AP Chemistry [versus more advanced physics after AP physics C] and Engineering

tamagotchi
Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:20:48 +0000

fretfulmother:

Why would someone shoot himself in the foot by refraining from taking a central course, even if outliers might get in without it?

The OP’s son has already checked all the boxes for science / math courses (honors chem and honors bio with strong grades, AP Physics C with 5, AP Calc BC with 5). For senior year he will be taking post-AP math, and is considering which additional science course to take. The choice is between AP Chem and a higher level post-AP physics class. Between these two options, I am not sure why you feel that AP Chem would be perceived as higher rigor or more impressive.

It would seem to me that there could be possible benefits to either path from an admissions perspective… AP Chem might be seen as broader but also more cookie-cutter, while post-AP Physics would be unusual depth in physics for HS. We see lots of students here on CC with course schedules that have post-AP depth in math and computer science, or engineering electives, but it’s not as common to see post-AP physics.

So, really up to the OP’s son what he thinks would benefit him more in college, IMHO.