Admissions Question: Would West Point rather see AP Biology or French 4?

Seanaf

5-Year Member
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May 8, 2011
Messages
18
I need to make this hard decision before the end of the school year. My other classes in my upcoming Junior year will be AP US History, AP American Literature, Trigonometry, Chemistry, and Government. My question is would admissions rather see one more year in a language class or AP Bio? If I do take French 3 then I could take French 4 during my senior year as well, so I would have 4 years of language. However, if I take AP Bio I could only take French 3 in my senior year. Bottom line, would admissions rather see 4 years of a language or 3 years of language and an extra AP class? Also, is 3 AP classes during my Junior year really necessary or is 2 AP classes sufficient enough?

Thank you. Any help would be gladly appreciated.

- Sean
 
I need to make this hard decision before the end of the school year. My other classes in my upcoming Junior year will be AP US History, AP American Literature, Trigonometry, Chemistry, and Government. My question is would admissions rather see one more year in a language class or AP Bio? If I do take French 3 then I could take French 4 during my senior year as well, so I would have 4 years of language. However, if I take AP Bio I could only take French 3 in my senior year. Bottom line, would admissions rather see 4 years of a language or 3 years of language and an extra AP class? Also, is 3 AP classes during my Junior year really necessary or is 2 AP classes sufficient enough?

Thank you. Any help would be gladly appreciated.

- Sean

Did you take Physics?
 
take AP chem and AP physics. They will probably be invaluable later.
 
I need to make this hard decision before the end of the school year. My other classes in my upcoming Junior year will be AP US History, AP American Literature, Trigonometry, Chemistry, and Government. My question is would admissions rather see one more year in a language class or AP Bio? If I do take French 3 then I could take French 4 during my senior year as well, so I would have 4 years of language. However, if I take AP Bio I could only take French 3 in my senior year. Bottom line, would admissions rather see 4 years of a language or 3 years of language and an extra AP class? Also, is 3 AP classes during my Junior year really necessary or is 2 AP classes sufficient enough?

Thank you. Any help would be gladly appreciated.

- Sean

My advice as a parent is to attend an admissons event. Speak with the people who can provide you with solid advice on your personal goals/situation. Get to know your Regional Admissions, District Coordinator, MALO and FFR. This board has USMA grads like Scout Pilot, Buff and current cadets who are very good sources.
Information from other candidates is speculation at best.
 
Yes, I have already taken regular Biology and physical science. But I am planning to take AP Physics during my senior year since that's the only year you can take it. =/
 
My advice as a parent is to attend an admissons event. Speak with the people who can provide you with solid advice on your personal goals/situation. Get to know your Regional Admissions, District Coordinator, MALO and FFR. This board has USMA grads like Scout Pilot, Buff and current cadets who are very good sources.
Information from other candidates is speculation at best.

Thank you for the advice. I have already contacted my regional admissions several times in fact.
 
I really wouldn't worry about what West Point wants to "see". Take the class that you want and will get the most out of. If you had never taken a science class before, then of course take the science class. But from what you have written, you have taken a balance of courses. French is a great language, and now that you are in more advanced classes, you will be getting out of grammar and moving on to French culture and actual in-depth conversation. (Im taking French 4 now). In my mind, language and science are equally important to understand. Just choose the one you will be best fit in.
 
By the end of high school, I will have taken 5/6 of the AP courses at my high school. Would that be sufficient enough?

I am really thinking of taking French instead because AP Bio is useless at west point right? Especially for an engineering major like myself.
 
West Point likes to see the AP classes and that you've challenged yourself throughout your high school career. 5 AP classes sounds great to me if you want to take french go right ahead you're doing great. Good luck on getting in!!!
 
I would suggest taking French 4 over AP Biology. I took AP Bio and aside from looking good it really hasn't helped at all (there is no basic Bio requirement), so unless you plan on using it in a future major, take French. The advanced French will allow you to place in a higher French course when you get here which will open up your schedule because the basic class meets twice as much as the advanced classes (for all languages).
 
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