For context: I’m applying as Poli-Sci/Public-Sci major with possibly a minor in econ
Every year I’ve taken one of each of the core subjects.
For example, my junior year schedule: AP Spanish Lang, AP Calc AB, AP Chem, APUSH, and AP Research
For my senior year, would it be okay to drop a science?
I’d be taking AP Gov, AP Stats, AP Lit, and possibly AP Business (debating).
So as usual, this sort of thing really depends on where you are applying. You should look up on each of their admissions pages what they recommend (or you can check their Common Data Set, Box C5).
I note many US colleges, or the subdivision within those colleges that contains Political Science, do not admit by major. Such college programs instead practice what is sometimes known as general admissions, and in cases like that, your intended major is unlikely to be seen as automatically justifying failing to follow their recommendations.
Are you saying that Research counts as English? It didn’t at my kid’s school but that was 5 years ago.
It all depends on the schools you are applying to but it’s likely fine.
If you’re applying to Harvard the answer would be different than if you apply to Hofstra.
I assume all three years of science were lab - so bio, chem and either physics or Env Science?
In most cases, you’d be fine but there’s maybe 10-20 schools maybe not (but maybe ok).
We don’t know anything about you, etc. beyond the schedule so.
Are you interested in business? If not, it’s fine to take but not sure it moves the needle. You might consider taking a class of interest, even if not rigorous.
But it all depends on where you are looking - and your stats (GPA, SAT) and then do you have a solid out of class background.
But I think as long as you are not applying tippy top, it’s likely ok.
I would take four years of science, including biology, chemistry, and physics. If you’ve already taken these, then take earth science or environmental science. No need to take a subject like AP Biology or AP Physics.
Take AP Macroeconomics or Microeconomics instead of Business if you haven’t taken it.
Have you taken one year each of bio, chem, and physics? If not, then I’d recommend taking the class you are missing senior year.
I also agree that course selection depends on what types of schools are on your college list.
Within the UC system, AP Seminar is classified as an English course (B) and AP Research is considered a college prep elective (G).
Can you take AP Environmental Science instead of or as well as AP Business?
In terms of rigor, any elective of your choice would be equivalent to AP Business.
You will probably not have many opportunities in life to learn science unless you do that in college, and it sounds like that is not your plan. Business, otoh, will be available in many places as you move through life.
Build your science foundation now. It’s going to need to last a lifetime.
So they don’t have 4 years of English - for a UC. Of course we don’t know where they are applying but I’d take a real English class.
only 4 courses Senior year?
What about Calc BC? (If you are interested in biz, then fulfilling the Calc sequence would be beneficial.)
Where is your junior year English? You should take English, foreign language, math, science, and history/social science every year, if possible. That leaves you with room for two to three electives (depending upon whether or not you take lunch) in your schedule. Try to take as many APs that are well-taught at your school, knowing that they may be your last opportunity for general education, now that most colleges no longer require a core-curriculum of broad general education. Avoid the filler APs, that are not based in rigorous content. So if you’re not getting in AP Lang, take that instead of AP research. Consider AP econ, AP European history, AP sciences, Calc BC, AP Stats, any APs that are well-taught at your high school, because that may be your last chance to take such a subject, since in college you’ll be focused on your major.
As long as you’re taking the requisite years of the 5 core subjects, with as much rigor as your school offers and and as you can handle, don’t worry about taking particular classes to try to look good for college admissions. Be more concerned about getting the most you can out of your high school education, with as much rigor as you can reasonably handle.
this will be considered an elective topic and not a core academic class by many colleges. Science is a core academic class. I would advise taking a science - and you should try to cover each of Bio/Physics/Chem if you haven’t already…
I’d just caution to OP - we really need to know where they are looking.
They don’t necessarily need more science - for most 3 years is plenty as is foreign language. The English would be a concern.
But there’s a big difference from applying to Harvard vs. U of Hawaii - and we know nothing.
Too much can’t hurt (except workload wise) - but it might not help admission wise.
Pulling OP’s thread from last year over here for reference.
ahhhh - Stanford. Thank you.
From their website
We do not have a set of required courses for admission to Stanford. However, we have found that students who demonstrate success and mastery in a curriculum like the one below are prepared for the academic rigors at Stanford.
From the Common Data Set - i’m not sure if the + mean they’d like to see more or not - but I would make sure you take a math, lab science, language, social science and English yearly - but you have to be realistic - if you can handle the rigor.
I would look into taking Calc 2 or calc-based Physics at community college DE if possible. Otherwise AP Bio might be your best bet, or AP Euro if offered. Macro or Micro probably better than Business.
Plus BC is 2/3 repeating AB, so it shouldn’t be that hard if AB went smoothly.
Perhaps OP can clarify what they have taken apart from their APs. At our school, taking AP chem in junior year means you haven’t taken physics yet and I am assuming at most schools it would also mean one science subject short, unless they allow doubling up on science in one of the years. Agree that if this is the case it would be preferable to take the “missing” science in senior year rather than business.
As with most questions on this board, there’s no definitive right or wrong answer. I agree with most others here that if you’re aiming for Stanford, the safer choice is to take bio, chem and physics even as a Poli Sci major.
My D26 did not take AP Physics - dropped it at the last possible moment of her senior year because absolutely hated it and it was affecting her mental health. She took all the other sciences, had 15 APs, 4 DEs and strong SAT, grades and ECs. She was accepted to many the schools with sub 15% and some single digit acceptance rates. She was only rejected by one school but we were definitely worried about the lack of physics.
Similarly, I knew a gal in '22 who didn’t take physics or a science her senior year and was accepted to Harvard, Stanford and Princeton. But she was extremely strong in all other aspects - was interviewed on TV several times and had national news stories written about work she did outside of school. Both young ladies applied as Poli Sci/Gov majors.
The moral of the story is skipping one of the core sciences is not fatal as a Poli Sci major but it’s much safer to take physics if you have doubts.
I honestly think Stanford doesn’t care. Sure, you need a good record, but hundreds of thousands of kids have that. They care if you’re an athlete, or a legacy, etc. Beyond that, they care if you almost died in a horrific accident, but still thrived, and random stuff that no one can really know. For the most part, there are little, unknowable things, even by the people themselves that get into highly rejective schools, that pique the interest of the people reading the bazillions of apps they have to sort through. Take the classes you want to take, because at the end of the day, it won’t make any difference one way or the other and you will have learned something that you were excited about.
