<p>I'm a junior with plans to most likely apply to Skidmore ED1 next fall. I'm currently scheduling next year's classes and have ran into a predicament of sorts. I'm almost positive that I won't be pursuing a major that is in any way related to math or science once I get into college, and I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to not bother with science altogether next year. Part of this is because science classes take up two periods at my school but the fact that I also have a somewhat rigorous schedule as it is is definitely a determining factor as well :</p>
<p>AP English Literature
AP European History
AP Spanish Language
Trigonometry
Middle Eastern Studies</p>
<p>If I did take a science, I'd most likely be taking AP Environmental Science seeing as it's considered to be relatively easy at my school and I don't see myself having too much trouble with it. The problem is that it takes up a huge amount of time (two periods which I could use to study classes of actual use and interest to me or just to have a free period or two my senior year). I've heard that some colleges (skidmore included) may decline applicants if they don't fulfill certain class requirements (one of them being 4 years of science).</p>
<p>Does anybody have any experience with science requirements for application at Skidmore? I've heard that 4 years are suggested, although I'm unsure how much it will actually weigh in regards to my admission chances. Anybody have an opinion to offer?</p>
<p>My son had a very heavy senior schedule and science took two periods, as it does for you. His high school academic dean suggested that he take a science the summer before at a community college so that is what he did. Perhaps you could do that either this summer of the summer after? </p>
<p>I think your schedule looks rigorous as is so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Are you sure Skidmore requries 4 science classes? Also you could just ask the admissions department there what they would suggest. My son was told by one college where he actually enrolled that they were not going to count classes but, in general, expected good rigor.</p>
<p>I’m almost positive they don’t require 4 years, however I’m pretty sure that it is strongly suggested. Reading over my post, it seems I didn’t articulate that correctly. Sorry about that!</p>
<p>I’m actually touring Skidmore on the in two weeks, which would be a good time to ask the admissions department. Unfortunately, however, I have to have my schedule for next year completed before then. I may email them. Thanks for the quick response!</p>
<p>According to the collegboard.org site, they “recommend” 4 years of science (3 of those with labs). My daughter was worried she wasn’t going to have enough foreign language (though it turned out she did). She asked Skidmore admissions about this when we visited. The admissions counselor said that it would definitely not be an automatic refusal, but that if everything else combined made her on the borderline, it could make a difference and all other things being equal, they would admit someone who had satisfied all their recommendations vs. someone who has not.</p>
<p>If your stats are above or at least at the top of their “middle 50th percentile” you probably don’t have much to worry about, but if you’re at or below average, or have other “holes” you might want to take burry’s advice and get in a science class at a community college.</p>
<p>My son was accepted ED1. He had four years of science. Honors Bio, Chemistry, Physics and AP Bio. I think Skidmore looks at the whole picture. GPA, SAT, interview, essay and involvement. Showing interest also means a lot.</p>