<p>So I'm going to be a senior next year, and my school has started distributing forms for next year's schedules. As far as science is concerned, I've taken ap physics b and ap physics c (i took both because our school requires a year of introductory physics before physics c so i had to take b freshman year). Anyway, next year I have room for either AP chemistry and AP biology, both of which really interest me and I want to take one in school and self-study the other...but which one should i self-study? I realize that both require laboratory experience, but I will try to see what I can do about it.</p>
<p>AP Biology, by far, seems to be the only science AP that is self-study-able. In AP chemistry, even if you got a 5, colleges would still make you take a semester to get lab credit.</p>
<p>Contrary to what people are saying, I would self-study Chem and take the Bio class. </p>
<p>I have taken an AP Chem class and got a 5 on the exam. I don’t think I learned anything in the class. I basically taught myself the material by doing the homework/reading.</p>
<p>I’m taking AP Bio at the moment in a class. The teacher’s drawings and explanations in addition to the book make it very helpful. Much easier to memorize things when you have pictures in your head.</p>
<p>I guess it depends on your own school. Does your ap chem teacher have a better reputation, or does your ap bio teacher? No matter how much i suffered from my ap chem class, i didn’t have to do much outside-of-class work/studying and got a 5 on the exam by processing my teacher’s lectures and understanding them logically.</p>
<p>I find it difficult to absorb what my ap bio teacher is saying and end up using other resources (textbooks, online videos) to learn the material. So in my school, self-studying bio would be better. Ask students from both classes about how the teachers are. =)</p>
<p>In summary, it depends on your school and your own learning style preferences. Personally, I think ap bio is softer and thus easier to self-study, as it is mostly reading and memorizing, not understanding.</p>
<p>Self-Study AP Bio and take the AP Chem class. Or… Just take the class for one of them and don’t self-study the other.
If you just want to self-study to take the test and get credit, then I personally don’t think it’s a good idea. Many people will say “oh, well I learn a lot more self-studying then in a regular class”. Well, I can tell you that you may be able to quickly go through the material and hold it in your short term memory, but in the long run you won’t retain it as well. You will go into college and probably skip out on a course that you should have taken.</p>
<p>So basically, I would advise against self-studying, but it’s all up to you. If you do decide to self-study though, make it Biology. Biology is basically all memorization. You memorize names of things and what they do (no math involved). Chemistry does have a lot of memorization, but there is also a decent amount of math. It is full of concepts that a trained professional will be more adept at showing than you trying to figure it out yourself. Also, some people are going to tell you the labs aren’t all that important. The labs are the basis of the course!! Labs are necessary in understanding the roots of chemistry and seeing what you are learning. It is amazing to be able to do theoretical calculations to see how much of a product there will be in a reaction and then find that the actual is only decimal places off… I’m digressing, moral of the story: Don’t Self-study Chem.</p>
<p>I have the same problem My annoying high school required me to take regular bio AND regular chem AND regular physics before taking an AP class- leaving me with a slot for only ONE AP science with an exam score that won’t even go on my app. </p>
<p>So far I’ve taken both of the super easy classes and am just gonna take physics online through BYU (I hate physics, have no need for it, and couldn’t care less if I learned anything ) Now the question is: should I take bio & chem, bio and apes, or chem and apes? I am strongly leaning towards bio and chem. </p>
<p>You’re really lucky that you are able to take an AP science all four years of high school, Stimulus. Even after a petition I couldn’t even double up.</p>
but if i studied a little harder im pretty sure i could’ve gotten a 5.</p>
My annoying high school required me to take regular bio AND regular chem AND regular physics before taking an AP class- leaving me with a slot for only ONE AP science with an exam score that won’t even go on my app. </p>
) Now the question is: should I take bio & chem, bio and apes, or chem and apes? I am strongly leaning towards bio and chem. </p>