No science? (Senior yr scheduling)

Applying to College
1

I have senior year scheduling on Friday (I am currently a Junior), and I’m struggling with the science part of my schedule.

I will have already taken three years of lab science by the end of this year: Biology, Chemistry, AP Chemistry.

The original plan was to take Physics next year, however I am now considering another route because I’m not very interested in going into STEM and just don’t enjoy science all too much.

Here are the three ideas I’ve thought up:

  1. Take no science and instead do a directed study for AP psychology (social studies credit)

  2. Take no science and replace with a semester of creative writing and a semester of psych (the actual class)

  3. Take a semester of a science (anatomy, genetics, marine bio) and a semester of psych

  4. Add one more class to my schedule, allowing me to take physics AND psych/creative writing

Here is the schedule I have planned so far:
Calc 2 and 3 (combo of AP calc bc and college calc)
AP English Lit
Advanced Journalism
Chamber Orchestra
AP Human Geography

With the AP math, I was thinking it might not look too bad if I don’t take science, or only take a semester for senior yr. My passion lies with English, and I adore social studies classes, so I’d love to orient my classes around these focuses.

So, here are my questions:

  • How would colleges view my "slacking" (for lack of a better word) on science my senior yr?
  • Which of my ideas would be the best option?

-Would it look weird if I did end up doing APHuG and psychology (two social studies classes)?

-Is it more important to have my schedule reflect my interests or ability to handle difficult classes?

  • How important are senior schedule to colleges anyway?

btw, I’m shooting for top tier colleges

Thanks! :slight_smile:

2

For the most selective colleges, it is likely favorable to have all three sciences (biology, chemistry, physics).

3

If you are shooting for top tier colleges, then you’d be wise to take the rigorous classes that they like to see, and that other students applying to those same schools will be taking if offered by their HS’s. That means taking AP Physics.
There is no way of sliding into a top college without showing that you can handle the most rigorous classes your HS offers, unless you are a recruited athlete or your parents are alumni or have contributed millions of $$.

4

bump!

5

I got into an elite college without taking Chem.

6

I would take Physics…you want to have taken all 3 types of science … I would say take Honors Physics instead of AP if you dont’ want the challenge and drop AP Human Geography

7

My son didn’t take a science his senior year. He’d taken physics, chem and bio and didn’t want to do AP Bio, Anatomy or Psychology, the three remaining sciences. He was rejected by Brown and Swarthmore and this might have been a factor, because his GPA and SAT scores were excellent. But who really knows? In any case, he ended up at Oberlin and is doing well there.

8

bump