Which is better? Taking AP Environmental Science or Honors Physics 1 during Junior year?

Applying to College
1

11th Grade:

AP English Language
AP US History
AP Environmental Science
AP Computer Science
AP French Language
College Precalculus

Honors Webmaster

OR

AP English Language
AP US History
AP Psychology
AP Computer Science
AP French Language
College Precalculus
Honors Physics 1

&

12th Grade:

AP English Literature
AP US Government
AP Environmental Science
AP Statistics
AP French V
AP Calculus AB
Honors Webmaster

If I drop APES, then I am going to add AP Psychology, so that I will still be taking the same amount of AP classes. Is it more impressive to take APES over Honors Physics 1, or vice-versa?

2

Definitely take Honors Physics, at the risk of being blunt APES and AP Psych are considered fluff APs by adcoms. You don’t need them for selective colleges, in fact taking them could tell colleges that you’re loading up on APs to impress them, when they really only consider 6 or 7 APs.

3

^Agree 100%. Don’t take soft AP electives if it prevents you from taking the more challenging core math and science courses.

4

Agree with the other posters. Honors Physics is more impressive to colleges than a fluff AP course.

5

If you really want to be impressive with the AOs, take that second option, the one with Honors Physics 1, in 11th Grade. Then in 12th grade, forget about Env Sci and go with AP Physics C. And take AP Calc BC instead of AB.

Even more challenging would be to take AP Chem (assuming you took plain ol Chem in 10th) in 11th instead of AP Psych.

6

Physics for sure. You probably have taken Bio and Chem already…take physics this year and next year take an AP science. It isn’t a matter of “what looks better” but “Colleges expect you to take Bio, Chem and Physics”. Then, depending on your major, choose an AP science for senior year.

7

While it’s not absolutely required, you should take physics. Does your school offer AP Physics 1 - the algebra based class?

8

No, they only offer Honors Physics 1.

9

Definitely honors physics. Most top colleges want to see a sequence of biology, chemistry, and physics taken in HS.

Keep in mind that schedule rigor should not be confused with taking the most APs you can. I think honors physics would be regarded as more rigorous than APES.