I took honors physics in freshmen year, and honors chemistry sophomore year. I barely made an A in physics, and made a B in chemistry. This year, I took AP Physics, but I dropped it because I had a D. I think AP chemistry will be worse, so I don’t plan on taking that.
However, my parents told me that most colleges will look down on me if I don’t take AP Chemistry or Physics. I told them that it wouldn’t matter that much since I’m not applying in either fields, and that I’m taking AP Biology and plan on taking AP Environmental Science, so it’s not as if I’m deficient in science classes. Then they told me that those classes weren’t hard sciences, and colleges preferred hard sciences. Will not taking AP Physics or Chemistry affect admissions to college?
<p>On your parents- Bio, is supposed to be an easy science? Tell them that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. </p>
<p>BUT! I don't recommend you taking AP bio and Environmental science at the same year. Colleges know that much of their curriculum overlaps, so it looks as if you;ve taken an "easy way out" (Not as in easy classes)</p>
<p>Don't hurt yourself too much with classes you can't deal with-- but also challenge yourself to a healthy extent.
I only have 2 years of science-- Physics and Bio. I applied early to Yale and was deferred, so they didn't think it totally ridiculous.
Just don't put yourself down as a prospective science major!!! Your chances will depend in large part on the strengths of the other parts of your application.</p>
<p>For the top schools, it is very highly reccomended to take chem, physics, and bio. If any are honors, so much the better, if any are AP that's even better too, but not necessary in order to get admitted. Taking the trio is much more important than if any are AP---3 lab sciences are the first goal. I don't think that AP Envoronmental science is a lab science, but regardless it is really not at all important to take, and will be viewed on par with any random elective, so if there's something that interests you more like an extra art class I'd go that route. </p>
<p>I can tell you that DD had:
9th: integrated sci
10th: reg Chem
11th: reg Physics
12: AP Bio</p>
<p>and got inot UChi. AP Bio is a definate plus and at DD's school, is considered the hardest AP class. No one will 'look down' on a student that took 3 lab sciences, 2 Hon and 1 AP, esp. Of course, the mix of other classes is important too, esp English and Math. A "D" in anything will hurt anyone to some extent. But I don't think it is worth taking Hon. chem or phys plus AP, there's just a huge deal of overlap and it's like repeating a class pretty much. I don't see any advantage.</p>
<p>Truth is your folks are right. You know that physics and chem are hard. Do you think the colleges don't know this too? When they are evaluating applicants, lets be honest here -- who is the more attractive candidate to a selective school, the one who took those classes and did well, or the one who dodged them?</p>
<p>just look at the stanford admission website,for example. They say "We look for eager, highly engaged students who will bring a high degree of intellectual energy and creativity to Stanford, and who have taken a reasonably challenging course load, selecting from among the most demanding courses available to them". If you're hoping to go to colleges of this caliber, ask yourself if you're choosing the "most demanding courses". I think you know the answer.</p>
<p>Just because you don't take AP Physics or Chem doesn't mean you won't get into college (pffbt). My friend got into Stanford and she didn't take any AP science courses. She's an English major though, and took challenging humanities courses yet still took honors science courses as well. </p>
<p>Perhaps look at your schedule and see what you can juggle. Talk to your counselor and upperclassmen.</p>
<p>A lot depends on where you are applying and what your school offers. If your school does not offer hard sciences or Ap and you can't take them that is one thing, but if they are offered and you avoid them, it is looked upon differently.</p>
<p>Most college websites have recommended courses for admissions. If the school which you are applying to recommends 3 to 4 years of science and you only have 2, yes you are going to be at a disadvantage to all the other candidates that have taken 4 years of science. However if your school only offers 2 courses and you took those 2 courses, then it won't be held against you.</p>
<p>*I only have 2 years of science-- Physics and Bio. I applied early to Yale and was deferred, so they didn't think it totally ridiculous. * But it probably was a big contributor in your being deffered especially if your school offered more science and you did not take the courses.</p>
<p>As mikemac and bettina already stated schools want you to take the most challenging curriculum your school offers and for you to do well in those courses. I also agree with bettina on the bio, chem, physics route also because at most selective colleges most of the applicants are bringing these sciences to the table. Again if your school offers them and you don't take them, it is held against you.</p>
<p>I know at my daughters school (small public with not a lot of ap courses):</p>
<p>9th grade Bio
10th Chem
11th physics
12th AP Bio or AP physics</p>
<p>it worked for her as she is attending her first choice school-Dartmouth.</p>
<p>i am also slightly concerned with this topic, what if i do have three lab sciences (earth/space, bio, and chem) all honors, along with ap enviro, but no ap chem, bio, or physics (my school offers all three, along with honors physics)
if i am taking a course load that is pretty much as rigorous as possible other than in this one area (6/7 aps senior year,and dual enrolling at a local college)
will it hurt me at colleges that recommend 3 sciences?
keeping in mind i do have three lab sciences along with AP enviro, and that i do NOT want to go into science in college</p>
<p>I plan on majoring in either classics or psychology, and I'm looking at some of the Ivies for my reach list, and haven't decided any colleges for my match and safety lists. As if advanced level chemistry and physics will really come in handy when translating an ode by Horace. However, I talked to some of the seniors (the ones who got accepted into the Ivies) about what they thought of my science classes, which were honors physics and chemistry, AP biology, and next year, AP environmental science. They all told me that I should at least take an AP level of physics or chemistry, even if I'm majoring in humanities. They said that in the selection process, there will be thousands of humanities majors who have taken those classes, and those that didn't will be at a disadvantage. </p>
<p>I also asked about the topics they covered in AP physics and chemistry. The entire first semesters are the same as the second semesters of the honors levels, so there's a half-year overlap.</p>
<p>Even though it'd be nice to get into HYPS, I won't feel sad if I get rejected. I'm pretty busy already, and I doubt I will have time to study for AP physics - I think it's better to not take the class than get a bad grade.</p>