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Will not taking AP chem hurt me?

SubsidizeSubsidize Registered User Posts: 206 Junior Member
edited January 2011 in College Admissions
AP Chem is offered to sophomores at my school but the teacher is supposed to be really bad, so I decided to take Honors Chem instead. Will top colleges see this as hiding from a challenge? If so, should I self study the material and try to get a 4/5 on the AP exam? The rest of my course load is the most advanced possible. Thanks in advance for the replies.
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Replies to: Will not taking AP chem hurt me?

  • arcus1arcus1 Registered User Posts: 48 Junior Member
    I think I should warn you against what you are about to do. I had a similar situation when I was a Junior. I took the regular physics class because the AP physics teacher did not seem capable to me. I do not regret this because I am not passionate about physics. But if you want to advance further, to do more, in the field of chemistry, I recommend you take the AP class. I hope you will not be discouraged from what may be a great interest of yours because of the teacher; that, to my mind, would be an equally great casualty of education.
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  • chato999chato999 Registered User Posts: 98 Junior Member
    It absolutely depends on whether your major will be related to chemistry. You should see everything as a challenge. Believe me, you will encounter much more difficult courses than AP Chemistry. But, if you are going to a LAC, don't bother.
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  • anotherparentanotherparent Registered User Posts: 1,275 Senior Member
    If you have a bad teacher in an AP class, you can self study. Knowing you are going into a bad situation makes it easier. Get some good prep books, and study along.

    My kids home school. They take some AP classes online, with varying levels of teaching. They also self study. This has been an invaluable skill for them. My son is in college. If he has a bad teacher, it is not a problem, it just means he has to study differently.
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  • anotherparentanotherparent Registered User Posts: 1,275 Senior Member
    This link might help you with Chem.
    Khan Academy

    Also, if you can afford it, maybe you can do this over the summer before chem actually starts.
    AP Chemistry | AP Exam
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  • wilmiesterwilmiester Registered User Posts: 318 Junior Member
    Ha. Ha. On a random note. I read the title of this thread, "Will not taking AP chem hurt me?" and thought "of course not". Because AP Chem hurts.
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  • turbulence144turbulence144 Registered User Posts: 44 New Member
    if you don't have any background in chem, i doubt its a good idea... at my school kids take honors chem and then AP chem as like a chem 2 sorta thing. idk if thats normal or not, but it does not seem like any easy class.

    i think you should probably just take honors chem and be satisfied with that. no point in ruining your life with a bad teacher. i had a HORRIBLE ap bio teacher, and i just ended up hating the subject. i self studied and passed the class and all, but i hate biology now because i associate it with a horrible class.
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  • jinglejingle Registered User Posts: 1,198 Senior Member
    Given that your other courses are "the most advanced possible," and this one is an honors class, I don' t think you have anything to worry about. Admissions committees will look at your whole record, and as long as you've got a reasonable number of APs I think you should be set.
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