Yacht Rock
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2015
- Messages
- 14
DS just completed sophomore year at a boarding school and is trying to decide whether to take AP Bio or AP Physics his junior year. DS feels that when he applies to USNA at the beginning of his senior year, it would look more favorable if his transcript listed AP Physics B vs. AP Bio.
He has completed Conceptual Physics (freshman) and Honors Chem (sophomore), as well as, Honors Geometry (freshman), Honors A2Trig (sophomore). All solid A's except Chem which was an 86 (the horror!). His anticipated core course load over the remaining two years is as follows:
Junior
AP Bio
AP US History
AP English
Honors Spanish 4
Honors Pre-Calc
Plus sports and 3 school singing groups
Senior
AP Physics B or C
AP Government
AP Calc BC
AP Spanish
AP Euro Lit
His Chem teacher who is also the department head made a good point. If he enrolls in AP Bio, and needs to drop down to Bio, due to heavy course load, he can. If he takes AP Physics B his junior year and wants to drop down, he can't - there isn't a regular Physics B option. Further the teacher noted that if he delays AP Physics another year, he will have another year of math under his belt. Right now he could not take AP Physics C since Calc is a pre-req. He could during his Senior year.
I've read in previous posts that USNA prefers Physics over Bio. But does it really matter if at the completion of a student's junior year (presume AP Bio completed) the student has proven academic success in all areas, especially STEM courses? In other words, isn't it more important to demonstrate a variety of accomplishments; academic passion and ambition, school leadership positions, above average SAT or ACT scores, play and captain a varsity sport(s), service to community, etc. vs. pointed STEM courses?
I know admissions to USNA (and other academies) is very competitive. But I think he is over-analyzing course selection. Comments appreciated.
FWIW - he is fascinated with Aerospace Engineering, Bio Med Engineering, and Physics and just wants to serve his country as a soldier abroad.
He has completed Conceptual Physics (freshman) and Honors Chem (sophomore), as well as, Honors Geometry (freshman), Honors A2Trig (sophomore). All solid A's except Chem which was an 86 (the horror!). His anticipated core course load over the remaining two years is as follows:
Junior
AP Bio
AP US History
AP English
Honors Spanish 4
Honors Pre-Calc
Plus sports and 3 school singing groups
Senior
AP Physics B or C
AP Government
AP Calc BC
AP Spanish
AP Euro Lit
His Chem teacher who is also the department head made a good point. If he enrolls in AP Bio, and needs to drop down to Bio, due to heavy course load, he can. If he takes AP Physics B his junior year and wants to drop down, he can't - there isn't a regular Physics B option. Further the teacher noted that if he delays AP Physics another year, he will have another year of math under his belt. Right now he could not take AP Physics C since Calc is a pre-req. He could during his Senior year.
I've read in previous posts that USNA prefers Physics over Bio. But does it really matter if at the completion of a student's junior year (presume AP Bio completed) the student has proven academic success in all areas, especially STEM courses? In other words, isn't it more important to demonstrate a variety of accomplishments; academic passion and ambition, school leadership positions, above average SAT or ACT scores, play and captain a varsity sport(s), service to community, etc. vs. pointed STEM courses?
I know admissions to USNA (and other academies) is very competitive. But I think he is over-analyzing course selection. Comments appreciated.
FWIW - he is fascinated with Aerospace Engineering, Bio Med Engineering, and Physics and just wants to serve his country as a soldier abroad.