Hi guys. I’ve found these boards to be a great source for information, so I wanted your opinions on a dilemma I’m having. I truly do not want to take a science course senior year. I’m not completely inept at science, but it takes me more time than any other class, and I just don’t enjoy the subject matter. Unfortunately, my science courses during high school have been rather mediocre: regular chemistry in freshman year, honors biology in sophomore year, and environmental science junior year (all A’s). For senior year, I was thinking of the following schedule: AP Calc BC, AP Lit, AP Psychology, AP Gov, Italian 4 honors, and journalism. Writing is my main hook, so I don’t think I should drop journalism for a science course. Also, my major will not be related to science. Thoughts? I’m aiming for UCLA, Berkeley, and USC.
Have you looked up what they require in the way of science (number of years, subjects)?
Berkeley and UCLA both require two years of a core science (or a non-core science course with heavy elements of physics/chemistry/biology). It seems like I wouldn’t be immediately disqualified based on not having 4 years of science, but I’m wondering if I would become less competitive. If it’s worth anything, my other stats are 2240 single sitting and 4.0 UW.
Writing is a main hook for half the students applying. Science seems more practical and it looks better. If you know you can get a decent grade in it, I’d drop journalism or Gov to take it.
Psychology is housed in math and sciences in many schools. It is clearly soft. But it is science.
Would a notoriously easy class like marine biology be worth taking just to fill the gap? I wish I’d taken ap bio instead of apes this year, because ap bio is the much easier class at my school (my friend got 96 in bio and 81 in enviro) and I got 99% in honors bio. However, the workload in ap bio is the worst of any class, so I can’t afford to do it next year, and I don’t have the natural intelligence for ap chemistry or physics.
@Badgers21 Thanks for your advice. I’ll take it under consideration. However, I do think I should keep gov because history is my strong suit.
With your gpa and sat score you most definately have the intelligence to handle ap chem or physics if you wanted to put in the time. I would check with your guidance counselor and ask if kids who didn’t take that 4th yr of sci got into good schools. I do know that at my daughter’s HS, AP Psych is considered a science class. You’re going to be taking so many AP classes next year so I don’t think it will be a huge deal if a non-science type of person doesn’t take AP bio/chem/physics. Just my opinion, although I do know that the the top colleges really want 4 yrs of every subject (ideally) from what I have read.
You still haven’t had a basic physics class. As a future journalist, it might help you to have a basic understanding of physics along with the other sciences. Even journalists who cover politics primarily might find themselves writing about topics related to physics and other sciences – topics such as government decisions on weapons, transportation, agriculture, space programs, weather and climate change, new technology and computing. These all have a physics component. I think it is easier to take it in high school than later, so consider an introductory physics course.
Do you only have 6 class periods?
In your situation, I think it’s okay not to have a science, but if possible switch AP Psych for regular physics, or take marine science or, better computer science. AP Psych is the only class you can switch out without problem. Does your school consider Psych an elective or a science BTW?
Another solution would be to see what science class for humanities major your community college offers, and take it over the summer (see if they have a version of “physics for poets”, which would work fine for you). Then you could keep your “planned” schedule for the year. 
I wouldn’t advise taking AP bio/chem since those are labor-intensive and if you’re not dedicated to them already, it’ll be miserable.
UCs don’t consider senior year grades but do look at the rigor of senior courses, for which you should be more than fine with 5 UC weighted courses.
@MYOS1634 It is considered an elective I believe. The problem with losing ap psych for regular physics or marine bio is losing the gpa boost. Computer science sounds fine and has the gpa boost, but I’ve heard it’s primarily a math course. Physics for poets sounds fun actually, thanks for the suggestion.
@goldenbear2020 That’s interesting, I didn’t know that. I was under the impression the UCs would know my senior year grades but leave them out of uw/w gpa calculations. Thanks for clarifying.
The UCs find out your senior grades when you send in your final transcripts after you graduate HS. Your admission can be revoked if you fail to meet the GPA requirements, which vary by campus; you can look them up.
If you find the “Physics for humanities major” offered at your CC and can take it over the summer, you can keep your schedule as it is, no need to change anything. :^)