Should I Drop AP Chem?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I am currently a high school junior in:
AP Physics
AP Lang
AP Calc AB
AP Env Sci
AP Chem
Pre-AP Span 3

I had a rough first semester with a GPA of only 3.5 and am wondering if it is best if I lighten my course load to get at least a 3.7 GPA in the second semester. If I drop AP Chem I would do better in my other AP classes and also have more time to study for SAT and ACT. Will it look bad on my college application to drop AP Chem? This will be my only time dropping a class. I am aiming for UMich and UC Berkeley (I know slim chance) but would be glad for UT Austin.

2

The first thing that strikes me about your schedule, is that you have no Social Studies class.
What do you have in AP Chem? A ‘B’? If you drop chem, it basically tells me that any time you have a little adversity, you run away. Especially if your first semester is a B. In your other post, you say you want to be a mechanical engineer. Dropping AP Chem would be a red flag to me. However, if your current course load is causing too much stress on you, then you need to consider doing something.

3

I took US History over the summer at a community college for dual credit. My semester average in AP Chem was 82. It is stressful but nothing more than the average high school junior I suppose. I guess my real question is would it be better to stay in AP Chem with a 3.5 GPA or get a 3.7 GPA without it, for the colleges I previously mentioned?

4

Stay with AP Chem. If you can’t handle the coursework, then majoring in mechanical engineering will be a major red flag. Engineering coursework is alot and if you can’t handle AP CHEM, then change to something you are conformable.

5

Sorry I forgot to mention one more important thing. I am barely in the top 20% of my class and am expected to drop to top 25% at this rate. At this point in my high school career, is it best to stay in AP Chem and finish junior year top 25% or drop the class and finish top 20% (possibly a little higher)?

6

And if I did drop AP Chem, could colleges understand if I explained the reasoning for it in my college application? I would spend more time on extracurriculars and preparing for SAT and ACT. Or is there no excuse for dropping a difficult course halfway into junior year?

7

Your schedule is nuts because you are tripled-up in science. Yes, drop one. Environmental science is the one that’s not an engineering prerequisite, so that’s what I would look at. If you drop AP Chem will you retake as a senior? Or, can you drop down from AP level to regular Chemistry if you havent taken that yet? Talk to your guidance counselor.

8

Well AP Env Sci is by far the easiest AP class I am taking, so if I did drop one it would be AP Chem. I took Pre-AP Chem as a sophomore, so AP Chem is an elective and I am not allowed to retake as a senior. Also, my guidance counselor advised me to stay in AP Chem, but for the sake of my class rank and GPA, I am second guessing that decision.

9

Why u take 3 sciences?

10

Your schedule is ridiculous with three sciences – your guidance counselor should never have allowed you to do this. Nonetheless, at this point I would stick it out especially since you can’t retake AP Chem next year.

11

Well I wasn’t planning on taking AP Env Sci (it was an alternate so I had it coming I guess) but am glad to be in it because it is saving my GPA.

Even with a 3.5 semester GPA and trying to get into competitive colleges like UMich and UC Berkeley?

12

You are looking at your short-term GPA. We are thinking about your long term educational needs. You’re going to be glad to have a solid Chemistry background if you become an engineering major.

If your GPA isn’t good enough for your dream school, you can always go somewhere else. Unless you are independently wealthy and can afford out of state anywhere, your college list isn’t very good anyway. You can’t be in-state for CA, MI, and TX, The fact that you aren’t in the top 7% at your school likely means Texas is already out of reach if you are in state.

Drop Env Sci and use it for a daily chemistry study hall. Use tutorial videos on YouTube. Work hard and catch up.

13

I cannot afford everywhere out of state. I am definitely going to stay in Env Sci because it is an easy, fun class. I am going to stay in AP Chem (and study smarter) so I can do well on the AP Exam. Hopefully from a holistic point of view I will be able to get into UT, thank you everyone for your help.

14

If you cannot afford out of state tuition, why are you making class decisions based on Michigan, Berkeley, and UT Austin? Make a list of realistic, in-state schools and private schools with good financial aid policies (use net price calculators). Make your course selections based on the requirements of schools that match your accomplishments and that you can afford to attend.

15

I’m a senior and I’m currently in AP Chemistry.

Get the Princeton Review book. It is seriously amazing; it is one of the main reasons why I ended 2nd quarter of AP Chemistry with a 98 average. Practice problems are also extremely important in all sections, especially thermodynamics and thermochemistry, which make up a significant portion of the exam. There is a purple/green practice workbook for AP Chemistry whose exact name evades me, but it’s something along the lines of “Preparation for AP Chemistry Multiple Choice Examination” and it’s by Hostage, Mueller, and Zipp.