics is ok, as long as 1° you have physics , 2° you have 6-8 AP’s in Humanities and Social Sciences, and 3° get A’s.
APES is better than Anatomy.
The order DOES NOT matter as long as you have Physics by the end of senior year.