<p>I'm currently a sophomore and I haven't taken any course in chemistry yet. Our school only offers up to chemistry honors but both the honors and regular classes are extremely hard to get an A in (almost the same difficulty). Not only that but the teacher doesn't teach and the tests/labs/assignments take up a lot of time and require deep understanding of the material. If this is so, and there is only 1 teacher that teaches chemistry, should I take this course junior year? I have 4 APs and another honors class, and a language class signed up already for next year (junior year). Should I not sign up for chem so that I don't have to risk getting a C or lower? </p>
<p>Would there be a difference in taking chemistry senior year? I mean, colleges don't know the exact difficulty of courses and taking a super hard course in your junior year would just be suicide right? Do colleges know the course rigor or do they just think the courses are all at a specific level? I don't know what I should do here, please help. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I don't see why a chemistry class would be necessary to get into a top college at all. Colleges don't necessarily want to see specific classes--because at some schools, that class might not be worth taking, and all applicants are different and not all of them are interested in a given subject. </p>
<p>Now, if you're planning on writing your application essays about how you want to be a chemist or some other profession that would require knowledge of chemistry, then it'll look funny if you've never taken chemistry.</p>
<p>Now, if it's the grade you're worried about... If you're only planning on taking the one chemistry class, then I don't see why you shouldn't take it senior year and in doing so strengthen your junior year GPA. If there are two chem classes (like chem 1 and chem 2) and you want to take both, then that's a different matter; but it doesn't sound like there is a sequence. Just regular vs. honors, right? Take it senior year. Junior year is stressful enough as it is. </p>
<p>... And you're right, colleges won't recognize how difficult the chemistry class is. Chemistry is SUPER EASY at my high school. It won't necessarily make your junior year schedule look any more demanding if you take chem that year.</p>
<p>Yeah, there is no prequisite that requires Chemistry at all in our school. It is just more beneficial to take it before AP BIO/APES. And yes, I'm just planning on taking 1 chemistry class. I think what I'm going to do is self-study some sections over the summer and see how hard the information is for me to comprehend. If it is very difficult I will drop the class. Thanks for the reply.</p>
<p>Does anyone else have advice/opinions they want to contribute?</p>
<p>I think you should definately take some sort of chemistry class. Whether it's at your school or at a CC, chemistry is a core class that everyone should take at least once.</p>
<p>Yes, I'm probably going to major in the sciences or engineering. I'm taking AP Physics, regular biology right now and I will take AP Bio and APES next year. So colleges might defer me because I won't have chemistry grades when I apply? Is it better to get B's/C's for chemistry honors junior year and apply with that or to take chemistry honors senior year??</p>
<p>Definitely no problem taking it senior year. Colleges will see your senior schedule.</p>
<p>It is good if you take it at some point...you are kind of expected to have chemistry, especially if you're going into science/engineering (Caltech, for one, requires it). But it being senior year won't be problem.</p>
<p>If you do a search, someone else posted basically the exact same question, and there a lot of other responses there, too!</p>
<p>(if you want, you can read through them all... but to summarize: take Chemistry at some point. It's really important.)</p>
<p>Colleges might want to see a Chem grade, especially if you're applying to an engineering school/SEAS-like school, or want to major in science. They'll certainly consider the fact that you're taking it Senior year.... but I would suggest taking it junior year.</p>
<p>Also, why would it make a difference if you took it senior year instead of junior year? The teacher would be the same, and the difficulty would be, too. Is it just be a matter of not wanting the schools to see your grade?</p>