<p>I am currently a sophomore in high school. I plan to major in biomedical engineering and then go on to medical school. My top college choices right now are Stanford and UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>Tomorrow, we choose our course plan for jr and sr year. I have pretty much everything figured out... except whether to take Spanish 3 or Physics.</p>
<p>The thing is, if I take Physics my junior year, I'll be able to take AP Physics my senior year. If I take Spanish 3 my junior year, I'll be able to take either Spanish 4, or perhaps AP Psychology for my senior year. It ultimately boils down to this:</p>
<p>Is it better to have a very strong science background with Physics and AP Physics,
OR
Is it better to not do physics at all and simply do a third year of Spanish along with AP Psychology.</p>
<p>Personally, I hate Spanish. I'm good at it, compared to other students, but that's just because of the ridiculous amount of effort I put into it. I feel that if I do Spanish 3 next year, I'll be overwhelmed with the amount of time and effort I'd need to sacrifice. Plus, I'll have several AP classes next year as well.</p>
<p>Honestly I want to take Physics, but is it worth risking putting a bad image in college admission officers eyes since I’d only have 2 years of a foreign language?</p>
<p>…this is tough. Colleges love students who keep continuing with a foreign language all 4 years, especially those reach schools you mentioned, though your desired major. </p>
<p>Although learning a foreign language is important, especially for colleges, your major aka future is way more important. So I’m gonna have to say Physics. Take 1 and 2 next year and C after that. (AP) It’s major to take that for your future. </p>
<p>Ask your counselor to take an extra class, or sub out a class that is an elective or going above the reqs. If those solutions don’t work, then follow what I said before.</p>
<p>(Jeez what is up with all of these Physics threads in this section lately?)</p>
<p>A lot of schools do require three years of a foreign language so you should check those schools’ policies. Personally I recommend taking physics. Good luck!
(I’m loving all the physics threads :P)</p>
<p>So I guess taking physics and AP physics will really emphasize my interest in science/ engineering?</p>
<p>It will perhaps make me stand out since if I do end up taking both Physics and AP Physics, it’ll total up to 6 science classes by the end of my Senior year: Bio, AP Bio, Chem, AP Chem, Phy, AP Phy. </p>
<p>I’m assuming that colleges will look at this, and consider that fact that I spent pretty much 25% of my time in High School taking science classes, and they’ll be impressed with my dedication?</p>
<p>Or will they simply get the idea that I’m some nerdy Asian kid with no life, etc. and refuse to consider me as a good candidate.</p>
<p>@DaneBrick said it perfectly. I’m currently a junior and I have done Spanish since 4th grade. However, it comes down to that point where I don’t have the same passion for the subject anymore. I going to finish Spanish 4 honors this year and call it quits. Three years of foreign language is good enough. Just take it during senior year. </p>
<p>Thanks guys for your help, I really appreciate the input; but I’m screwed:</p>
<p>I don’t know about the rest of the United States, but apparently in California (at least from what I know about my school’s programs), they’re eliminating the traditional Physics A, B, C curriculum, and replacing it with a completely Algebra based set of classes in a set of AP Physics 1, and AP Physics 2. Supposedly, this is to mirror the traditional college level Physics approach, with AP Physics 1 being equivalent to taking a regular college freshmen Physics class, and AP Physics 2 equivalent to college sophomore level Physics. </p>
<p>I have no idea on how this is gonna work. I’ll try to look it up, but any info would be helpful. </p>
<p>Yeah, the change is everywhere. I would go with Physics, and check with your school to see if they offer any online Spanish courses over the summer of during the year if you would like to take a bit more effort and do both. You could also look for 3rd party HS accredited courses e.g. JHU CTY, Connections Academy and see if your school would accept them for credit though they may be costly.</p>
<p>What are even your other classes for next year? There has to be some where you can put in 1 & 2. </p>
<p>You could go for Physics Honors, and then C senior year, 1 and 2 is just algebra based, and you could say in your college app if possible that you did not have enough room for 1 and 2. </p>
<p>And hey hey hey, there’s always self study! Self study one of those APs if you desire, just ask your Physics teacher on what it consists of.</p>
<p>@apandia Well if I go with Physics, then yeah, I can do that to at least self teach myself the language to a third year equivalent level. Thanks.</p>
<p>@elefish92 My classes are as follows:</p>
<p>(*Many of my classes are associated with a graduation requirement :(, so I can only modify the empty slots)</p>
<p>Freshmen: 9 (last year)
-Honors English 1
-Geometry
-Biology
-Spanish 1
-Core P.E.(<em>grad req First Year Physical Education)
-Health/ Driver’s Ed (</em>grad req One Year Life Skills)</p>
<p>Sophomore: 10 (this year)
-Honors English 2
-Algebra 2
-Chemistry
-Spanish 2
-Body Conditioning P.E. (<em>grad req Second Year Physical Education)
-World History (</em>grad req First Year Social Studies)</p>
<hr>
<p>Junior: 11 (next year)
-AP English 1
-Pre Calculus
-AP Chemistry
-AP Statistics
AP US History (*grad req Second Year Social Studies)
-_____________________________________________ (question: Either Physics or Spanish 3)???</p>
<p>Senior: 12 (following year)
-AP English 2
-AP Calculus 1
-AP Biology
-AP Government/ Econ (<em>grad req Third Year Social Studies)
-Intro to Art (</em>grad req Visual and Preforming Art)
-_____________________________________________ (question: AP Physics 1 IF Physics Junior Year, OR AP Psychology if Spanish 3 Junior Year)</p>