<p>I'll be a senior this year. I registered to enroll in AP Biology as a senior but not enough students signed up for the class, so AP Bio won't be offered at my school this year. My 2nd choice for a senior science course was Honors Biology, a course that uses the exact same book and curriculum as AP Bio but moves at a slower pace.</p>
<p>However, some of the colleges I am applying to strongly recommend taking Physics. Physics is offered ony one time a day at my school. </p>
<p>I know colleges want to see that students have taken the most rigorous courseload available. Physics at my school is considered more rigorous than Honors Biology by most students. However, Honors Biology is a weighted class (like an AP course) and Physics is not.</p>
<p>What should I do? Should I remain in Honors Biology, which was not my first choice for a science course, or talk to my guidance counselor and see if I can get enrolled in Physics?</p>
<p>Sounds to me like the Honors Bio will mean more to college admissions than the Physics (because it’s weighted). If you want a schedule that appeals to college admission people, then I’d go with the Honors Bio.</p>
<p>I’m planning on majoring in International Relations, so nothing too science-specific.
I thought about the weighted class and its appeal to college admissions counselors, but would it hurt my application that I took an additional year of biology that was not AP instead of a traditional high school science course (Physics)?</p>
<p>I’m applying to the University of Virginia, Washington and Lee University, College of William and Mary, Vanderbilt University, Wake Forest University, and a few others, including some safeties.
At the William and Mary information session, the admissions counselor said their most competitive applicants have taken Physics but it was not a requirement. I haven’t heard a definitive answer from any of the other schools about specific suggested science courses.</p>
<p>Any additional input is appreciated! Honors Biology or Physics?</p>
<p>^ I disagree. Biology is much more fun in my opinion. I hate physics with my life.
So, if you don’t want to pursue a profession that is science related, then you should go with physics.</p>
<p>“I disagree. Biology is much more fun in my opinion. I hate physics with my life.
So, if you don’t want to pursue a profession that is science related, then you should go with physics”</p>
<p>So you hate physics but think I should take it if I’m not entering a science-related field?</p>
<p>^ I took Phys B as my first Physics course. </p>
<p>Most colleges that I’ve looked up seem to value physics over bio, but those are the science oriented ones.</p>
<p>I’d say take physics just to learn a new area of science, but I don’t think it matters too much since you’re not going into a science related field. Unless you want to do nuclear peace talks or something…</p>
<p>And I took Physics C as my first physics class too.</p>
<p>Don’t take physics if your class turns out to be really dumb. Some of my friends told me that they learned more physics in our chemistry class than in the physics class we had in our school. And people that didn’t take physics because of this got into places like Georgetown and Notre Dame, while I don’t think anyone who took this physics class got into anyplace similar.</p>
<p>Just because I hate physics doesn’t mean you will…
And you said it yourself, physics is strongly reccomended, and the biology class isn’t the one you originally applied for. Biology is useful if you’re going into the medical field. Physics is useful for things other than the medical field, like engineering, and other profesions. :] Do you know what I mean?</p>
<p>AP physics was awesome. there were only two people, myself included.</p>
<p>another factor you can consider is how competent is your potential college in teaching physics or bio. or you know, if they teach one more effectively than the other. and then base your decision off of that.</p>
<p>Well I’m going to see if I can enroll in Physics and if my schedule doesn’t work out or there isn’t room left in the class I’ll be fine doing Honors Bio. Thanks for all the input!</p>
