Hi all,
I am a rising junior at a public high school in South Carolina. There has been a conflict in my schedule, and I’m turning to the community to help me resolve it. Originally, my choice was to take all 3 of the classes listed above (AP Chem, AP CS, Latin 3). However, AP Chem is only offered 3/4 period, while Latin 3 is offered 3rd period and AP CS is offered 4th period. I can either take Latin 3 and AP CS or take AP Chem (it takes up both 3rd and 4th period both semesters). Of course, I could always take online classes through VirtualSC. However, I do not want to take AP Chem online since I’m just not comfortable with taking a science AP online. This is where the dilemma appears. I could simply take AP Chem in school and then take Latin 3 and AP Art History online (I’m planning to take AP Art History online regardless). However, I really enjoy and respect the Latin teacher at school. Therefore, I’m leaning towards taking AP CS and Latin 3 at school and taking AP Art History online.
I guess my question boils down to this. Does it make a difference to colleges whether I take AP Chemistry senior year vs junior year? I’m afraid that colleges might think I am taking an easy schedule, despite taking as much as my schedule allows me to.
Any thoughts?
If you take Latin, what are your other choices for a science class that would fit in your schedule? What have you taken in science?
No. If you don’t take AP Chem, what would you take? Have you already taken bio, chem, and physics? What colleges are you targeting? What would you study in college? Too little info given to really advise on your options.
I’ve already taken bio and chem (honors). I’m taking physics honors this year. I’m looking to major in math and cs at top 30 colleges. I’m taking Calc BC this year. Errrr, I don’t really know what else to say.
Edit:
I also have Research II Honors as a Late Bird class. (It counts as a class, and you pretty much meet with the teacher on a semi-regular basis to discuss your research project. I’ll be doing pure math research with a professor).
Also, I have a goal to make USAMO. I’ve made AIME the past 2 years, and I’ve been getting closer and closer to the cutoff. I know I have to dedicate a significant amount of time. I’d just feel more comfortable with a full schedule.
As a rundown, here is my current schedule.
EB: AP LANG
1: APUSH
2: AP CALC BC
3: Latin 3 HON
4: AP COMP SCI
5: study hall (AP Art History
6: study hall
7: physics
8: physics
LB: Research II Honors
Also, there are no other AP Sciences that seem to fit with my schedule. Both AP BIo and AP Chem are offered 3rd and 4th period.
In which case, the college will likely want 3-4 years on a foreign language,and APCS ties in with the major. Take Latin and CS and push AP Chem to senior year.
I would think as a math and comp sci major, and the fact that you have a science on your schedule, that it would make more sense to take AP Comp Sci and Latin 3. Besides the fact that the comp sci obviously relates to your intended major, as pointed out by skieurope, having the third year of Latin will be seen as a positive by many schools. Dropping a foreign language after only two years isn’t great.
I’m with @skieurope on this one- take it senior year. Also: find out what your options are for dropping AP Art History during the year. It is a very content heavy class, with a lot of memorizing. Unless it is a genuine interest, I think you may find that you are overloaded on time commitments. It will help you more to have strong grades in your other classes than it will to have an extra AP.
If you are still worried, check with your GC: does s/he say that your schedule will tick the ‘most rigorous’ box on the Common App? if so, you are good to go.
ps: imo, if at all possible, always go with the great teacher!
As long as you already have a science class on your schedule, pushing of AP Chem is fine.
The only concern would be if you need to take a science Subject Test. It’s nice to take it at the end of an AP year. Studying based on a first year in the science will be a bit more work.
I’d posit that studying based on an AP course which covers fewer topics than tested in the Subject Test will be more work. YMMV.
Have you met your language requirements without Latin. If you’re applying to college that require “through 3 years” of language? As I remember SC require 2 years for grad but encourages 3 for college bound students. I think it’s hard to skip a year when doing language but may not be a problem for you. As long as you have 3 sciences (bio, chem, physics) you don’t have to have AP.
Presumably one has taken Chemistry before AP Chemistry. I would think that learning X+ would prepare a student better than learning X.
And having kids who have done both, my opinion is based on more than theory. Yes., YMMV.