My school’s doing course selections for next year, so I’ll be picking courses for my junior year. I think I’ve got most of it set:
AP Statistics
AP English lit and comp
AP comp sci
Studio art
Japanese 4
Band (color guard actually, but it’s a class with the band at my school)
AP Econ/AP Enviro
My problem is the last one. Right now, I’m thinking about taking AP econ. I will be taking AP physics senior year, since it’s the hardest class in my school, and I don’t want to have it drag down my gpa before college admissions. That leaves my junior year with no science classes, and since I’m thinking about pursuing science/engineering, I feel like that will look bad on my applications to more selective techy schools. So then I thought about taking AP enviro. But I feel like that’s not as useful as AP econ, and I don’t want to waste my time taking a class that won’t be of much use. AP bio is not an option, since I don’t have the prerequisites to take it. And even though I have this science gap, I will have 5 science credits by the time I graduate. I just feel like the gap will not be good for college admissions, but I could be wrong.
I wouldn’t take AP Enviro if you don’t want to… it’s heralded as an “easy AP” and most colleges know that. Honestly, I’d do AP physics if I at all could… it would give you a big boost. Colleges know that a lot of students put off the harder classes, and if you get an A in it (or any good grade), it’ll be worth much more.
In short, it’s not the greatest scenario to have a gap of science classes. Is there any chemistry class you could take? It’s weird that you have prereqs for AP Bio… it’s an introductory course in and of itself.
Stanccepted - I don’t think comp sci could pass as a science in my school. I think it’s just math here. I’ve heard horror stories of AP physics, and I’m not sure if I will do too well in it. I feel like I might be able to do ok, but I don’t want to risk it and mess up really bad. I’m out of chem classes, since I’m taking ap chem this year, and ap bio at my school needs 2 credits of bio, which I find unnecessary as well, since bio is really just memorization.
Atlantic - I’m taking calc bc this year, stats next year, and calc 3/linear algebra senior year. And I don’t have room in my schedule next year, so I have to pick between the two.
I’m actually leaning towards maybe taking ap physics next year. I heard today from some friends that it’s not too difficult to get an a in the class.
There are two AP Physics C courses offered: C-Mechanics and C-Electricity & Magnetism. I think M is usually taken before C&M. If you are taking BC Calc this year, why do you think you would struggle with Physics C? Many students at our HS take those concurrently, and 80% scored a 5 on the Physics AP exam. Some students manage Physics C along with AB Calc, but that is challenging as the physics course expects understanding of Calc concepts that the AB students haven’t covered.
I don’t see social studies? Have you already taken AP-USH?
Can you take Calc 3 next year and Stats Sr year?
As far as I have heard, AP Stats, CS, Econ & APES are among the ‘easier’ AP courses.
Yeah, the issue I can foresee is just that if you say you’re interested in science and they see a gap, they may wonder if that’s what you’re truly interested in (which honestly isn’t that big of a deal… 80% of undergrads change majors).
Ultimately, you know yourself best. The answer is the same for all of the schedule threads… it’s really up to you. All we can do is comment on value of classes.
CT1417 - The AP Phsyics C class in my school covers both topics in C. We spend one semester one each and take both exams in May. I didn’t think that my having taken calc BC already would help at all, but I guess it does. I’m taking APUSH this year. AP Stats is a prereq for calc 3 at my school, so no.
Stanccepted - Yeah, that was my concern, too. I do think I will be taking AP Physics next year, but then I’ll have this problem next year. I guess I’ll figure that out once I get there. I may be able to persuade my counselor to let me take AP bio without 2 bio credits, just because it will be my last year. I’ll see.
It is fascinating to me as a parent to read how much the curriculum tracks vary by school, and probably by state.
I think Calc 3 = multivariable? If so, the only requirement at our school is BC Calc. My son plans to take AP Stats as an elective, instead of Econ or more CS (has exhausted the very limited CS curriculum).
Your AP Physics schedule sounds aggressive, to say the least! Have you taken any physics yet?
One more question for you to ponder: have you taken the Science SAT II you will need for college applications? Deferring physics to Sr year will prevent you from taking the Physics Subject Test. While most colleges will accept any science, some are very specific. (See CMU’s requirements.)
This is just my opinion, but I don’t think it will look as ‘bad’ to take APES as a Sr as it would as a Jr, given that you already have the Calc needed for Physics C.
I was planning to take a summer course for physics, because in my experience with my school’s elementary level chem and bio, and from what I am hearing from friends who are taking physics 1 right now, it’s insanely easy, and I think it’d make more sense for me to learn that by myself.
I didn’t think about SAT II. I think I will be taking AP physics next year, so hopefully that won’t be a problem.
You could self-study AP Enviro, and take the AP Econ course at school. AP Enviro isn’t too hard to study for by yourself and you’ll still be able to show colleges that you’re interested in science without giving up AP Econ.