Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:36     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD (current junior) wants to apply to a SLAC. She took honors bio in 9th grade, honors chem in 10 grade, and is taking AP chem this year. Next year she plans to take regular physics (her school does not offer honors physics or AP physics, it only offers AP physics C). We have a private college counselor and this person is saying she should also take AP bio next year (on top of physics). She says that if the school is offering AP bio (which it is), she would be putting herself at a disadvantage by not taking it. This seems counterintuitive to me. DD wants to study English and Anthropology in college. She is already going to take Physics next year (senior year). I thought that is sufficient. She is really not interested in science. Does the college counselor's advice really make sense? FYI she will also be taking AP calc AB and AP stats in her senior year.


This is just my opinion, and I'm not a professional counselor. Just a mom whose humanities (English) kid was admitted to a private school in the early round. I think it's good to have one each of bio, chem and physics, and our DD already has bio and chem. So regular physics is fine. I don't know if biology is relavant to anthro as previous PPs have said, but I don't think you should double up on science. Also, why is she doubling up on math? She can just do AB, no need for stats, unless she has room and really wants to take it.

My DS's progression: biology, honors chem, AP biology, regular physics. In at Top 5 for English with lots of compelling evidence for the major.

Good luck!



What type of compelling evidence?


ECs + awards + community impact + LORs to back it up. Also submitted an arts supplement (creative writing).
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:23     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD (current junior) wants to apply to a SLAC. She took honors bio in 9th grade, honors chem in 10 grade, and is taking AP chem this year. Next year she plans to take regular physics (her school does not offer honors physics or AP physics, it only offers AP physics C). We have a private college counselor and this person is saying she should also take AP bio next year (on top of physics). She says that if the school is offering AP bio (which it is), she would be putting herself at a disadvantage by not taking it. This seems counterintuitive to me. DD wants to study English and Anthropology in college. She is already going to take Physics next year (senior year). I thought that is sufficient. She is really not interested in science. Does the college counselor's advice really make sense? FYI she will also be taking AP calc AB and AP stats in her senior year.


This is just my opinion, and I'm not a professional counselor. Just a mom whose humanities (English) kid was admitted to a private school in the early round. I think it's good to have one each of bio, chem and physics, and our DD already has bio and chem. So regular physics is fine. I don't know if biology is relavant to anthro as previous PPs have said, but I don't think you should double up on science. Also, why is she doubling up on math? She can just do AB, no need for stats, unless she has room and really wants to take it.

My DS's progression: biology, honors chem, AP biology, regular physics. In at Top 5 for English with lots of compelling evidence for the major.

Good luck!



What type of compelling evidence?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:15     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Just two APs senior year?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:10     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Anonymous wrote:What will she take instead of AP Bio? Is there another rigorous class she can take?

No, forget “rigorous.” Take another humanities class.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:09     Subject: Science for humanities kid
What will she take instead of AP Bio? Is there another rigorous class she can take?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 20:44     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Ask your school college counselor which class they recommend. Trust that school counselors know what they are talking about on this kind of stuff. They see who gets into xyz school and their course selections. Show the school counselor your tentative list of colleges. Call on Monday for an appt!

Also, make sure your DD takes physics, either regular or AP. Maybe physics C isn’t hard at your school? Ask around.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 20:35     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Anonymous wrote:DD (current junior) wants to apply to a SLAC. She took honors bio in 9th grade, honors chem in 10 grade, and is taking AP chem this year. Next year she plans to take regular physics (her school does not offer honors physics or AP physics, it only offers AP physics C). We have a private college counselor and this person is saying she should also take AP bio next year (on top of physics). She says that if the school is offering AP bio (which it is), she would be putting herself at a disadvantage by not taking it. This seems counterintuitive to me. DD wants to study English and Anthropology in college. She is already going to take Physics next year (senior year). I thought that is sufficient. She is really not interested in science. Does the college counselor's advice really make sense? FYI she will also be taking AP calc AB and AP stats in her senior year.

Your college counselor is nutty and wrong, and should instead be advising as to how to make the English/Anthro narrative convincing. Surely something in that vein could be done senior year rather than doubling up on science.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 19:29     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Anonymous wrote:As an opinion, you have been paying for a misguided private counselor.


+1

Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 19:27     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Anonymous wrote:DD (current junior) wants to apply to a SLAC. She took honors bio in 9th grade, honors chem in 10 grade, and is taking AP chem this year. Next year she plans to take regular physics (her school does not offer honors physics or AP physics, it only offers AP physics C). We have a private college counselor and this person is saying she should also take AP bio next year (on top of physics). She says that if the school is offering AP bio (which it is), she would be putting herself at a disadvantage by not taking it. This seems counterintuitive to me. DD wants to study English and Anthropology in college. She is already going to take Physics next year (senior year). I thought that is sufficient. She is really not interested in science. Does the college counselor's advice really make sense? FYI she will also be taking AP calc AB and AP stats in her senior year.


This is just my opinion, and I'm not a professional counselor. Just a mom whose humanities (English) kid was admitted to a private school in the early round. I think it's good to have one each of bio, chem and physics, and our DD already has bio and chem. So regular physics is fine. I don't know if biology is relavant to anthro as previous PPs have said, but I don't think you should double up on science. Also, why is she doubling up on math? She can just do AB, no need for stats, unless she has room and really wants to take it.

My DS's progression: biology, honors chem, AP biology, regular physics. In at Top 5 for English with lots of compelling evidence for the major.

Good luck!

Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 18:28     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anthro is a science. Bio is extremely relevant to it.

For social science subfields of anthropology, such as, for example, cultural anthropology, biology holds no particular relevance.


A SLAC is probably not going to let a student only study cultural anthropology and nothing else.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 18:10     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Are you shooting for Ivy+?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 17:58     Subject: Science for humanities kid
As an opinion, you have been paying for a misguided private counselor.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 17:55     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Anonymous wrote:Anthro is a science. Bio is extremely relevant to it.

For social science subfields of anthropology, such as, for example, cultural anthropology, biology holds no particular relevance.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 16:16     Subject: Science for humanities kid
Anthro is a science. Bio is extremely relevant to it.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 15:30     Subject: Science for humanities kid
DD (current junior) wants to apply to a SLAC. She took honors bio in 9th grade, honors chem in 10 grade, and is taking AP chem this year. Next year she plans to take regular physics (her school does not offer honors physics or AP physics, it only offers AP physics C). We have a private college counselor and this person is saying she should also take AP bio next year (on top of physics). She says that if the school is offering AP bio (which it is), she would be putting herself at a disadvantage by not taking it. This seems counterintuitive to me. DD wants to study English and Anthropology in college. She is already going to take Physics next year (senior year). I thought that is sufficient. She is really not interested in science. Does the college counselor's advice really make sense? FYI she will also be taking AP calc AB and AP stats in her senior year.