This is my first time posting here although I’ve been lurking for a while now. My S26 has a really strong academic background, I think. He’ll graduate with 14 AP classes with 4s and 5s (including 5s in Physics C, Comp Sci A, and Calculus BC). My question is does AP Chemistry have any impact on admissions prospects for engineering? He did take Honors Chemistry and Honors Biology with a strong grade in both.
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Hard to answer your question without knowing what the rest of his rigor will be senior year, what he’s taking instead of AP chem, and what types of schools he’s aiming for.
Engineering students will need to take college level chemistry so AP can be useful in either preparation, or being able to use the AP credit to make room for something more interesting to the student.
Typically though, most schools just want to see some level of bio, chem, physics taken in HS. Where it gets murkier is with the highly rejective schools.
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Thanks. He’s definitely interested in some highly rejective schools. But he loves Physics, so he’s taken 1, 2, and C plus history and English AP classes. Next year, he’ll be taking a couple of higher level math and physics classes. But I am still wondering if not taking AP Chem will be an issue.
Will he have four years of all his other core classes (including foreign language and history)?
If the answer to above is ‘yes’, because his rigor will be high, I don’t think it will be an issue for admission. He just may be making it more difficult for himself freshman year by having a gap in content.
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Yes, he’ll have taken all of the core classes and has a high GPA and SAT score. But since he could still change his schedule for next year at this point, I just want to make sure his profile is as strong as possible.
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Below is the full list of schools that either require or give a bump to those applicants with AP Chemistry:
- There are none
Admissions is not going to microanalyze course rigor assuming there are rigorous courses across all core subjects.
Whether it is the best move to prioritize post-AP Physics over AP Chemistry for reasons other than admissions is a separate question
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Curious. What is his highest level math he will/has taken.
Physics and calculus, or math in general, would be my top two recommendations for a student wanting to go into engineering. CS would be a close third.
To me it sounds like your son is doing very well, with or without AP Chemistry.
I am assuming that your son either already has taken or will take at least regular high school chemistry. With this, I would not worry about it.
In engineering “prestige” does not matter much. It is entirely normal for graduates from MIT and Stanford to be working alongside graduates from UNH and U.Mass and Rutgers and San Jose State and various IITs (in India) and a wide range of other universities and in most cases no one cares where anyone got their degree.
You might want to read the “applying sideways” blog on the MIT admissions web site. As I understand it, it recommends that a student do what is right for them, take the classes that are right for them, participate in the ECs that are right for them, treat people well, be genuine, whatever you do you should do it well, and do not worry about it. I might personally add “make sure that you apply to safeties and keep your budget in mind”.
and to me it sounds like your son is doing very well. Best wishes.
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I’m going to disagree with this. Most engineering applicants to the kinds of schools coveted by CC readers, will have taken AP Chemistry and gotten a 5 on the exam - in addition to some version of physics, math at least to Calc BC, and all the other core classes. If you want to be competitive, take all of the above.
Differential equations and multivariable calculus
I agree that this may be a good question for the OP’s son to consider.
Most engineering programs will allow a good score on AP Chem to be used for credit and advanced placement. However, it is much more variable how AP Physics can be used, because AP Physics doesn’t map as well to college physics. Some will allow credit and advanced placement for Mechanics but not E&M, while many schools don’t grant advanced placement at all, and place all incoming first-year engineering students in the same introductory physics sequence.
I don’t know how schools would treat additional post-AP physics classes, but I would hesitate to assume these classes would result in advanced placement (unless they are college courses).
Would the student be happy being placed in introductory college physics, after taking post-AP physics classes in senior year?
Or would the student prefer to take AP Chem and have the opportunity to pass out of introductory chem in college, freeing up space in their schedule for additional math / physics courses (or other courses) that they might prefer?
The student and parent may also want to look into curricula and advanced placement policies for specific engineering programs of interest.
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Thanks. Up to this point, he’s pretty much taken the classes that he’s wanted to take. As a parent, I just want to make sure he doesn’t miss out on an opportunity because of a class that could prove to be more important than he realizes.
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I don’t think he minds any of this. I think he’ll have a great foundation that’ll help him make the transition to college-level physics courses. And he likes chemistry but has just prioritized physics until now. So I don’t think he’d mind taking it in college. My concern is more of a “what would this look like to those reviewing his application” and not “how can he get as much credit as he can for the AP courses he’s taken.” If that makes sense.
Do you have a source for this? It doesn’t seem to be the case at the school where I read apps.
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In either case, he’s likely to be taking the same introductory physics. The question is whether he’ll be taking introductory chem as well.
My son (engineering major) was really happy that he didn’t have to reserve a chunk of his freshman college year for intro chem. 
He then turned around and advised his younger sister D26 to take as many APs applicable to her major as she could, so that she would have more freedom in college.
Anyway, it’s really up to your son, but he may want to look into specific programs of interest, and think about how this choice might affect his freshman year course options.
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Is this something that varies at all depending on the college or university? It’s a good point and I’ll mention it to my son.
Yes, it varies quite a bit between universities, and can also vary between departments / majors within a university. Check curricula and AP credit policies for each program of interest.
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Thanks.
You’re wrong. “Most” IME will not have done that. But feel free to provide a source for your claim as an aid to the OP.
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That’s perfect and should be way ahead of the game. Colleges really want students to be ready for Calc 1. I would have him take what interests him and not worry that he didn’t finish 25 Aps. The most Aps don’t win.
Unless I missed it what is his “unweighted” GPA and Sat score. This can help us help you.
Also what type of engineering is he interested in?