Not taking science senior year...

Applying to College
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<p>Ok, so I'm a junior and I'm already thinking a little bit about my schedule next year, but I won't really know what my options are until January. </p>

<p>I'm in the accelerated program in my H.S., and like most kids in the program I'm taking 1 AP(USH). Some are taking 2 and 1 or 2 kids are taking 3 APs. So I'm in a good boat, but nowhere near the smartest in my class. But this honors program skips the freshman science, so technically after this year I can kind of be done with science because I'll already have taken Bio, Chem and Physics.<br>
Next year, for sure I'm going to take AP English, AP Politics and Govt, and AP Calculus. </p>

<p>I've thought about taking AP Bio or possibly AP Physics, but now I don't really want to. I can't stand science, it is my worst subject. I get pretty good grades, lowest grade I got in Honors Bio and Honors Chem was an A-. But I struggled mightily to get those grades and really busted my butt when I got a 93. Honors Physics doesn't seem that bad, but I'm not really interested in it.
Which goes back to what my Chem teacher told me last year. Don't take an AP unless you really want to and really like the subject. He was pitching to us to take AP Chem next year, but he didn't want to force it on anyone.
Now I know this goes what goes against a big thing on CC "OMG only 3 APs senior year, community college for you!!!" </p>

<p>I now know what he meant by that now that I'm taking APUSH. I love history, so I don't have a problem doing the homework and reading 15-20 pages anight, but a lot of kids in my class can't stand it and are kind of struggling because of it. </p>

<p>So, the main gist of my question is, how will my transcript look with 9th: Honors Bio (A, A-) Honors Chem (A-, A) and Honors Physics (?, of course shooting for an A). </p>

<p>Colleges say they like you to take 4 years of science, but how bad will it look that I only took 3? Keep in mind, I'll also have 4 APs by graduation.</p>

<p>Oh and I don't plan on majoring in anything closely related to science in college. I'm probably going major in Political Science or Econ, or possibly business. </p>

<p>Thanks, kind of a weird question I guess.</p>

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<p>A fourth year of science could include things like astronomy, meteorology, oceanography, etc. It doesn’t have to be an AP. I don’t know if your school offers those but that’s a potential “fix.”</p>

<p>My child is a senior and is not taking a fourth year of science after getting A’s in honors Bio, Chem, and Physics. He is taking AP’s in the humanities area. He registered for a science course but it was full so he’s taking something closer to his intended field of study.</p>

<p>Your question isn’t weird by any stretch. I’m interested in the answers you will get.</p>

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<p>Just checked my course catolog, no classes like that(at least or this current year). Just freshman general science, and the three other sciences at the regular, Honors and AP level. I thought there was one physics elective, but I guess that was last year or I was wrong. </p>

<p>Well, maybe I can try to take a class at a local CC over the summer in something science related, because chances are I’ll go to a school with some sort of a Gen Ed requirement that will require a science class. </p>

<p>I’ve thinking about doing this for awhile, because my state lets H.S. students take classes at CCs for free, they even pay for books. </p>

<p>Another thing is language. I’m in Honors Spanish 3 right now and I’m not sure if I’ll go on to AP( I doubt it it). AP Spanish is the worse department at my school, only one kid passed last year and it was with a 3.
So I think I’ll take Italian instead. My school has this kind of weird Italian program. It is only open to Junior and Seniors, and you can only take it after you have taken at least 2 years of another language. So it is not a full language that you can take for 4 years.
I’ve always wanted to learn Italian too, so that is nice.
3 years of one foreign language should be adequate enough, right?</p>

<p>thanks</p>

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<p>I don’t think it matters for most colleges. The only ones that care are really those top universities with so many qualified applicants. If you’re aiming high, then I’d try to fit in some sort of science course and stick with Spanish for senior year. 3 years of Spanish is usually enough for schools, but the HYPS level colleges “recommend” 4 years.</p>

<p>I must depart a bit from the take-what-interests-you mentality, as sticking to 4 years of a single foreign language along with 4 years of science shows discipline and hard-work. Moreover, if you apply to the top schools, you’d be in a pool comprised of numerous students who have taken 4 years of science and 4 years of a foreign language. If you don’t, your application might need to compensate in other areas (most colleges say that HS transcript is the most important aspect). Even if your AP Spanish teacher is horrible, you can still do well on the exam by self-studying (just practice grammar, speaking, and/or watching Spanish TV).</p>

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<p>Yeah, that is true, but I’ve honestly lost my zeal for Spanish. I might take regular Spanish 4, instead of AP because I’m already going to take 3 next year, which is enough for me. </p>

<p>Of course I’m sort of aiming at HYPS, but I probably won’t apply to any of those schools, don’t really want to. The only two Ivy league schools I’m really considering are Cornell and Columbia, but I probably won’t apply to Columbia because I’ll save the city for grad school and I’m skeptical of my chances at both schools, especially Columbia.</p>

<p>But my dream school is Notre Dame, and that is pretty competitive to get into, so I don’t know…</p>

<p>But I’m starting to like my safeties a lot more and because of scholarships I could easily see myself at a school like Bama or South Carolina.
But for merit scholarships you need to have very good stats, but I’m not sure how good my class transcript needs to be. </p>

<p>Plus if I take Italian next year, I’ll technically be taking 4 years of language, so I’m still staying active. Not the same language, but whatever.</p>

<p>I just don’t want to shoot myself in the foot, by taking it too easy senior year and hurting my transcript. Or, on the flipside, taking either an AP science or language to have 4 APs and overload myself…</p>

<p>thanks</p>