JustDunnIt

Hello everyone, as you can tell I have recently joined and this is my first post, however, I am not truly new because I have read many threads over the past two years. Anyways, I will be a Sophomore in High School this coming year and like any ambitious student, I am looking to the years beyond next.

Which has brought me to a dilemma: I am part of a Math, Science and Technology Academy at my High School and within this program I can take one science class Junior Year and one Senior Year. I could probably take another science class upstairs, however, I most likely will not be able to take other classes (i.e. German IV and V) plus scheduling conflicts and so I have decided to not chose this option. This causes me to not be able to take one of the following: AP Biology, AP Chemistry and AP Physics. I would appreciate it if you based your advice on my specific situation.

Background:

I want to be on the Pre-Med track and major (as an undergraduate) in either Neuroscience or some other sort of Biological Science, depending on the majors each college offers.

I am interested in attending one of the following:

Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, UPenn, U of Chicago, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Michigan, Marquette, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, UNC, USC, UVA, MSU and Carnegie Mellon.

Through the Math, Science, and Technology Academy I am taking the following classes freshman and sophomore year:

I will have completed Advanced Biology, Advanced Conceptual Physics, Advanced Chemistry, Advanced Statistics, Advanced Geometry, and Advanced Algebra II.

Therefore I will have prior experience with all 3 subjects.

I have had all 3 teachers whom teach each of the 3 AP subjects.

Teacher A (AP Chemistry)

I excelled in his class and enjoy him as a teacher. Teaches like a college professor (lectures and tests).

Teacher B (AP Biology)

A very nice teacher, except I did not enjoy her teaching style and I feel that I did not learn the material very well. Also, talking to former AP Biology Students, she is not that good at teaching it.

Teacher C (AP Physics)

Young teacher who is passionate about teaching. I enjoyed his teaching style and learned the material better than in Teacher B's class but not as good as Teacher A's class.

AP Physics is the hardest class offered at my high school and I think Biology would be more beneficial for college. However, the teachers play into my decision.

I am leaning towards taking AP Chem and then either AP Bio xor AP Physics

Thoughts, comments, question, concerns...? Anything will be appreciated.

Thanks!

War Chant

The pre-med curriculum requires these 3 subjects (and more) so regardless, you're going to be taking them over again (for the most part). I'd go with AP Chem and whichever other one you feel most comfortable with.

rocawear

AP Chemistry and Biology

koromo

I'd also like some insight on this. I have the same dilemma, except I've already taken chem and am deciding between bio or physics next year. I'm learning toward physics I feel like bio will be easier to pick up in college.
I'd say go with physics in your case since you said the bio teacher isn't that good, but most people going to pre-med have AP bio experience so I don't know if we'll be at a disadvantage for taking AP physics instead.

Oh and personal bias but definitely take chem!

Weeknd

AP Chem and AP Bio
They are more covered on the mcat than physics, also you take these two classes freshman year of undergrad so it'll be fresh versus junior year physics

Nivers1027

I'm not speaking with your teachers in mind, but I think you should definitely take AP Physics no matter what. I've heard that Physics in college is pretty challenging, so it would be better for you if you already had from college physics in highschool. And, I hate to choose between AP Chem and AP Bio. I took AP Bio last year as a sophomore and got A's both semesters and 5 on the AP exam. I will be taking both AP chem and AP Physics in the upcoming school year as a junior. But I've heard that there are more chemistry cources in pre-med than there are bio...idk to what extent that's true though.

Federico14

AP Chemistry and AP Biology in my opinion. Which ever you choose, you are most likely going to have to retake them in college anyways, so pick the two you will most enjoy and do best in

Kaeroze

I think that AP Biology would be a good choice simply because you said you didn't really learn the material very well, maybe you'll learn it better the second time. I would suggest that the other science class you take be the one you enjoyed and learned the most. AP Chemistry would be, I think more beneficial, but AP Physics, I have no comment on since I haven't taken it yet.

JAngel17

Yeah AP Bio And AP Chem are the smarter choices.

Hockeydude664

Bio and Chem but take AP chem junior year and bio senior year because one unit of AP bio is biochem which after taking AP chem will seem like a joke to you. however AP chem does not have any bio related topics that overlap. Chem and then Bio (that's what I did)!

RAF1940

Easy. Chemistry and Biology.

Nikegolf88

If the chemistry teacher is good then do AP Bio and AP chem