Science courses

Applying to College
1

Hey everyone,

So, for a bit of background:
My previous science classes are Honors Biology (9th), Chemistry (10th), and AP Biology (11th).
My school only offers two AP science classes (AP Bio and AP Environmental Science)
I want to major in the biological sciences when I attend college.

Essentially, I am in-between three classes: AP Environmental Science, Honors Marine Biology, and Standard Physics. All of these classes are at the highest difficulty for their specific subject, my school does not have honors physics.

I was considering taking AP Environmental Science, but I have heard from others that attend my school that the class itself is essentially hell on earth because it has an insane amount of busywork, even though the exam is comparatively easy. This made me nervous about taking the class. I have a full plate with other classes going on at the same time next year, all of which demanding quite a bit of attention. I would be fairly interested in the class though, so that might help me get through it (or so I would hope).

So, my next logical choice was Honors Marine Biology, just because it’s related to a subject that I’m interested in. However, I’m afraid that if I just take an honors class, instead of an AP science class, admissions offices will look down upon it. The same with physics, but I would consider taking physics diversifying my knowledge in the sciences. Although I will admit I don’t enjoy physics much at all, so the class would be drudgery.

So, I guess my overall question is: Would colleges look down upon me for not taking the only other available AP science class at my school? Would Marine Biology be taken seriously by college admissions, or would they just consider it a “cop-out” class? Would physics be a smart move to show diversity in my transcript?
I’m not per se asking for specific colleges, just a general idea of what most, at least somewhat selective, colleges would expect for an undergraduate going into a science major.

2

bio/chem/physics plus one AP science is a rigorous respectable sequence and one I would recommend to anyone seeking a science degree. It will prepare you better in the long run than more specialized classes like Environmental, Marine, or A and P taken at the high school level.

(note I have a graduate degree in the sciences from a respectable university)

3

Wow thank you so much VickiSoCal! :slight_smile: I think that helps me think about my course next year.

4

I would personally suggest physics, as it is good information to know and it might be good as a prerequisite if your college will require you to take a physics class depending on your major. Personally, I don’t think marine biology looks as good, but since you plan on going into a science major physics may be the next logical step.

5

A college biology major will have to take physics in college. If you have not had high school physics, college physics will be more difficult.

6

Those are all good points! And yeah @junior2017 I was concerned that marine biology wouldn’t look as good (despite being an honors class), so I’m glad to know that I was unfounded in thinking that (or at least i wasn’t alone on it). Mostly the only reason I would have thought it would look better is solely that it is an honors course, but I assume if I take standard physics (the highest level I am able to take at my high school) admissions officers wouldn’t look down on it because it’s the highest level I have available in physics, right?
And @ucbalumnus that’s another good point, I should be considering how I’ll fare in college as well. I didn’t consider the fact that I would have to take a physics class in college, so that definitely does change things. Honors Bio in the 9th grade did help me with AP Bio this year, so I assume the same would be for physics in high school and college physics.