Senior Year Schedule

Applying to College
1

<p>My school offers both AP and IB classes. For reasons that I won't go into, I ended up not taking the IB diploma program. Colleges seem to think AP is on par with IB HL classes, but that IB SL classes are a step below the rigor of AP. Here is my current junior year schedule:</p>

<p>[ul]IB English HL
[<em>]IB Math HL
[</em>]IB European History HL
[<em>]AP Biology
[</em>]French 3 Honors
[li]Concert Choir[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>It has come time to register for next year's classes. I despise physics, and have heard from people that absolutely love physics that our school's AP Physics C class is absolutely terrible (not because it's hard, but because the teacher is awful). I'm thinking about dropping science. These classes are set in stone:</p>

<p>[ul]IB English HL
[<em>]IB Math HL
[</em>]IB European History HL
[<em>]IB French SL
[</em>]Concert Choir[/ul]</p>

<p>But the last period is iffy. Here's what I'm thinking:</p>

<p>Choice 1: AP Physics C
Pros: Colleges will like it; It won't close my doors in terms of going into science (It's definitely possible: I like Bio and I'm not bad at science by any stretch of the imagination); More well rounded education
Cons: I hate physics; The teacher is bad</p>

<p>Choice 2: IB Economics SL
Pros: Interesting class; EXCELLENT teacher (I had him for APUSH); I like economics
Cons: No science senior year; AP>IBSL classes in colleges' eyes</p>

<p>Choice 3: AP Macroeconomics (no AP Micro) + AP Psych or AP Human Geo or AP English Language (only 1 sem @ my school), etc, etc
Pros: Interesting classes; Colleges like the rigor
Cons: I know nothing about the teachers; No science senior year</p>

<p>Any help? Advice? I'd really appreciate it!</p>

2

<p>Economics. It sounds like you'd really enjoy the class, and ultimately that's what matters, especially since the rest of your schedule is very strong.</p>

3

<p>Take the AP Macro Ec, taking a class you hate sucks, especially during senior year when senioritis strikes. And don't say "it won't hit me", it does. If I took a class I hated (actually, I'm not a physics fan either), there is no possible way I'd be able to do remotely well on it.</p>

4

<p>Thank you so much for the opinions!</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

5

<p>Well you need to look at the "recommended" classes at any colleges you are thinking of applying to, to see if they "recommend" 4 years of science [which in essence means "required" if your school offers them and you want your application to be seriously considered]. The most "selective" colleges expect 4 years of Science, Math, FR Language, English and History.</p>

6

<p>If anything, I wouldn't take physics, especially if you have to send mid year reports to the colleges you're applying to. If you think you might get a B or a C in that class, then I'm not sure it's worth it to try just so you can have a science class senior year.</p>

7

<p>No, I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I would definitely get an A in Physics, so that's not really the issue at hand...</p>

8

<p>If you hate the course, why bother? If you must take a science to get into a college, and you hate physics but love science, go for it. Otherwise, Macroec. would probably be an infinitely better course for you.</p>

9

<p>Unless you are looking at engineering, I would not worry about not taking Physics (assuming you had 3 lab science classes in HS)</p>