I took Bio freshman year, Physical Science sophomore year, and am currently taking Honors Chemistry. I don’t really want to take a science my senior year… but they offer AP chem and AP bio. Or I could take Biotechnology
Do you plan to apply for a STEM major in college?
no
Which colleges are you targeting? Have you taken any AP/IB or dual enrollment courses? If you are not planning to major in a STEM major and you have fulfilled the science course requirements for any college you plan to apply, then I would take courses that interest you. If Biotechnology sounds interesting, then take it Senior year. Just remember highly competitive schools want to see 1 year of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (do not have to be all AP/IB courses).
Okay, so I have on year of chem (H) and one year of bio. But when it comes to physics, I have only taken physical science. this is a course that is 1/2 physics and 1/2 chem. is this sufficient for an highly competitive? or would you recommend taking Honors physics next year as a senior?
^^Physical science may or may not work - top schools usually want to see a course in physics (each one will use discretion on the question). My daughter took AP Physics 1 (I think) which is the non-calculus physics - but there must be non AP or even non-honors physics classes out there.
I agree if you are aiming for top/selective schools, you need 1 year of Physics and it does not have to AP or Honors.
Have you tried contacting the colleges?
Okay, so would taking Physics my senior year be sufficient? I am aiming ivy
^^ It will help. From Harvard’s admission website:
“The study of science for four years: physics, chemistry, and biology, and preferably one of these at an advanced level”.
https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/choosing-courses
The basic rule is 4 years of English, Math, Science and History/Geography/Social Science. Three-Four years of a FL as well (some colleges, such as Harvard, say 4).
if i took spanish 1, 2, and 3 (H) – is this enough? or should i take spanish topics next year
Do Physics in senior year.
but i already did physical science which is 1/2 physics
You actually need to do a year of physics - preferably honors or AP - in addition to whatever you did in 9th.
Agreed on taking physics as as senior if your gunning for a highly competitive college.
Physics regular or honors + Spanish 4H or AP would be expected for this level of selectivity, as well as calculus (honors or AB) or precalculus Honors, AP social science (Euro, world, Econ, or gov, and if you’re aiming for social science/humanities one history + either econ or gov), AP Lang or lit, and one more class of interest.
i was going to take AP Bio and forgo spanish. i have completed spanish 1 2 and 3 H. APs I have taken include Psych, Econ (micro+macro), APSUSH, English Language, and i am taking AP US Gov and Pol over the summer.
Even if you’re going into non-stem, you should take honors in stem subjects, as that’s what many fellow ivy applicants will have . You don’t need to take AP in a science but you have to take something and if you did well in Chem honors, I’d suggest Physics honors. Whatever the next level of Spanish is you should take, if it’s AP or topics, what’s your math sequence?
My math sequence is a killer. Basically, I did Algebra 1 as a freshman, tried geometry as a sophomore and dropped it, took it over the summer and got an A, and now as a junior, I am in Intermediate Algebra. I plan to take Alg 2 over the summer and as a senior take Finance H, as well as Pre-calc.
Finance H is an elective.
Make sure you have 4 units each of English and history/social science, bio+chem+physics+1, foreign language bthrough level 4, and math through precalculus.