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AP Bio or AP Physics B
- Thread starter Yacht Rock
- Start date
Hello again.
It is always suggested to verify plan B colleges and check admission requirements. Many colleges specify 3 or 4 sciences and even some go so far as to specify the expected sciences. I see that your DS has only taken physics and chemistry in high school thus far. Two different levels of the same science does not necessarily constitute 2 science classes. It would be best to make a short list of possible colleges and just do a quick check - even call admissions and verify.
My son took 3 science courses in his 10th year. It's possible due to our school's scheduling, but maybe your son can double up this year. One course being an AP and maybe the other is an honors level.
Best of luck. Take Care.
It is always suggested to verify plan B colleges and check admission requirements. Many colleges specify 3 or 4 sciences and even some go so far as to specify the expected sciences. I see that your DS has only taken physics and chemistry in high school thus far. Two different levels of the same science does not necessarily constitute 2 science classes. It would be best to make a short list of possible colleges and just do a quick check - even call admissions and verify.
My son took 3 science courses in his 10th year. It's possible due to our school's scheduling, but maybe your son can double up this year. One course being an AP and maybe the other is an honors level.
Best of luck. Take Care.
I did take regular Bio, or seminar level Bio. I took it freshman year. It was required for graduation.
I also took APBio. I liked it but in hindsight, should have just skipped it. I personally don't think the APHistory and APGovernment classes are overly challenging so you should be good to do that and the same with English. Even though we are here for four years regardless, validating a decent number of classes opens up your schedule(hopefully)1st class year to pursue other opportunities such as graduate school.
I also took APBio. I liked it but in hindsight, should have just skipped it. I personally don't think the APHistory and APGovernment classes are overly challenging so you should be good to do that and the same with English. Even though we are here for four years regardless, validating a decent number of classes opens up your schedule(hopefully)1st class year to pursue other opportunities such as graduate school.
Daughnworks
Member
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2015
- Messages
- 20
Double and triple sciences and maths in a year really changed my son's outlook and priorities. Freshman honors bio and sophomore chem but then, he moved away to a true Math and Science School. BUT, many states' primary universities have some of the extra classes available on-line. It might show initiative?
I think being a normal student might be a little more important.
I think being a normal student might be a little more important.
Double and triple sciences and maths in a year really changed my son's outlook and priorities. Freshman honors bio and sophomore chem but then, he moved away to a true Math and Science School. BUT, many states' primary universities have some of the extra classes available on-line. It might show initiative?
I think being a normal student might be a little more important.
Please define "normal student"?
falconchic88
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2009
- Messages
- 1,124
Yacht Rock, my daughter did AP Chem, physics 1, and Honors Anatomy and Physiology all her junior year. She then took AP Physics C her Senior year, she never had a free period all 4 years of high school so it is doable if your son is focused.
My plebe to be daughter had the opportunity to meet with the USNA Dean of admissions just before her Senior year started. There were 4 other applicants in meeting as well. First question he asked was who took AP Chem and how did they do on AP exam. He actually told one applicant that hadnt plsnned on taking it (who already had senior year schedule set) to drop AP Bio and replace it with AP Chem. this is where my suggestion came from. That said, my oldest (2014 USNA Grad) only took honors chem and no AP Physics because they werent offered at his high school, and he was accepted and made it through. But he did struggle in Plebe killer Chem!
My plebe to be daughter had the opportunity to meet with the USNA Dean of admissions just before her Senior year started. There were 4 other applicants in meeting as well. First question he asked was who took AP Chem and how did they do on AP exam. He actually told one applicant that hadnt plsnned on taking it (who already had senior year schedule set) to drop AP Bio and replace it with AP Chem. this is where my suggestion came from. That said, my oldest (2014 USNA Grad) only took honors chem and no AP Physics because they werent offered at his high school, and he was accepted and made it through. But he did struggle in Plebe killer Chem!
Daughnworks
Member
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2015
- Messages
- 20
Joedoe, haha, is there any such thing as a "normal" student?
I do know students with higher level physics, more than one chem, greater than Calc 1, have their applications immediately moved to a different pile, according to admissions and scholarship grantors at leading engineering schools. "Moving to another pile" does not grant guarantees of admission, it merely means they want to take a close look at these students and yes, they are desirable.
I was the Regional Scholarship Chairman for FIRST Robotics (about 4K students). As such, I worked closely with admissions and scholarship grantors at many of our best universities. These professionals like to see extensive classes because it indicates preparation on the part of the student and it also speaks to the quality of the high school (more important than you might think). So, it would make sense, since most academies are engineering focused (and so many of the students major in engineering or STEM disciplines), maybe, academy admissions would like to see higher levels or multiple math and science classes on an application. On the other side of the equation, I do know, when admissions reps at these same universities receive an application from a student who has gone all the way through lineal algebra in high school or has taken differential equations, the reaction from admissions is akin to a red warning light. They want a personal interview to make sure the student can, at least, walk, talk and maybe do their own laundry. Sometimes, they are looking for more "normal".
Academies are also very different and so many posters here, with far more experience, consistently indicate there is NO MAGIC FORMULA for admission. Here, leadership qualities, grace under pressure, the ability to communicate, ethics and physical ability would be far more highly valued than at School of Mines, Ga Tech, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, Renssalaer, Stevens, MIT or a Cal-Tech. Like my son says, the reason he wants to go to USAFA (besides being an officer) is that he knows, it will make him a better "whole" man. Besides, as we all know, most Cal-Tech students would never survive the first month at USAFA.
In conclusion, don't over load senior year. Reach, yes, but do not burn out. If you are one of the chosen few, you will need all your strength. Best wishes.
I do know students with higher level physics, more than one chem, greater than Calc 1, have their applications immediately moved to a different pile, according to admissions and scholarship grantors at leading engineering schools. "Moving to another pile" does not grant guarantees of admission, it merely means they want to take a close look at these students and yes, they are desirable.
I was the Regional Scholarship Chairman for FIRST Robotics (about 4K students). As such, I worked closely with admissions and scholarship grantors at many of our best universities. These professionals like to see extensive classes because it indicates preparation on the part of the student and it also speaks to the quality of the high school (more important than you might think). So, it would make sense, since most academies are engineering focused (and so many of the students major in engineering or STEM disciplines), maybe, academy admissions would like to see higher levels or multiple math and science classes on an application. On the other side of the equation, I do know, when admissions reps at these same universities receive an application from a student who has gone all the way through lineal algebra in high school or has taken differential equations, the reaction from admissions is akin to a red warning light. They want a personal interview to make sure the student can, at least, walk, talk and maybe do their own laundry. Sometimes, they are looking for more "normal".
Academies are also very different and so many posters here, with far more experience, consistently indicate there is NO MAGIC FORMULA for admission. Here, leadership qualities, grace under pressure, the ability to communicate, ethics and physical ability would be far more highly valued than at School of Mines, Ga Tech, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, Renssalaer, Stevens, MIT or a Cal-Tech. Like my son says, the reason he wants to go to USAFA (besides being an officer) is that he knows, it will make him a better "whole" man. Besides, as we all know, most Cal-Tech students would never survive the first month at USAFA.
In conclusion, don't over load senior year. Reach, yes, but do not burn out. If you are one of the chosen few, you will need all your strength. Best wishes.
I guess it depends on what your goals are. I did overload myself senior year, but as a recruited athlete I already knew I had an appointment to USNA by September of my senior year. Although I still was undecided about USNA, I wanted to validate as many classes as I could, regardless of where I went. For me it worked out and my only advice to the OP was if at that proverbial fork in the road where it was either APBio or APChem, I'd definitely choose the latter.