AP Calc AB
AP Micro/Macro
APUSH
In the middle of or already took: bio, gov, world
Should I add a science?
Comments please
Intended major, What schools are you aiming for? What are the graduation requirements in your state? What is recommended by prospective colleges on your list? At my daughter’s school she needed 4 years of science. If you are looking to do STEM, AP Physics C or AP Chem would be my recommendation.
PolySci (have 2 government internships already since freshman year), but realistically, biology.
I either have to take a math or science, and I’m definitely taking Calc AB.
Maybe AP Chem, but would it really make a difference? Even if I get the credits, I think I still need to retake the course for the pre-med track at the college I’m looking at.
If you are thinking premed, my $.02 is to take AP chem (and Calc). It will help you be more prepared as it’s a tough class on the college level if you haven’t had a decent foundation in HS. Remember too that you’ll be self reporting your classes on your application to college and for regular decision, they will see midterm classes/grades.
But I will need to take it again in college on the pre-med track and I’m applying ED, so only the courses appear.
While I hope you are accepted ED, it is possible to be deferred. Also, you need to demonstrate rigor in your high school classes. This seems light to me without an AP science. Again, just my opinion.
What happened to enjoying senior year?
You want to take enough APs to be rigorous, but not too many because…
In the fall, you are in college application season. You may be taking the SAT again. You may want to visit some more colleges. You have to write college- specific essays (hopefully you already wrote your common app essay over the summer.). You have to fill out your Common App and get recommendations.
Also you may be in marching band or Sports or be a leader of a club. College Apps is like another timesucking EC on top of that.
Then in the spring, you may have senioritis. You are been accepted to college and are looking toward the finish line. You have to study for the AP tests…it will be difficult to study for too many at once.
You should have taken Bio, Chem, Physics and an AP version of one of those. If you are missing any of those, take it.
If you are pre-med you should take a science senior year. If you were applying as a premed and didn’t take a science, I as a college would not take you seriously.
You are correct that you woudl have to take chem in college…but you have to take Bio in college too. You will be better prepared and you will get a better GPA if you have already taken AP Chem even if you don’t place out of it.
Even if you’re going into political science, I highly recommend you take a science, even more so because you’re going into pre-med. @bopper has a good explanation on the sciences you need. AP Chemistry is a very good class for pre-meds, but it is very challenging.
Have a good day!
I have taken regular chem, bio and AP bio already, but not physics. I see no point in taking AP Chem if it won’t exempt me from any courses, give unnecessary credit, and my admission will not be reliant on it.
You would benefit best by taking physics. If that won’t be possible, you really should take another science.
Why is that?
Because your ultimate goal is med school and you mention biology (a science) as a potential major. Taking physics will help strengthen your science foundational skills. As it is, you have a gap there.
Additionally, high school level physics shouldn’t be excessively difficult for you assuming you are a strong math/science student (which I assume you are if you are considering biology or med school as possibilities). It’s a win that way when you are already taking 3 other APs and will be busy with college apps.
You should take honors/AP physics. You will need that for premed and you don’t want the first time you are exposed to it to be in college.
Standard Premed classes that medschools require are : 2 semsters of Bio, 2 semesters of Chem, 2 Semesters of Physics, 2 semesters of Organic Chem, semester of calculus
and some med want Biochem, Sociology, Psychology
Worthwhile to take even as a PolySci intended major, let’s say?
@moskort Yes, because even for people going into humanities, at least regular physics is expected.
Best of luck and have a good day!
Yes, if you are considering the possibility of med school.
If you have to take college level physics in college and don’t have the foundation from high school, it could make it more difficult.
And taking physics won’t hurt a PolySci major even if you don’t decide to go onto med school.
Does your school have a high school (nonAP) physics class? If you are a strong enough math student to be in AP Calc, and having taken other sciences, it shouldn’t be a super difficult class for you. I mean, granted there can be some variations between schools and difficulty can depend on the teacher, but my junior daughter is currently taking physics while taking Calc BC and AP Chem and Physics is pretty easy for her, to be honest (100+% each quarter with bonus points). I myself wasn’t a very strong math/science student and am sure it would have been more difficult for me, but for her it’s a great class. She has fun doing the labs too.
I have to choose my tomorrow and we have regents physics (NY). I’ll seriously consider it now.
Did your daughter take AB sophomore year? We actually have a freshman in BC.
In retrospect, it was also a mistake for me to take pre-calc junior year, instead of AB, but whatever.
We are also NY and this is regents physics! It’s a very mathy science. She isn’t even stressed about the regents exam and she is the type that usually stresses a lot over big tests.
She took algebra 1 and geometry in middle school, algebra 2 as a freshman, precalc as a sophomore and is in Calc BC this year. In our district, after precalc, kids can take AB or BC or SUPA Calc 1. Precalc is a prerequisite for all of them. No one in this district takes AB and then BC as far as I am aware. I think that’s one of those things different schools do differently.
Wow. I always heard that AB is crucial for BC. If not, then I wish I could take BC next year for more credit.
Which math is left? AP Stats?