I have the option of taking AP Chem or AP Bio for my junior year with AP Physics 1. My question isn’t really which one is easier, because I know each one is going to take hard work. I’m personally more interested in AP Bio, but my concern is that since I took Chemistry Honors this year, my sophomore year, I’d forget a lot of chemistry over junior year and returning to it in senior year would be really bad because I’d have forgotten all the concepts.
I’m also hoping to take the SAT Subject Tests for Chemistry or Biology, which one would look better for colleges? Or could I take the Chemistry Subject Test after finishing my chemistry honors course?
Schedule for next year:
AP US History
AP Calc AB
AP Chem or Bio
AP Physics
German 5 Honors
English 3 Honors
Wellness
Honestly, I’m thinking of removing German and replacing it with a study hall because of the course load. But that’s another concern for another day.
If you have gotten to level 4 in a foriegn language, that is suffiecient for all colleges…but if you want to do global studies in college I would continue. If you want to do a STEM major, quitting is fine. If you see a STEM PhD in your future, German is useful.
If you look at top colleges, I think they require 2 SAT tests. Look at possible colleges and see what they say.
For example at Princeton
What SAT II subject tests do you require?
Princeton strongly recommends that applicants submit the results of two SAT II subject tests. Applicants who intend to pursue a B.S.E. degree should include among these either the Level I or Level II mathematics test and either the physics or chemistry test.
It really depends on what you want to major for college. If you want to major in bio, it would probably be helpful to take the bio subject test and vice versa.
Also, keep in mind that if you take calc, chem, and physics, that is A LOT of math for every day and for homework, but it’s really your preference.
I personally took AP Bio junior year and I’m taking AP Chem as a senior while taking honors bio freshman year and honors chem sophomore year (p.s. I forgot everything I learned in honors chem when I went into AP chem and I’ve maintained an A/B all year). In both AP classes, the teacher will review the basics before going on to the more difficult material, but in case they don’t (even though they should), you wouldn’t be too far behind in each class.
I’d say that throughout the junior and senior classes at my high school, there is a consensus not to pair APUSH and Bio. I’m currently taking Chem with Physics C as a junior and it’s been fine.
@bopper
I have no idea what colleges are good for what major, my school doesn’t start preparing us for college until March of junior year. But, I did compile a list of colleges I’ve heard of and kind of organized it…? I think taking 3 SAT II tests would be safe, right? [Chem, Math level II (if I take level 2, do I have to take level 1?) and Biology] I don’t know if the colleges I choose will be good for my major though, I’ll have to do more research and maybe switch some around.
I personally quite enjoy statistics and biology. A STEM major isn’t farfetched, but I think I need some more experience to decide. Dropping German does sound pretty good, my teacher is honestly a joke and he’s the only German teacher in the school. Perhaps I’ll self study for the AP German test.
Thanks for helping; I’ll see if I can simply take the subject test after chemistry honors. My chemistry teacher said she could help me out. ^^
@haerimkim
Yeah, that’s the same with my school too. I only now realized that AP Bio builds off of info from freshman year (that I have forgotten). Why it took me that long to realize, I don’t know. But I guess it makes sense the teacher will review stuff. Is it very quick though? Like going over an entire year’s syllabus in a month?
Do you have a lot of juniors in your AP Chem class though? It’s really recommended by my school’s teachers to “competitive students” to double up in ap physics and ap chem junior year; I feel like I’m going to be stuck in a class senior year with a vast majority of juniors (possibly sophomores too)
My school makes us take Physics with AP Chem or Bio junior year, so I’ll have to grit my teeth and bear through it. Many of my junior friends say getting a B in that class is pretty hard-not excited about what that’s going to do to my GPA.
Thank you a lot! Your post was really helpful since your school is pretty similar to mine. ^^
I would recommend taking AP chemistry next year while honors chem content is still fresh. It’ll be tough with AP physics but if your school has a path for that, I’d take that combination, and AP bio senior year since you like bio.
I’d stick with German 5 since it’s unusual and will thus act as a differentiator in your favor.
Well, in general, you learn the same things in AP bio as you do in honors; the only difference is that there are more lab and it’s more in depth. I highly doubt you’ll fail if you forgot things from honors, but like every AP class, there is a fair amount of self studying to maintain an A or B.
Also, the majority of my class is juniors with about 10 seniors. I personally don’t mind it much but I see what you mean so it’s really your preference.
Keep in mind that junior transcripts are pretty important when it comes to college because it’s likely that this is what they’ll rely on when considering your GPA/course rigor. I didn’t take AP physics but from what I hear, some of the content (conceptual) overlaps with calc. It’s really a matter of how dedicated you are in studying and time management and how well you can keep up with your grades.
I would take AP Chemistry next year since you are taking Honors Chemistry this year and will have the material fresh in your head. Taking AP Chemistry and Physics I simultaneously will also be challenging (I imagine…), so you’ll be glad that you decided to take AP Chem. That is what I am doing next year.
And four years of German seems sufficient, but I also recommend continuing learning the language if you are involved (maybe as a member of the German Club or German Honor Society in your school?). If you really want a study hall, however, I would continue taking German and drop your Wellness class if that’s possible.
@MYOS1634 I’ve been asking around and that’s what most people say I should do, one of my senior friends told me the teacher is one of the best in the school, but I had the AP Bio teacher freshman year and she’s quite strict, but like… a nice strict…?
German is honestly a pain, but I have heard 4 years of a language looks pretty good, but I’m going to talk to my counselor and see if it’s beneficial enough for me to keep it. It’s an easy A so that’s pretty good. Thanks for your help!
@InspiredOboist I don’t think my school has a German Honors Soceity, but we have a “Deutsch Klub” that isn’t really serious so I didn’t join. I would LOVE to drop gym (this coming from an athlete) It’s a pain, but required, sadly. Thank you for your input!
So I think I’m just going to take the Math II subject test sometime this year, take AP Chem, and possibly keep German.
Take the German subject test, too :). A high level of foreign language proficiency is always a positive differentiator, even for flagship/honors admissions, and if you have a high subject test score you may even get the college language requirement waived (the only subject for which a subject test functions like an AP.)
Thank you to all that responded, all the advice is much appreciated.
Most people I spoke to said I should take AP Chemistry junior year, and I’ve selected that. Since it’s after April 30th, I can no longer change my schedule. Guess AP Bio is for senior year.
That is what I am doing next year.