Hi so I am trying to figure out what science course to take next year. I’ll be a junior next year. I don’t want to take honors bio because I want to take 4 APs. My options are:
AP Physics C (I took AP Physics 1 as a freshman and got a 4)
AP Chem
AP Bio
I’m not really interested in science that much, but I want the extra AP and a higher GPA. In order to take AP Bio, I would have to take a summer course, which I don’t really want to do, and if I take Physics C or Chem, I would either have to take Bio senior year or take a summer course. Chem seems kind of interesting, but my teachers and upperclassmen tell me chem is one of the hardest classes in the school. I would take Physics, but last year I’m not sure how I got a 4. I forgot almost everything by the AP test, and guessed a lot. I almost swore I was done with physics, but here I am again debating whether I should take AP Physics C or not.
Any recommendations?
Hey,
Actually I was in the same situation as you cause I’m a sophomore too and I’m not interested in science. I was debating whether to take a science AP (either APES or AP Bio). But I decided not to because my major isn’t really science related and taking a science AP sounds like death to me. Besides just because you have more ap’s doesn’t mean it guarantees you into a better college. What if you get a bad grade on the AP? It sounds like you have to do a lot of work (i.e. taking summer courses) to take one ap that doesn’t interest you. You can always take it if you want but I wouldn’t recommend it because you’re not that interested in science.
Focus not only on the AP score you think you can achieve, but what you realistically think your GPA would be. Yes, the extra weighting for an AP course helps (especially if your school ranks), but not if you struggle to keep a decent grade in the course. Depending on the courses and your abilities, 4 APs can be very challenging, especially if you’re not that motivated in the sciences. What lab sciences have you taken already?
another consideration is how good are you at math? I think Physics C will require the most math and the Bio AP will require the least. Also what are the reputations of the teachers? Ask existing juniors and seniors what they think of the teachers.
So far, I took AP physics 1, got a 4 on the ap exam, and am currently taking honors Chem with an A. I will be taking multivariable calculus next year as a junior, so I will probably not be challenged by the physics math parts, but maybe more the concepts. Also, I knew all math parts of physics before taking physics 1, yet by the end of the year, I was really worried for the AP test. As for the teachers:
AP Chem, the old teacher who had a good reputaion was out on maternity leave this year and was replaced with someone who is said to not be as good. It could be either teacher next year.
Ap Physics c, the teacher changed this year due to last year’s teacher’s retirement. He is said to be pretty knowledgeable, but he has the physics department does swap around a lot every year.
The AP bio teacher I don’t know much about, but according to ratemyteachers.com she is a great teacher.
Don’t just focus on the AP Exam score - but also your grade in the class as well, as the GPA is important to universities. At my school, AP Physics is the most math-based, but AP Chemistry is the most challenging. I highly suggest you go with the class that either most interests you, or you feel your skills are strongest in. If you plan to take 4 APs, you can’t afford to be struggling in one of them. Since you don’t plan on going into a science based career, the class you pick shouldn’t matter to most universities, only the grade you earn in the class and the impact it has on your GPA. Take that into consideration, and pick what you feel strongest about. Talk to people currently in those classes at your school, or people who took them in the past to find out what the rigor/workload is like. If you took Physics or Chem you said you’d need to take a summer course or bio your senior year - is there any way around that?
I’d also like to add that AP Bio tends to be a more memorization-based class - memorizing the processes and concepts, but also understanding them. In my opinion, it’s harder to be very successful in AP Bio unless you’re genuinely into the material. If you don’t care for Bio I strongly encourage you not to take the class. Chem and Physics, on the other hand, shouldn’t be a huge issue if you’re quick to grasp mathematical concepts.
No- five credits of biology are a graduation requirement