<p>How important is taking four years of science? My son wants to be an Engineer at CU Boulder or Mines. He’s currently a Junior, and here’s what he’s taken up until now:</p>
<p>9: Algebra II – Biology
10: Trig/Pre Calc – Chemistry
11: AP Calc AB – AP Physics C
12: AP Calc BC – ?</p>
<p>He can’t decide if he just shouldn’t take a science class, go all out and take AP Bio, or take some silly elective like Astronomy.</p>
<p>Advice?</p>
<p>Advice? No. Perhaps an observation or two …</p>
<p>One reason Engineering is challenging is the assumption that Engineering students are dedicated to the profession, and have been preparing themselves for high-level Math and Science coursework. Students gifted in those areas naturally gravitate toward HS math and science … very often taking as many M&S courses as the HS offers. Students NOT gifted in those areas need to take as much M&S as possible to prepare themselves for college-level work.</p>
<p>You should also check the colleges your son is interested in for their minimum requirements – some might require 4 years of science. He should also talk to his GC to determine if another math/science class would make his transcript more competitive.</p>
<p>AP Chemistry.</p>
<p>AP Chem seems like the obvious choice if it’s available. AP bio if it’s not. Even my non-science kid took two AP science courses (Bio and Physics C). He also did AP Calc BC without doing AB first. An engineering kid should definitely be taking challenging science courses.</p>
<p>[New</a> Freshmen](<a href=“http://www.mines.edu/NewFreshmen]New”>Undergraduate Admissions Home - Undergraduate Admissions) says 3 years of high school science, at least 1 of which must be chemistry or physics. So he has that already (and with AP level in the most important of the sciences for engineering), although AP chemistry may be additionally useful there, according to <a href=“https://www.mines.edu/UserFiles/File/Online%20AP-IB%20Transfer%20Credit%20Brochure%202010-2011.pdf[/url]”>https://www.mines.edu/UserFiles/File/Online%20AP-IB%20Transfer%20Credit%20Brochure%202010-2011.pdf</a> .</p>
<p>What kind of engineer does he want to be?</p>
<p>I’d advise taking AP Chem.</p>
<p>Ap chem.
Chem has more of a math basis to it when compared to ap bio which is more memorization and categorization. Additionally, if chem sparks more of an interest, there is always chemical engineering.</p>
<p>Engineering majors should take rigorous, math-based sciences.</p>
<p>If he doesn’t want to take an AP science class, why is majoring in engineering?</p>
<p>Astronomy, a “silly elective”??</p>
<p>passes out cold from shock</p>
<p>
I don’t think that the OP is implying that astronomy is a silly subject, just that it is a silly class at the his/her son’s school.</p>
<p>Unless he wants to be a biomedical engineer the AP Bio is not particularly helpful and is a different kind of science than the physics that most ME and EE prospects love. AP Chem is more mathematical and more useful for things like materials, but I know lots of engineers who did not love chemistry. I also know lots of high schools that do not offer AP Chem. Astronomy can be taught well, or taught as a gut for non-science kids. If there is no science that interests him is there an opportunity to double up on math and do AP stats? Definitely would check with the prospective schools on their requirements though - even drop a line to the AO and ask how it would be percieved.</p>
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<p>There is this idea out there that any science out there other than Bio/Chem/Physics is silly. I don’t get it. </p>
<p>S16 is a junior and they are doing senior year planning right now. He has 4 years of HS science already (Physical Science, Bio, Chem, Physics) but his school requires a science class each year the student is in attendance. He is not going to be a STEM major in college so he doesn’t need an AP Science so he asked me if he could take a “blow off” class like Marine Biology. ??? When did anything outside Bio/Chem/Physics become a “blow off” class?</p>
<p>I agree, AP Chemistry…</p>
<p>AP Chemistry would be a good choice if it’s offered and taught well. Not taking a science is another option.</p>
<p>My concern is that his disinterest in taking a fourth year of science suggests that engineering may not appeal to him as much as he expects.</p>
<p>One good strategy for dealing with this is to make sure he chooses a college that has plenty of good programs available other than engineering. That way, if it turns out that he does not like engineering, he has other choices available to him without having to transfer to a different college.</p>
<p>Tech schools may not be a good choice for a student of this sort. A comprehensive university that has a good engineering program may be better.</p>
<p>A couple points;</p>
<p>AP Chemistry is probably what is called for here though AP Biology is a definite option also, much more physical science based than in the past. </p>
<p>If your S doesn’t want to take more science then perhaps a career in science is not for him. </p>
<p>Astronomy is generally not a ‘blow off’ class (lots of physics and math) but I understand that how its taught could affect the perception of the class. </p>
<p>For a student looking to become a science/math major they need to take as many science/math classes as they can get. For us S1 and S2 both took Physical science, Bio, Chem, AP Chem, AP Physics, and Anat and Phys. It worked well for them.</p>
<p>It’s not that he doesn’t like science… He loves it. He’s just concerned about taking AP Chem because he took Chem as a sophomore and he’s afraid he’d do poorly because he hasn’t had any chemistry in a year.</p>
<p>He should look up whether his major at CSM or CU requires him to take chemistry in college, and whether AP chemistry will exempt him from the requirement.</p>
<p>If he is afraid of doing poorly in AP chemistry, then the risk of that becomes worse if he waits until college to take chemistry.</p>
<p>AP chem.
If he doesn’t do 4 years of science classes, it shows he is more interested in other things compared to science.</p>