<p>ok, thanks- i’ll try to figure out how to make it work :)</p>
<p>but how would AP enviro be? b/c even if i drop a class i still won’t have room for physics, and even if it’s going to impact me negatively i’m not dropping 2.</p>
<p>Physics honors/accelerated takes 2 periods?</p>
<p>AP Environmental I guess is ok, but it’s also seen as a weaker AP.</p>
<p>yeah, it does 
i realize that enviro isn’t as good as physics, but it’s the closest thing i can do, so i’ll probably go with that
what do you think about AP psych as a science-y class?</p>
<p>Psych is not a science, and I assume wouldn’t be considered science-y by college admissions officers. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend that you drop Chorus, since colleges do like to see long-term commitment to ECs, and from what you’ve said, it’s important to you.</p>
<p>I think it is pretty clear from what colleges say in their common data set forms that they prefer to see 4 years of science, than to see 5 years of social studies + 3 years of science. (In that the selective colleges recommend 4 years of science, and either 3-4 years of social studies typically.) You’ll have plenty of opportunities in college to take International Relations. Maybe you could even take IR during the summer at a CC. </p>
<p>But how much does it really matter? I don’t know, I’m not an admissions officer. However, I am an alumnus interviewer for an Ivy. And I can imagine an interview conversation where when I ask about what the student did during the summer. I would rather hear about how you took IR during the summer since it is a subject that you are really interested in but didn’t have room to fit it in during the school year, and are considering majoring in something along that area, how much you loved the class and learned a lot, etc. vs. hearing that you took physics during the summer even though you hated it since you thought it would look bad to admissions officers if you didn’t have physics. </p>
<p>It might make sense to check with your GC about what is necessary to have the most rigorous courseload box on the common app GC form. If that box isn’t checked, there would probably be a significant impact on admissions at top schools. If your overall schedule is rigorous enough that the box will be checked anyway, it probably doesn’t matter too much.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice!!
i’m talking to my counselor on monday and if she says my schedule won’t count as most rigorous, i’ll work on revising my schedule. otherwise i think i’ve decided to drop science and deal with the consequences (i like your suggestion about taking IR over the summer but the reason i’m taking it next year is because the IR class at my school is amazing and i don’t want to miss out on it) since i don’t think the slight difference in admissions is worth sacrificing my happiness.</p>
<p>thanks to everyone who’s replied! even though i guess i’m going against the advice some of you gave, talking it through with you guys has helped me figure out what’s right for me :)</p>
<p>From the other perspective… I’m currently a senior taking three social science classes and no science. I’m definitely more humanities oriented, and I just never really liked science. That’s evident from my extracurriculars.</p>
<p>Now, I can’t tell you my results because we haven’t heard from colleges yet, but I do know I am being considered for some major scholarships at a couple schools. USC is interviewing me for a Trustee, which is full tuition and the biggest scholarship they give. If they were worried about my lack of science, I don’t think they would do that. Another school is paying for me to fly down and interview for a scholarship.</p>
<p>Admittedly I took bio, honors chem, and AP Physics B, and it seems the science classes you’ve taken were less rigorous. However, I would really caution anyone against dropping a class they’d really love for one that would be meaningless for them. I’m glad you’ve decided to stick with the no-science schedule, and I wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>thank you so much! it’s really great to hear from someone who’s made the same decision as me :)</p>
<p>It’s not the same because he took bio, chem, physics. You havent.</p>
<p>that wasn’t really the point of his post…why are you arguing with everything i say? anyway my point wasn’t that we were in the exact same situation, just that we made the same choice, which is what he was getting at too. thanks for your time but i’ve made my decision.</p>
<p>Youre missing the point. Its not about dropping science altogether, which is ok. It’s about not taking physics. He did, so he’s in good shape.</p>
<p>i realize he’s in better shape than me; the main point i was originally making when i responded to him was that he understood my decision and was being supportive, which i thought was really nice.</p>