<p>I have:</p>
<p>AP Lit
AP World
AP Gov (One semester)
AP Calc AB</p>
<p>But I've now maxed out the offered AP classes except for Physics, Statistics, and Calc BC at my school...</p>
<p>What should I do? I'm taking Honors Spanish 3 through FLVS... But this schedule seems too weak.</p>
<p>Take the APs…</p>
<p>The most competitive schools will want you to take the most challenging courses available to you. Four APs should cover it. If you want to major in math or science, you should take AP Calc BC and/or AP Physics B - but it is not a requirement.</p>
<p>^
It’s kind of like 3.5 since Gov is only one semester…</p>
<p>I want to major in Econ or Finance.</p>
<p>I think it depends on the rigor of your HS; not all AP classes are equal, some schools barely prepare students for the exams while many go beyond what the exams cover. So if at your school, APs require a lot of work, then you’re probably fine with the four. However, if many people in your school take 5+ APs senior year, then I’d suggest taking Stats.</p>
<p>^
The problem with Stats is that the Stats teacher is insanely difficult. His class supposedly harder than Calc BC…</p>
<p>Since Stats is seen as a light AP by colleges, I don’t think it’s worth it. The only other ones I could take are:</p>
<p>AP Calc BC
AP Physics B
AP Stats
AP Spanish</p>
<p>And I can’t do AP Spanish because I haven’t done Spanish 3 yet and wouldn’t have done it anyway…</p>
<p>There is one Honors class I could take-- Honors Anatomy and Physiology. I think it might look like a drop-off though…</p>
<p>AP Chem to AP Bio/APES to Honors Anatomy…</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Take Physics B.</p>
<p>^
I’m not good at math.</p>
<p>take AP bio for sure! it’s such a good class to take to prepare you for college! :)</p>
<p>^
Taking it right now.</p>
<p>If you can’t handle Physics B, you do not belong at HYPS in any major. Case closed. Maybe you don’t understand the rigor associated with schools like HYPS. If you can’t step up for AP Physics B, which doesn’t even involve calculus, you are not going to be able to handle the rigor at HYPS.</p>
<p>^
Even for a social science major?</p>
<p>Stats is a useful class, not weak. AP Gov is wearker/ more an elective imo. For reachy schools, it is good to try to get to calc. Did you at least get to Calc AB?</p>
<p>^
I’m in Honors Pre-Calc right now. I’m taking AP Calc AB next year… BC is notoriously hard…</p>
<p>
wow, you’re way off there. And you know this…how? </p>
<p>There are four general areas of major: STEM, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts. You might be able to make the argument that for the first two, the inability to handle AP Physics could be an indicator of future difficulty at a HYPS. You cannot make that correlation at all for the last two.</p>
<p>Simple thinking, much?</p>
<p>I’m not way off. I have a friend at Stanford and a friend at Yale. I have talked to two alumni from Princeton. I know little to nothing about Harvard though.</p>
<p>I am not talking about his knowledge and ability in math science. You’re the one thinking simply, DunninLA. If this student does not believe he has the ability to step up and take Physics B, the lesser Physics AP that doesn’t even include the calculus that truly defines physics, then how will he be able to handle rigorous courses at HYPS? HYPS isn’t a cake walk, no matter your major. You have to step up and handle tough classes. If he doesn’t believe he can handle measly AP Physics B, the rigor at HYPS is too much for him. </p>
<p>If he avoids AP Physics B because he doesn’t like/isn’t interested in physics, that’s fine. But if he avoids it because he doesn’t think he can handle the classes rigor… He is not going to be able to handle the rigor at HYPS. That’s what I’m saying.</p>
<p>i think that AP Calc BC and AP Stat are both valuable classes to have under your belt. If you are doing well in honors precalc then you are definitely at the level where you can succeed in both of these…it just depends on how hard you want to work! if the calc bc teacher at your school has a reputation for being notoriously bad at teaching/helping students learn, then use your discretion…but i had a pretty bad calc bc teacher and still got a 5 on the ap and A for the year</p>
<p>^exactly, if a person wanted to major in science or math, then obviously an inability to do ap physics would be a bad sign. however, if a person is gifted in the humanities, then a lack of real interest or ability in physics really doesn’t matter. not taking it might mean that a person would be less likely to get into HYPS, but not that the person would not be successful there.</p>
<p>^
What about for econ or finance? Do those need high math levels?</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it Saugus. Physics B has been the hardest AP I’ve taken out of like 10 or so. I still was able to “handle it,” if by that Pancaked means getting decent grades, but that’s more as a result of an easy teacher and A LOT of time spent outside of class getting help (such as from my uncle who teaches AP Physics… lol). </p>
<p>I took Physics B junior year and am currently not taking a science. I intend to major in the humanities.</p>
<p>I have received a likely letter from Columbia and an early write from Williams. Pretty sure I could cut it there, and at HYPS as well–and evidently these adcoms think I could too.</p>
<p>Admittedly we can’t say whether not taking a science senior year disadvantaged me, but I don’t think it has, and I don’t think my abilities at physics have much relation to my abilities in economics, English, or even math.</p>
<p>In short, don’t worry that you don’t think you could cut it at Physics B.</p>
<p>Oh, and I have a friend who took Physics B junior year, thought it was very difficult, and accordingly elected not to continue by taking Physics C. She is not taking a science this year. She got into Wharton ED.</p>