Self Study AP Bio, or take it?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'm going to be a sophomore next year. Originally I was planning to take AP Bio next year, as I took Biology this year, and biology freshman year -> AP Bio sophomore year is a traditional schedule for the "smart" sophomores at my school. However, I really love computer science (I took a programming class this past year), and most likely will major in it, so I decided to swap out AP Bio and take AP Comp Sci next year. (This will allow me to take university computer science courses junior and senior years).</p>

<p>So with this schedule, I'll probably end up taking AP Chem as a junior (Chem Honors as a sophomore), and then taking AP Bio and AP Physics as a senior, along with university computer science and math classes. I'll also have AP Gov and AP Lang senior year. However, I don't really want to have 4 APs my senior year, so I'm considering self studying AP Bio as a sophomore (I'd have the whole year). I would probably have time, as AP Comp Sci has no homework, and my only other AP would be Euro. This would also give me more options for SAT IIs.</p>

<p>So would colleges rather see self studying AP Bio early, or taking the class later? Also, is AP Bio a feasible class to study?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>There’s going to be a new AP Biology curriculum for 2012-2013, so my advice to you is to just take the class.</p>

3

<p>I recommend to just take the class, as self-studying it won’t be the same as actually sitting in a classroom learning it.</p>

4

<p>If the curriculum wasn’t changing, I’d recommend self studying, because the course has a lot of useless info and the prep books would prepare you adequately.</p>

<p>However, since the curriculum is changing, I wouldn’t do it. Just take it senior year.</p>

5

<p>^What are they changing about the curriculum?</p>

6

<p>Read all about it:</p>

<p><a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;

7

<p>just self-study bio. if you are majoring in cs and are planning on taking university math/science courses(I take that to mean multivariable calculus+), then frankly bio isn’t that important for your future and self-studying it should give you enough background. The exam really isn’t that bad and you can get a 5 easily if you just learn all the stuff.</p>

8

<p>take the classsssssss</p>

9

<p>^^ well a growing sub-field of cs is bioinformatics, so you never know. having some genuine understanding of biological things could turn out to be useful to him for that reason, or others…</p>

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<p>Thanks everyone, I’m hoping to have at least a bit of a shot at really selective schools (MIT, CMU SCS, UCB etc) if this makes a difference.</p>