Not having 4 years of science - will it hurt?

<p>As my location states, I currently live in Michigan but will be transferring to a school in California for my senior year. Due to the small size of my next school (whose highest level course offerings include just Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, and Honors Physics), I will have already taken all the science courses available (Honors Biology as a freshman, Honors Chem as a sophomore, and Honors Physics as a junior). I intend to major in a language (most likely German) as well as political science. Since neither of these are science-intensive fields, plus the fact that my new school can't offer me any more courses to take, will the fact that I won't have 4 years of science affect my application in any way? Thanks.</p>

<p>If you chose not to take a lab science all 4 years, it can be seen as a negative. However, if you have taken all the science that is offered, it is beyond your control. I would just have guidance at your new school mention it.</p>

<p>^ That’s true. I was actually planning to self-study for AP Physics B by taking a course online, but apparently the State of California requires a U.S. government course as part of its graduation requirements, and since I can only do one course online independently I have no choice but to take Government. I’ll let the guidance department at my new school know about this.</p>

<p>Alternatively, maybe I could try persuading my school to let me take AP Physics online as well. Would you recommend this route for me?</p>

<p>Bumping thread…</p>

<p>You should, if you want to and think you can do well. Physics isn’t easy under the best of circumstances and there is no need to add extra time consuming classes outside unless you really have an interest. Not having four years won’t hurt you, but going above and beyond to take an extra year may help you.</p>

<p>Thanks! Any more opinions?</p>

<p>Take a science at a local community college.
Contact the gc at your new hs now to ask any other questions you may have about your senior schedule and fulfilling requirements for your college transcript.</p>

<p>Okay, so the guidance department just emailed me back and told me I could take both U.S. Government and Physics B online. I have one additional question though: do online courses show up on your transcript? I’m thinking they should, but I just want to make sure.</p>

<p>^
The best person to ask would be your guidance counselor, as school policy varies. However, in general, if the online course is approved, then it will show on your transcript.</p>

<p>Don’t do AP physics online. Esp. if you aren’t a math minded person, it’s nearly impossible. I tried that at the beginning of the school year (this is my junior year) and I had to drop it. Granted, I had never taken a trig or physics course before, but it was still really intense and focused on independent learning. It depends on if you are good at learning independently and if you are naturally good at math and science.</p>

<p>It’s not necessary, depending on the colleges you’re looking at. Most colleges require 3 years of lab, and recommend 4 years of science. Key Word here: RECOMMEND. IMO, It’s better to take rigorous courses that reflect your interest in colleges. They’re not going to look at your class list, see you have a solid GPA, rigorous courses, and then notice the lack of a fourth science, and toss you out of consideration. It won’t even be a deciding factor. Don’t bother with it.</p>

<p>What if I’m shooting for the top schools (think Ivies and Stanford)? I understand that there’s a difference between ‘recommended’ and ‘required’, but from what I’ve seen of the whole “4 years of foreign language vs. 2 or 3” debate, it looks like the ‘recommended’ courses at the Ivies are really unspoken ‘requirements’. And StarryEyed93, I’ll just have completed one year of honors physics and math up to AP Calc AB, so I don’t think it’ll be too difficult…</p>

<p>Your case is quite different from most: you’re transferring for your senior year. Practically speaking the admission committees will focus primarily (and maybe exclusively) on your record at your current high school. Most likely your recommendations will come from that school, as would your transcript at the time of application. The rigor of your coursework will be reviewed in the context of what your current high school offers, and not what your new school offers.</p>

<p>In an ideal situation you would stay at your current high school at least through first semester of senior year. You’ll have access to your GC and to the course offering there. It’ll make applying to selective schools much easier. But if this is impossible, I doubt that trying to compensate for what may be lacking at your new school is time well spent.</p>

<p>^ Thanks so much! So I guess the wise thing for me to do would be to just leave science at 3 years?</p>