Hi guys! I have a quick question about course load and college admissions. I often see on the website that colleges either “recommend” that you take 3-4 years of all classes (4 years of English also), and I also often see colleges “recommend” 4 years of all core classes. Because of a complete lack of interest in physics, I opted not to take AP Physics this year and instead replaced with AP European History (which is a course I love). Other than doing what I enjoy doing, do you think I made the right choice in not taking a fourth year of science? Will this hurt my chances in college admission? For context, the schools that I am referring to are Ivy League and other top 25 nationally ranked universities.
Is AP Physics your only choice in way of science classes? I don’t think it’s necessary to AP in a subject you dislike entirely, but if there are any other AP science courses or even Honors/dual enrollment courses that might be a better alternative. I was able to take forensics through Syracuse U. for my senior year at high school, which counted for 8 credits (two classes) at college.
Don’t you normally have room for electives in your schedule? Wouldn’t it be an option to take physics in your normal science slot, but sign up for Euro just as an elective?
Seems to be an FAQ from high school students who fear physics for some reason.
A common expectation by colleges is to take a year each of biology, chemistry, and physics. Add a fourth year of advanced (perhaps AP) science if you are interested in it.
@novafan1225 What if that dislike in physics is really rather a dislike in all science classes? Also, my school does not offer dual enrollment, and there are no honors science courses that I want to take. Just the typical AP Bio (no thanks), AP Chem (no thanks), and AP Physics (Really no thanks).
@ucbalumnus It’s not really a fear but rather a strong dislike in the sciences and particularly physics. I much prefer to take history based classes, but would absolutely be up for taking one bad class I don’t like if it is an issue with colleges.
There are no regular high school physics courses?
In any case, many colleges do have some science general education requirements.
what are you trying to major in? do you have an idea of which field? I assume you might want to major in some sort off history path… if so, show colleges that youre interested in that route and that youre trying to build expertise in that sort of area. Use it as a strength when applying.
@NeoHighPower I want to major in philosophy and do pre-law. So yeah, I know that science is not at all relevant to that. Also, I am taking courses in ethics and philosophy and I have taken many history courses. I agree that it will be a strength to relate to the field of study I want to go into, but I’m wondering if a fourth year of science trumps it.
Is this potentially something I should get my guidance counselor to put in his letter to colleges? (i.e. that I took extra history courses and no senior year science courses because I am interested in history-ish related things?)
What science courses have you already taken, and what science courses are available to you to take?
If you have three years of science that are biology, chemistry, and physics, that will not raise as many questions by admissions readers as three years of science that are all variants of one kind (e.g. all variants of biology).
@ucbalumnus As a freshman, I took Physics & Engineering (Introductory/Non-advanced course), as a Sophomore, I took Chemistry, and this past year as a junior, I took Biology. I’m just concerned that since it wasn’t an advanced physics course like the other classes were, that it will be bad. But technically, I have taken all three of those classes. What do you think?
I would think it is going to hurt you. Most viable candidates to the most selective colleges will have at least 4 years of science (including Physics), regardless of major. My D’s major was in the social sciences, & she had 5 science courses.
@jarrett211, it looks to me that you’ve done your due diligence in exploring a broad range of science courses. If a college would turn down a kid who isn’t going into the sciences because they took Physics and Engineering as one course instead of separating it into two years or adding an extra AP science course, and who chose to challenge themselves instead with a course that’s personally meaningful, that college deserves to be put in the corner without supper. I am going to guess that you have other things going for you if you’re shooting for Ivy and Top 25. Be who you are. You’ll get into a good school. 
So you have one year each of bio, chem, and physics; you have that covered on the checklist. The question is basically will you be at a disadvantage for not having 4 years of science? Well, based upon your chances post, none of your top schools recommend or require 4 years of science, so that’s not an issue.
If, however, you do apply to a school that requests 4 years of science, will your application be outright rejected? No. Will you be at a disadvantage? Possibly. That’s a decision you need to make. Since you are not going to be a STEM major, and you have a year in the three key sciences, an AP science, IMO, is not necessary. However, if your school offers science electives for the non-science student (e.g. rocks for jocks), you might want to consider that.
Whatever you do, don’t do that. If the college requests 4 years of science, it will not care that you like European History better. When it comes to admissions, it’s what they want; what you prefer just does not matter. Colleges do not expect, and in many cases, do not want, applicants to be specialists in HS.
Since you have taken one each of biology, chemistry, and physics, the incremental value of another science course for college admission is likely quite small compared to if you need another course to complete the set. If none of your colleges requires or expects an advanced science course beyond what you have, and you are not intending to major in a science field, then it is rather unlikely that it will matter significantly in your situation.
I would not count on colleges to look at a course entitled “Physics & Engineering” taken in freshman year the same as they would a traditional Physics class taken in the typical sequence of the sciences.
IME, I wouldn’t discount it either. Based upon OP’s stated goals and targeted schools, the choice of physics class will not move the needle one way or the other, IMO.
@csdad Physics and Engineering at my school is beyond normal physics. It is the entire physics curriculum squeezed into half the time as well as an engineering component that takes the entire physics curriculum and applies it. I have zero concern that that class will not be taken seriously as a Physics class because it is more rigorous than a physics class.
@skieurope Thanks. I feel a bit better about my decision now. My guidance counselor had told me something along those lines, that since I was replacing AP Physics with another AP class that it really didn’t matter.
Wow, I wouldn’t think that they would let freshman take a course that sounds more demanding than one only reserved for Juniors and Seniors (Physics)
@csdad It isn’t more demanding than the advanced physics courses (AP’s, advanced, etc.) that are offered senior year, but it was the most demanding freshman introductory physics course.
Every school sets its curriculum independently. While the usual sequence seems to be bio–>chem–>physics–>elective, I have seen several schools that do physics in the 9th grade and bio in the 11th.