Can kids skip certain APs?

[Anonymous]

Can a physics/math major skip AP bio and APES and just go straight to AP chem and physics? Will T20s frown upon this? (Honors bio, chem, and physics already taken)

[Anonymous]

Yes, our school doesn't have AP bio. If your school has it, its generally recommended though.

[Anonymous]

Can a physics/math major skip AP bio and APES and just go straight to AP chem and physics? Will T20s frown upon this? (Honors bio, chem, and physics already taken)

Yes. At our school bio and chem are prerequisites to AP Bio, and Chem is a prerequisite to AP Chem. This necessarily means that some choices have to be made about which AP sciences to take (as you need to have a total of 4 science classes in at least 3 different science fields). My son is taking AP Physics C, which has Calculus as a prerequisite, as a junior. He will have to decide what to do senior year, but there is no way he can take both AP Chem and AP Bio at this point - there's no room in his schedule.

[Anonymous]

Yes but many schools require bio.

[Anonymous]

It is your choice. Choices have consequences. No law requires any of this. Fundamentally, it is a decision about opportunity costs.

Taking a more rigorous schedule and doing well with that schedule will enhance DC's chances in the college admissions lottery versus a less rigorous schedule. Doing so also likely will mean DC needs more study time to do well in those courses. and also likely means DC will have less time for free play or for ECs. Some ECs also can help with the college admissions lottery.

Its a choice with tradeoffs. Your call.

[Anonymous]

But aren’t AP BIO and AP Chem dual period classes with a lab and lecture component? If so it would be hard to take them both in the same year.

DS is taking Physics C mechanics sophomore year and Physics C E&M junior year with AP Chem left for senior year. I wonder if we are missing something.