<p>My number 1 choice of college is UW, and I'm currently a junior in high school. We're about to sign up for classes next year and I REALLY REALLY REALLY do not want to take a science class, although knowing I should. I talked to my counselor and she even told me too ... But I was wondering, does 1 little class really matter? I wanted to take a cooking class but I have no room w/ my electives of orchestra and french filling the spots.</p>
<p>Oh, just to provide some background, I'm taking two AP (calculus and comp.gov.) classes next year, my GPA currently is 3.94 (unweighted) and I took AP US History and AP English lit. this year (got A's in both first semester), and I think my rank is 8 out of 300+ students. I've been in Key club since Freshmen year, French club and Honor society, plus in Tacoma Youth Symphony (although this is my first year and am not planning to do it again next year)</p>
<p>I don't plan on slacking off senior year but I don't plan on putting myself through so much work such as I am currently, I just want to take one little class of cooking :) Also, I have absolute no interest in science and I really don't like dissecting. The only other science classes my school offers are AP environmental (which in our school is a joke), AP Bio (I don't want to take an AP science class) and Human Anatomy which is basically a class for all the dumb kids to take. The only other choice is Anatomy/physiology which I really do not want to take because of the dissecting. Would not taking it seriously affect my admission process? Should I just suck it up and take the class?</p>
<p>As long as you meet the science requirements for the UW, I would say its okay. If you are planning on applying to UW Honors Program, I would take the science, it shows you are still motivated to take hard classes. With that GPA I would say you are okay for regular admission and should have no problems.</p>
<p>Eh, it's a toss up... I was admitted into UW this year with out science but I am also a full IB diploma candidate.</p>
<p>I would say you would be fine though.</p>
<p>What are the science requirements for UW? Anyone know? And I think I would like to be in the Honors program... So I guess I should just take it. :(</p>
<p>The science requirement isn't 4 years. I know this because I was admitted to honors this year without a science (also IB full diploma candidate, though).</p>
<p>Don't worry about it too much-replace it with another difficult class or something and I don't think they'll care.</p>
<p>"If you are planning on applying to UW Honors Program, I would take the science, it shows you are still motivated to take hard classes."</p>
<p>I disagree. I'm in the Honors Program now, and I know that this approach of taking classes to impress a selection committee is not always the best way towards Honors Program admissions. They're more interested in substance--why did you take the classes you took? Why do you do the things you do? If you're more interested in cooking, then it's better to do that than to take another science course when you don't have a passion for science. The key is to tell them directly why you chose that in the additional comments section or one of your writing pieces. They'd rather know that you chose a cooking class because you're following your passions rather than taking science for a college resume. It's the same idea as to why they're impressed when students join an activity for a year and then quit for another activity </p>
<p>The science requirement for UW Admissions is 2 years (<a href="http://admit.washington.edu/Requirements/Freshman/Core)%5B/url%5D">http://admit.washington.edu/Requirements/Freshman/Core)</a>, so if you're covered there, you might consider cooking as an option as long as you explain clearly why. Those are just my thoughts though.</p>
<p>I'm a senior this year, taking 2 APs and a college in the high school course, but no science. I was admitted to UW Honors :) </p>
<p>I think it's important to take at least one or two "fun" electives senior year. It's your last chance in HS! I'm also taking art and java programming this year and loving it. I am so grateful for these two periods because I can relax and not think too much ;) Last year I basically had all honors/APs and it absolutely killed me. </p>
<p>Take your cooking class! I took a cooking class freshman year and it's one of my favorite classes I ever took in HS. I would have taken it again this year but didn't have room.</p>
<p>Cachememory, I would, however, caution that anyone deciding to do so should do it wisely. The University still considers a rigorous senior year schedule important. Make sure you have meet grad. and admission requirements, and that you have shown academic competence before taking electives.</p>
<p>The only reason why I want to take cooking is because I am terrible at cooking so I thought I would learn at least some useful things and it seems like a "fun" class, so I don't have much substance to back that class up. I signed up for AP Environmental (because my friends told me too -_-) but I think I might switch out next year. I don't know, I'm still undecided. </p>
<p>I'm really afraid though that UW would think I'm slacking off by not taking a science class. However, if I take cooking, it's only a semester class and the other semester I'd either take Health (because it's a requirement) or Economics.</p>