<p>AP Calculus BC
AP Biology
AP US History
AP Environmental Science
English 11 Honors (highest)
Spanish 2 (took 1 sophomore year)</p>
<p>A total of 6 classes out of 7 possible with 1st period being optional.</p>
<p>Here's my planned senior year schedule:</p>
<p>AP Eng 12
AP Gov
Chemistry H
AP Computer Science
AP Econ (if enough people)
AP Stats (if enough people)
Spanish III </p>
<p>6/7 or mabye 7/7 classes.</p>
<p>That's all the APs my school offers.. (and Music Theory + Comp Sci.) Is that kind of unbalanced? I want to take AP Biology because I took it last year and the APES because I need an easier class (I have good ecs). So is there anything you think I should change? I have BAD SATs so should I just not take chemistry my junior year? (I'm taking it now but thinking about dropping)</p>
<p>Aiming for UCB/ UCLA (top choices) and the other UCs. Thinking about majoring in sciences/engineering. Will taking chemistry senior hurt? Remember, I would like a BALANCED schedule ( I don't want to study the whole day) and I need to take SATs ASAP (I can't even study them now).</p>
<p>AP Gov, AP US, AP Bio are classes with intensive reading, and understanding... if you take those classes, i suggest you drop one or two APs. </p>
<p>I have AP gov now, and in order to pass the class, you almost have to memorize everything in the book. It took me all night to finish a chapter and actually know everything.</p>
<p>If I read correctly, you are junior, correct? Pre-science majors should try to take the science trio: chem, physics, and bio. If so, drop APES and take Chem this year. Since Enviro is a so-called AP Lite, it is not perceived as is Chem; engineering programs in particular will not be impressed with APES. Suggest honors Chem this year and AP Chem senior year. Six classes is a FULL load, but doable, if you have great time management and not much of a "life" as my D would say.</p>
<p>I'd skip AP Econ senior year; IMO, econ is better taken in college, where calc is a prereq. Stats is a great class, but Comp Sci might wait until college, so you have more time for SAT retake and essay writing. [Note, the UC's consider Comp Sci a math elective.] The workload for AP Gov depends on the teacher. In our school, it's a perfect class for senior-itis. :)</p>
<p>Chem Honors is the highest Chem at my school, so it wouldn't matter if I took it senior year right? Do colleges only see 1st quarter/semester grades when you apply? I think I won't be able to handle all of my classes if I had chem.. It is better to get A's and B's than C's right? I do not think that taking Chem H junior year will really make any difference... since chem is already presented in Physics and Biology (I aced Physics and got a 5)</p>
<p>I stand by post #4. Is Chem at your school that much more work than Enviro? </p>
<p>Chem is different from bio and physics. IMO, it's sort of in the middle of the spectrum: bio is mostly memorization, HS physics is mostly conceptual algebra, and chem is both memorization and conceptual. Enviro is a fine class, but not as important as basic chem, particularly to a pre-engineer. Look at it another way, the vast majority of apps to an engineering program will have chem grades on their transcripts...Yes, C's are not good for selective schools, but pre-engineers to selective schools will have mostly A's in their science classes. Trust me, Cal Engineering and UCLA Engineering would much rather see a full year of Chem than a full year of Enviro. </p>
<p>Yes, first semester grades are considered for RD, but not for any early applications. And, senior grades are rarely considered for the UCs -- it's Soph and Junior years that count.</p>
<p>And also note that (at least in my school), AP bio has a fair amount of chem that you'd learn from a typical high school chem course.
Drop enviro and take chem this year- the work load won't be different (unless your school's chem class is insane, which I doubt because you don't have AP chem), and take envi next year.</p>
<p>Yes, only 1 person got an A and it was a sophomore who had NO other honors/APs. The majority of the people got Cs. I think I will take Chem honors senior year since I cannot handle my current schedule. I think my classes are OK but I need to study a lot for the AP exams right? If I don't take one, it would look like I just took it for the "easiness or grade" which I do not want. Plus, I will not have any sciences in my 4th year then..</p>
<p>Btw, where did find that Senior year is not more important than Sophmore and Junior years at the UCs?</p>
<p>check any UC admissions website. Senior year curriculum is important, but senior grades are not considered in admissions, except for rare cases of kids who on the bubble, and then the campus comes back and requests updated, senior info.</p>
<p>But if the curriculum is important and I've done well in past major sciences classes (AP Physics/Bio) then won't they assume I should do ok in chem? I just want to balance it out you know? I took regular Bio last year I don't want to drop that or APES since they all go together and I liked Bio.</p>
<p>Does APES "go together"? Absolutely not, according to top science schools and the UC admissions criteria. Think about it: you want to take APES bcos its easier than Chem. Do you think that colleges don't know the same and will assume you took the "easier" class? Adcoms are no dummies.</p>
<p>Take whatever will make you the best student, but don't be surprised if Cal Engineering is not impressed with Enviro.</p>
<p>What if taking Chemistry will lower your grades and test scores? Our Chemistry teacher is not that good because he basically wants you to read off the textbook to understand the material. His tests are really hard though and you NEED to understand everything, if not more, than what was in the chapter. His labs are killer also because he doesn't really go over how to do them but expects you to figure it out yourself (and write it up professionally)... So yeah, I really don't know because I think I'm going to die, literally, if I take the class. My SAT I/IIs suck because they are all in the 600s range. Should I drop chem and focus more on Sat I/II and other APs?</p>
<p>Study the UC gpa formula. Read carefully about the SAT I and II scores, plus the maximum number of grades which are weighted by the UCs. </p>
<p>Some of the advice above may pertain to private LACs but the UCs have their own way of doing things. You need to get on UCLAs website and do your homework.</p>
<p>Thanks for telling me about that. I don't really get how UCs calculate their GPA. They say:</p>
<p>
<p>The courses must be in the following "a-g" subjects: history/social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, language other than English, and visual and performing arts. Also, they must be certified as honors courses by the University. In these subjects, as well as in computer science, acceptable honors-level courses include Advanced Placement courses, Higher Level and designated Standard Level International Baccalaureate courses, and college courses that are transferable to the University."
</p>
<p>So does that mean they only accept 8 semesters of honors courses to calculate in their GPA? That means they only accept 4 APs/honors courses within 10th and 11th grade and that all of your other grades are treated regularly?</p>
<p>Also, why is this grade restriction pertinent to this thread? Also, what is this about:</p>
<p>
<p>the number of college preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), International
Baccalaureate (IB), honors and transferable college courses you have
completed beyond the UC minimum
your level of achievement in those courses relative to other UC applicants
at your school</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Does this mean that colleges know the grades of other UC applicants as well? So, for example, if a class was extremely hard and people at your school (who applied to Berkeley recieved B's and C's but A's in all other courses) and you decided not to take it Junior year, they would know that you whimped out?</p>
<p>
[quote]
So does that mean they only accept 8 semesters of honors courses to calculate in their GPA? That means they only accept 4 APs/honors courses within 10th and 11th grade and that all of your other grades are treated regularly.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, Yes. BUT, that is a UC system requirement to not disadvantage applicants from inner city schools that do not offer honors/AP. The individual campuses can and will see your uncapped UC gpa, i.e., includes bonus points for all honors/IB courses, not capped at 8 semesters' worth.</p>
<p>
[quote]
your level of achievement in those courses relative to other UC applicants at your school
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Possibly, but if true this is a new wrinkle for Cal. UCSB has historically sorted applicants by campus and ranked them against each other.</p>