Which of these AP Combos should I take?

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>The rest of my schedule is pretty much set. I hope to go to Columbia University for Economics/Pre-Med, or Engineering/Finance Minor. I want to study something in science, but perhaps end up in banking or finance. Here are the options:</p>

<p>Bio (easiest science) + Chem (bad teacher, but I like the subject)
Chem + Spanish 5 AP
Physics (hardest science) + Bio</p>

<h2>Physics + Spanish</h2>

<p>Bio and Spanish is NOT an option because it’d be too easy.
Chem and Physics is NOT an option because it’d probably be too hard</p>

2

<p>I assume that you have four years of Spanish, including one year of middle school Spanish for high school credit. If so, I don’t think it will be detrimental to forego taking AP Spanish. Here’s what I would recommend.</p>

<p>Physics and Spanish if you don’t have a fourth year of Spanish / enjoy the language tremendously.</p>

<p>Physics and bio if otherwise.</p>

<p>You can always self-study bio if you decide to take physics and Spanish.</p>

3

<p>I’ve taken Spanish since 7th grade, (Spanish 1 was spread over two years), and am currently a junior in 4 Honors. </p>

<p>If I go the science/business route in college, wouldn’t both AP Science and AP Spanish be helpful?</p>

4

<p>The assumption is that learning multiple languages will help on the science/business route, true. The assumption then dictates that specificity is not a requirement. Therefore there’s no difference between taking or not taking the Spanish AP. Although it would be a tremendous waste to throw away all those years of Spanish. </p>

<p>As the for the Science AP, it’s completely up to you, I have a higher affinity for the physical sciences therefore I chose to take the Physics AP, however you may feel otherwise. However I would not recommend letting others make that decision for you, as you will be giving up control to something that’s rather essential to yourself.</p>

5

<p>If Physics + Chem is too hard, then doing pre-med/engineering at Columbia will definitely be too hard.</p>

6

<p>An0maly, I’m leaning against the Chem+Phys combo is because the teachers for both are not particularly good (Chem is notoriously bad), and I’d have to end up learning most of the things myself. I’m also taking five other APs and a few self studies on top of that, and I don’t have time to teach myself two entire sciences. I’m assuming I’ll have less classes to deal with in college (4 a semester perhaps?) compared to the 7 I’ll have for my senior year.</p>

<p>Can anybody elaborate on how AP Bio is important? So far, I’ve only read the pros and cons for Spanish, and I need to know more about Bio before choosing anything.</p>

7

<p>Bio is a pretty good medium for science APs. It’s a rather rigorous course and exam because of its breadth, but it’s relatively easy to self-study because it lacks depth. It still looks very good to colleges to get a 5 on the bio exam. Its main pro is its lack of depth, but its main con is its wide expanse of material. Also, the FRQs can be downright impossible at times (look at the 2007 gene splicing essay).</p>

8

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<p>You’re planning for senior year right? Five AP’s is a lot, and if you plan on doing two more along with some self studies, you’re going to go nuts. Why not replace two of those five with Physics and Chem? Both are essential for engineering and helpful for everything else. They are generally considered the toughest APs and doing good in them will definitely look good. Furthermore, your colleges won’t see your scores until the year’s over and you’re admitted, so the presence of physics + chem will be a bigger boost than anything else.</p>

<p>At the end, however, it’s not going to be a huge difference. Keasbey Nights described AP Bio well. It’s definitely good to get a 5 in Bio, especially since you’re considering pre-med as an option. That being said, I think physics and chem would stand out a lot more than the other two, but colleges would wonder why you didn’t do bio if you want to do pre-med. I would suggest doing Bio + Chem, since bio coves pre-med, and chem covers pre-med + engineering. At least interest wise. </p>

<p>good luck.</p>

9

<p>Physics and Spanish sounds about right for your interests.</p>

10

<p>You said that taking AP Biology and AP Spanish is not an option, however I would question that. The Bio would effectively cover the Pre-Med portion of things, while another language always looks excellent. In addition, imagine getting perfect A grades and recieving 5’s on all of your AP exams. You seem to be a very good student and this is possible, as long as you don’t bite off too much! </p>

<p>And don’t underestimate AP Biology. It may not be as challenging as the other two science courses, but that’s all relative.</p>

11

<p>The other classes that I’m talking about (the ones that are essentially locked in) are as follows:</p>

<p>AP English 4 (required)
Gov/Democracy Acc. (essentially AP, gov class is required for graduation)
AP Econ Micro/Macro
AP Calc BC</p>

<h2>P.E Senior Leaders (P.E is required in IL)</h2>

<p>Self Studies:
Human Geography
Comparative Gov
(If I end up not taking Bio, I’ll replace Human Geography with Bio as a self study)</p>

<p>I need at least one science, and on “other” class (either a science or Spanish)</p>

<p>Would it really matter which of the sciences I take? Aren’t they all required in pre-med sequences?</p>