No AP Science?

Applying to College
1

Hi, I’m a current junior at a top “feeder” boarding school trying to figure out my courses for next year. I’m in the top 5% of my class and want to study English/linguistics in college, and I’m thinking of applying to Ivies and other “top” schools (I think I stand a fair chance; my school’s matriculation is insanely good).

I’m taking all 500-level (AP level/college level) classes other than science (including 2 foreign languages beyond AP level), and have been getting all A’s in English, history, Calc BC, and both languages. Science has been my weakest subject, so when I had the chance to take 500 bio/chem/physics, I chose not to. This year, I am taking 400-level electives (on evolution and disease) for my science requirement and have been getting straight A’s. Next year, I’m thinking of taking ecology or environmental science, neither of which are “college level.” Would it be better to take a “college level” science course, like 500 Bio, and get lower grades in it? Would top schools expect at least one AP-equivalent science course on my transcript?

2

Have you taken other AP classes in English / History / Language?

3

Have you taken all three of biology, chemistry, and physics?

4

Yes, I’m taking all 500 classes other than science (including 2 foreign languages beyond AP level). Our freshman science course is intro to bio/environmental, and the sophomore course is intro to chem/physics, so I have taken those.

5

Thoughts?

6

Then I would ask your college counselor. Boarding schools have among the best college counseling offices in the country.

Personally, I don’t think that it is a make/break

7

Cool, thank you! We don’t start college counseling until we get back from break, so I guess I don’t have to worry about this until then :slight_smile:

8

Yes, ask your college counselor. Your high school’s science curriculum is somewhat unusual (most have a year each of biology, chemistry, and physics, instead of two years combining all three plus environmental science), so how they match up to college expectations of high school science courses is something your counselor needs to tell you.