Highschool Course Selection

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi. My DS wants to study medicine, and he is currently a sophomore going into junior year. His course registration is due in a few days, and he is debating whether he should take AP Chem next year or AP Bio. Which order is better if he wants to pursue a career in medicine? He is thinking AP Chem for Junior year.

Also, would his language credits from middle school account for his total years of language credits taken? Or is it just from high school?

Can he take both same year? Prob not since double periods. So, then the Bio before Chem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP Bio is better preparation for the insane amount of useless memorization required for med school.

+Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The order doesn't matter BUT my kids have all said that AP Bio is a lot easier than AP Chem and that at our school, it's really hard to get an A in AP Chem. (They worked in AP Bio but I don't think they were ever in danger of not getting an A.).

From a college admissions perspective, then, I'd prefer to complete AP Bio junior year (and get A on transcript). Senior year, at most they'll report first semester grades and not the full year and for early admission, they wouldn't even report that.

This is good intel. So it sounds like for most kids, AP Bio may be better junior year choice. But if your kid is a chemistry ace, it might be more of an admissions flex to ace AP Chem than Bio junior year.

If you plan to take AP Chemistry, it is better to take it the year after Honors Chemistry when the basics are still fresh.

Possibly, but my kids have found Honors Chem to be a joke (98% score and I never ever see studying). I don't know that it's doing much to prepare them for AP Chem.

Honors chem is a long slow version of a summer prep packet, plus intro to chem lab equipment, plus avoiding mathematical chemistry because students aren’t assumed to know algebra 2 yet. A large part of the brokenness of HS science curriculum is that it’s grade level aligned for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th, instead of being math level aligned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another factor - in our HS AP Bio is hard to get into for Juniors because there is so much demand by Seniors (they go to lottery and only a few Jrs get in); AP Chemistry is easier.

Also, if in Honors Chemistry this year, it is helpful to go straight to AP Chem

Yes content is fresh. If they had a good teacher for H Chem, it also helps. One sem of H Chem our kid did, the other semester the teacher def was knowledgeable but teaching it to students is another skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The order doesn't matter BUT my kids have all said that AP Bio is a lot easier than AP Chem and that at our school, it's really hard to get an A in AP Chem. (They worked in AP Bio but I don't think they were ever in danger of not getting an A.).

From a college admissions perspective, then, I'd prefer to complete AP Bio junior year (and get A on transcript). Senior year, at most they'll report first semester grades and not the full year and for early admission, they wouldn't even report that.

This is good intel. So it sounds like for most kids, AP Bio may be better junior year choice. But if your kid is a chemistry ace, it might be more of an admissions flex to ace AP Chem than Bio junior year.

If you plan to take AP Chemistry, it is better to take it the year after Honors Chemistry when the basics are still fresh.

Possibly, but my kids have found Honors Chem to be a joke (98% score and I never ever see studying). I don't know that it's doing much to prepare them for AP Chem.

Honors chem is a long slow version of a summer prep packet, plus intro to chem lab equipment, plus avoiding mathematical chemistry because students aren’t assumed to know algebra 2 yet. A large part of the brokenness of HS science curriculum is that it’s grade level aligned for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th, instead of being math level aligned.

Brought up this part to Science Lead, crickets. And another parent asked if three levels of Chem could be offered - on level, medium level, and Honors. Crickets there too. do they know how to teach Science???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The order doesn't matter BUT my kids have all said that AP Bio is a lot easier than AP Chem and that at our school, it's really hard to get an A in AP Chem. (They worked in AP Bio but I don't think they were ever in danger of not getting an A.).

From a college admissions perspective, then, I'd prefer to complete AP Bio junior year (and get A on transcript). Senior year, at most they'll report first semester grades and not the full year and for early admission, they wouldn't even report that.

This is good intel. So it sounds like for most kids, AP Bio may be better junior year choice. But if your kid is a chemistry ace, it might be more of an admissions flex to ace AP Chem than Bio junior year.

If you plan to take AP Chemistry, it is better to take it the year after Honors Chemistry when the basics are still fresh.

Possibly, but my kids have found Honors Chem to be a joke (98% score and I never ever see studying). I don't know that it's doing much to prepare them for AP Chem.

Honors chem is a long slow version of a summer prep packet, plus intro to chem lab equipment, plus avoiding mathematical chemistry because students aren’t assumed to know algebra 2 yet. A large part of the brokenness of HS science curriculum is that it’s grade level aligned for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th, instead of being math level aligned.

I have been pretty happy with my kids' experience with MCPS, but one of the things that kills me is how my HS-aged kid has wasted two years of science on "Honors" Bio and "Honors" Chemistry. I wish they would have just let motivated kids complete an abbreviated version over the summer, complete the pre-req and enroll in AP becuase "Honors" Science for 9th and 10th graders is an absolute joke.

[Anonymous]

High school science teacher - 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High school science teacher - 🙄

That was supposed to quote summer school mom.

[Anonymous]

The order doesn't matter. Choose the one in which DC is more likely to excel. AP exam results and glowing rec letter will matter for college apps. Whichever one is taken senior year is too late for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The order doesn't matter BUT my kids have all said that AP Bio is a lot easier than AP Chem and that at our school, it's really hard to get an A in AP Chem. (They worked in AP Bio but I don't think they were ever in danger of not getting an A.).

From a college admissions perspective, then, I'd prefer to complete AP Bio junior year (and get A on transcript). Senior year, at most they'll report first semester grades and not the full year and for early admission, they wouldn't even report that.

This is good intel. So it sounds like for most kids, AP Bio may be better junior year choice. But if your kid is a chemistry ace, it might be more of an admissions flex to ace AP Chem than Bio junior year.

If you plan to take AP Chemistry, it is better to take it the year after Honors Chemistry when the basics are still fresh.

Possibly, but my kids have found Honors Chem to be a joke (98% score and I never ever see studying). I don't know that it's doing much to prepare them for AP Chem.

Honors chem is a long slow version of a summer prep packet, plus intro to chem lab equipment, plus avoiding mathematical chemistry because students aren’t assumed to know algebra 2 yet. A large part of the brokenness of HS science curriculum is that it’s grade level aligned for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th, instead of being math level aligned.

I have been pretty happy with my kids' experience with MCPS, but one of the things that kills me is how my HS-aged kid has wasted two years of science on "Honors" Bio and "Honors" Chemistry. I wish they would have just let motivated kids complete an abbreviated version over the summer, complete the pre-req and enroll in AP becuase "Honors" Science for 9th and 10th graders is an absolute joke.

Would it make sense to take both Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry freshman year?