Which of these would look better on college applications? My main goal is UCLA, but I definitely plan on going to a UC. I’ve heard APES is an easier AP, and that colleges don’t tend to look at it seriously. Honors Physiology I’ve heard is a bit more challenging. However, it’s an Honors and not an AP. Both APs and Honors get the 1.0 weight at my high school. However, would colleges prefer to see an AP over an Honors, or see the more challenging of the 2?
In general APs are deemed to be bigger challenge and collages like to see how you challenged yourself! When UCLA has to reject 40% of its straight-A’s applicants, so rigior of your coursework should play a major role. Right?
They won’t care, both are seen as about the same level. Pick whichever you like best.
Apes relates to the real world so it’s really interesting but Physiology would help if you’re going into nursing.
@uclaparent9 I see your point, thank you!
Before doing either have you already taken bio, chemical and physics, at least one year each.
@VickiSoCal I’ve taken Biology & Chemistry, one year each, not Physics. At my school, it’s mandatory to take 3 years of science, Bio & Chem are required. Our 3rd year we get to choose what science we wish to take. My GC suggested I don’t take Physics & instead take an Honors or AP science, as UC schools would find that much more impressive as well as a step-up in course rigor, whereas Physics would be seen as continuing along the basic path for science since it’s not advanced.
@VickiSoCal I’ve taken Biology & Chemistry, one year each, not Physics. At my school, it’s mandatory to take 3 years of science, Bio & Chem are required. Our 3rd year we get to choose what science we wish to take. My GC suggested I don’t take Physics & instead take an Honors or AP science, as UC schools would find that much more impressive as well as a step-up in course rigor, whereas Physics would be seen as continuing along the basic path for science since it’s not advanced.
Actually, you’d need to take Physics AND one AP if you’re aiming for UCLA.
APES is NOT considered “impressive” (it’s an AP-Lite).
Bio&chem = good -> what about Physics Honors? AP Physics 1?
APES could be taken senior year after you’ve completed all three from the science sequence, or in addition to regular physics.
I was aware that APES was always viewed as an easier AP course. My school only calls them AP though, so what exactly would AP-Lite be? We have AP Physics as well as regular Physics, but each one is only taught 1 class period & it’s a very long wait list. It’s always given to the students in the highest levels of math, so anybody in Linear Algebra, AP Calc AB & BC would get priority over me. Would it matter if I took APES junior year & AP Physics senior year? Or would I have to do APES after Physics?
If you are in AP PhysiCs as a senior when you apply you should be fine.
@VickiSoCal I’ll have 3 electives my senior year & it’s smartest to make as many of those as I can an academic elective, so I’ll definitely consider AP Physics that year so that my junior year isn’t so overwhelming. Thank you for the advice!!
APES junior year and AP Physics senior year is totally fine. 
AP Lites are an informal designation- AP Human Geography, AP Stats, AP Psych, APES, are not equivalent to college courses and often don’t carry college credit. They’re good complements for students with a heavy schedule, gateways for freshmen/sophomores who want to test the AP waters, a taste of more rigorous classes for juniors/seniors who haven’t had a rigorous curriculum till then, or classes for strong students who can’t/won’t take the “hardcore” subject (ie., AP Stats rather than AP Calc because you can’t handle calc, AP Human Geog because APUSH would be too much reading…)
@MYOS1634 Oh okay, I see now – thank you!! So if AP Psych is an AP Lite, do you know what the more rigorous course would be? My school offers Psychology/Sociology, both regular classes that are a semester each, as well as the full-year AP Psych, but we don’t have any other Psychology classes
You could also take CP Physics and then AP Physics later.
@bopper would regular Physics look better on college applications than APES?
Does your school offer AP Physics 1?
If so, you’re better off taking apes and physics 1 for the ucgpa.
If not, what does it offer?
AP psychology is better than regular Psych but does not replace a core class or core AP. It can only be a complement.
I don’t know if regular physics would "look better"or not…what I am saying is don’t take APES just because it is an AP…take it because you are interested in the class. If you are not, then another common sequence is taking some version of Bio, Chem, Phys and then an AP version of one of those.
@MYOS1634 yes, my school offers both AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2. As far as I know, Regular Physics is not a prereq for AP. Would it hurt me to take AP Physics without having done regular first?
AP Physics 1 can be done without any previous Physics class so you’re good! (The AP Physics class that has a physics pre-req is AP Physics C).