<p>Ok, so I am feeling a bit pressured to take some AP classes. Right now, my junior schedule is:</p>
<p>-AP Biology
-AP US History
-AICE Spanish
-AP English Composition
-AP Calculus AB
-AP Human Geography
-Junior Privilege</p>
<p>I haven't taken a physical science yet, but I really want to take AP Chemistry and AP Physics B next year as a senior. My potential senior schedule looks like this:</p>
<p>-AP Chemistry
-AP Physics B
-AP Calculus BC
-AP English Lit
-AP Econ/Gov
-AP Psych</p>
<p>I am currently ranked #2 in my class and I haven't taken Chem Honors nor Physics Honors. Can anyone provide me some insight on which AP science class is easier? Some of my friends who are top 5 percent of my class have skipped honors and went straight to AP, doing fine. I feel a bit behind because I initially didn't care much for AP classes until now and next year is my last year to take AP classes, since I heard it's harder to pass in college. I am planning to become either a nurse or a pediatrician. Please let me know, thanks!</p>
<p>Chem is easier IMO. It really depends on the teacher though.</p>
<p>I would say that AP Physics B is easier. Now, take my advice with a grain of salt because I haven’t actually taken AP Physics B. I have taken (am taking) AP Chemistry, however, so I can give you some insight on that. I took Chemistry Honors last year, and I really cannot imagine taking AP without it. It prepared me tremendously for AP, which I find to be fairly difficult. By that I mean it hasn’t been super hard to maintain an A, but it’s definitely harder than any other class I’ve taken. Now that being said, I feel like my AP teacher isn’t the best. So what I would recommend to you in making this decision is finding out how the teacher is at your school. It sounds like you are capable of investing the brainpower and work necessary to succeed in this course, but that can only go so far with a lousy teacher, especially if you have no prior exposure to chemistry. Of course, you can always talk to the teacher as well, tell him/her your situation, and ask for his/her opinion. Everything I just said is only half of why I think AP Physics B would be easier. The other half is that AP Physics B is algebra-based, and seeing as you are in calculus, I’m sure that wouldn’t pose a problem for you. Again, I recommend that you look into the teacher at your school. Also, I would just like to say that at my school NO ONE takes AP Chemistry without honors first, but like half of everybody in AP Physics C (My school doesn’t offer B.) just goes straight in without honors and they do well. I know that situation wouldn’t apply to every school, but it gives you something else to consider. Also, take into account your workload for next year seeing as it’s very rigorous. Lastly, do not worry about being behind. At my school, administration doesn’t even let you take AP classes as a freshman and they only let sophomores take one or two. You cannot change the past, but it seems to me like you are more than making it up now:) I hope this helps!</p>
<p>One last thing: I hope my last post doesn’t sounds discouraging regarding AP Chemistry. You know yourself better than anyone else does. If you know that you have the ability and stamina and that the teacher is good, then go for it. Besides, if you get a B second semester it won’t matter…colleges will have already accepted you ;)</p>
<p>Okay well I’m entirely the opposite of you and I statistically speaking here AP is generally more difficult than AP Chemistry. And you shouldn’t rush into the basis of all physical science because as my teacher says “All other sciences are just a subset of physics.” Honestly, Chem. provides you with a plethora of background information into AP Physics and obviously AP Bio. Realistically speaking, AP Bio will offer you absolutely nothing in AP Physics and if he/she has already previously taken AP Bio he/she take AP Chemistry as they are obviously more closely related. The only thing that I’m aware of that they have in common is probably the Laws of Thermodynamics, which will not provide much.</p>
<p>Snailpoop is right in that biology and chemistry have a lot of overlap, but I’m not sure how much of that overlap is present between the two AP courses themselves. I think College Board makes the curriculum for each pretty much separate…otherwise it’d just be the same information twice. The big topics in AP Chemistry are organic, stoichiometry, equilibrium, acid/base, kinetics, oxidation/reduction/electrochemistry, thermodynamics, periodicity, bonding, and states of matter. I feel like anything that AP Biology covers relating to those is surface level compared to how it’s taught in AP Chemistry, but seeing as you are in AP Biology, you’d be a better judge of that. Also, I don’t know where Snailpoop got his/her statistics, but I’m pretty sure the mean score for both Physics B and Chemistry is about a 3 so statistically they’re the same. Besides, my answer is based off of which one I think would be easier for you, not on what’s easier for the nation.</p>
<p>I think a great question to ask yourself is: How well can I pick up and memorize concepts? The math involved for both is algebra-based, but chemistry is more memorization than physics. That’s why I say chemistry is harder.</p>
<p>there is very little overlap between AP Bio and AP chem. I am taking both courses at the same time right now. AP bio got a new curriculum this year and i feel like the class is a joke (but i had a strong basis in honors bio 1 and 2 freshman year). However, while i wrecked honors chem last year, i am struggling quite a bit with AP chem. The thing is, you need to dedicated time to it otherwise, there is no way you can get an A. However, my friend is also in my class. AP chem is her only AP course and she has an A. That is because she has so much time to dedicate to the class and study. It’s all time mostly…</p>