I’m currently a sophomore that just picked classes for junior year. Because of a conflict btw art and french (i chose french), i had to go with my FIFTH choice for “electives,” which means I’m doubling up in physics and ap bio next year.
my question is, in addition to chem+bio earlier, would colleges see this as taking three or four years of science and, if it counts as three years, what class should i drop senior yr to take ap chem?
Currently, my plan for senior year is AP Psych, AP Studio 2D Art, AP Lit, French 4, Creative Writing, and Calc. The only classes it’s impossible for me to drop in this case is Calc and AP Lit, but I’d prefer not to drop AP Art or Creative Writing, because I want to go into those fields. My school also does not offer any other history classes after APUSH (no ap world and no euro history at all), so Psych is really my only option as far as social studies goes.
Given that I did not have to take AP Chem, I’m probably adding a less intense science or another English class.
I’m interested in applying to Barnard, Penn, Smith, UVA, and some Boston-area schools, and since these are all competitive, I want to be a competitive applicant.
I realize I have a lot of time to think about this, but any help is much appreciated. :)))
If your science includes a year each of chemistry, biology, AP biology, and physics, that should count as four years, including all three of the main sciences.
It would count as 4 years of science.
When the time comes you may want to ask your guidance counselor if he/she could explain the scheduling conflict in the letter or recommendation so it doesn’t look like you were taking an easier senior year schedule (with no science) but rather that the plan was thought out in advance due to a junior year scheduling conflict.
Also for the schools you plan to apply to, you will want your guidance counselor to be able to check the box that you have taken the most rigorous schedule available at your HS so you may want to ask him/her if your proposed schedule is sufficient for him/her to check that box in the college application.
Thanks everyone! Given that it does count as 4 years, shoukd I still aim to take AP Chem, or go with Honors Anatomy and Physiology? My school does offer AP Physics, but I have to take AP Calc BC concurrently, which I know I won’t be able to handle.
Assuming that your GC still rates your schedule as “most rigorous” It’s fine not to take all AP courses, so ask your GC,
Beyond what your counselor may consider in marking that you chose the “most demanding” course selections, consider also which courses may be most relevant to your potential academic interests.
@ucbalumnus I want to major in English and Classics, but I’ve already taken every English class besides AP Lit, Creative Writing (taking both senior yr), and Speech and Theater, which is a half-year course. My school doesn’t offer Latin, or another history class, both of which I would much rather do, so should I take another art class or go with science?
Once you have the well rounded base high school curriculum and meet your counselor’s criteria for “most demanding” choices, choose any academic electives that interest you.
You may want to consider whether the English literature and classics that you are most interested in relate to science, art, or some other subject.