Some of this is ridiculous. If you are majoring in computer science or mathematics there is no need to have APs in the big 3 sciences, they are considered completely distinct subjects and normally even the 101 level courses are not required for those in Math or CS undergrad programs. You're better off taking higher level CS and math classes and easing your load on AP, lab heavy, science courses.

Honors Bio
Chem
Geosytems
Anatomy/Physiology

DC got into a bunch of great schools. Has taken 3 lab sciences in college and did really well. Just information for those of us with kids not on the AP science track.

Anonymous wrote:DC1: just started his fourth year of college majoring in Computer Engineering
09: Honors Biology/Honors Geometry
10: Honors Chemistry/Honors Alegbra II
11: AP Chemistry and Honors Physics (they did not offer AP Physics 1 yet)/ Honors Precalc
12: AP Physics C/ AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics

DC2: just started his sophomore year of college majoring in at least Math and trying to decide on double
09: Honors Biology/Honors Algebra II
10: Honors Chemistry/ Honors Precalc and AP Statistics
11: AP Biology & AP Physics 1/ AP Calculus BC
12: AP Chemistry & AP Physics C / Multivariable Calculus and Matrix Algebra

Not sure if you will come back to see this but really curious

1. Was it their choice to accelerate so much??? or honestly was it more GPA padding/trying to get into a good college by taking the "toughest courseload"
2. Assuming they got good scores on some of the tests. Did their college advisors warn about skipping the foundation courses
3. What did your sons end up doing. Did your sons skip the first College Calculus course and go directly into the second course or did they start with the first class 110 of University Calculus, what about physics. I'm assuming they could used the AP Chem and Bio credit(s) since that isn't their fields of study and getting credit for AP Stats makes sense too.

In FCPS AP schools, why do some students take AP Physics junior year and AP Chem Senior year and others take AP Chemistry as a Junior and ÀP Physics as a Senior?

To me, it seems to make sense to take AP Chem right after Sophmore Chem, since it would be fresh in their minds, so I am curious.

FCPS basically tracks kids into physics junior year. Kids who are taking AP Chem junior year will often take honors physics at the same time, and then take AP Physics C senior year (which has one year of physics as a prerequisite). AP Physics 1 is better suited for juniors because it doesn't have a physics prerequsite and it's algebra based. Some move from this class to AP Physics C without taking AP Chem.

There are also many, many kids who don't take AP Physics or AP Chem at all.

In FCPS AP schools, why do some students take AP Physics junior year and AP Chem Senior year and others take AP Chemistry as a Junior and ÀP Physics as a Senior?

To me, it seems to make sense to take AP Chem right after Sophmore Chem, since it would be fresh in their minds, so I am curious.

Respectfully want to disagree with the “colleges want to see.... for STEM majors “ comments. This may apply to engineering schools, but kids who want to major other STEm like in Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Comp Sci not in engineering, it does not matter. For the non engineering programs at schools My kid is applying — Duke, Penn, and UVA — they don’t care if my kid is an English or math major.

My kid took
biology H
Chemistry H
Chemistry Ap
Physics H

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish FCPS would create a matrix which showed which schools offered which courses. I find the course selection book very confusing.

Don't all of the regular high schools offer all the main courses?

Bio/honor bio, chem/honors chem, physics/honors physics, AP bio, AP chem, AP physics, AP environmental science

Then some additional higher or lower sciences depending on the school make up.

Yes, I'm interested in the electives for each high school.

Anonymous wrote:I wish FCPS would create a matrix which showed which schools offered which courses. I find the course selection book very confusing.

Don't all of the regular high schools offer all the main courses?

Bio/honor bio, chem/honors chem, physics/honors physics, AP bio, AP chem, AP physics, AP environmental science

Then some additional higher or lower sciences depending on the school make up.

DC1: just started his fourth year of college majoring in Computer Engineering
09: Honors Biology/Honors Geometry
10: Honors Chemistry/Honors Alegbra II
11: AP Chemistry and Honors Physics (they did not offer AP Physics 1 yet)/ Honors Precalc
12: AP Physics C/ AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics

DC2: just started his sophomore year of college majoring in at least Math and trying to decide on double
09: Honors Biology/Honors Algebra II
10: Honors Chemistry/ Honors Precalc and AP Statistics
11: AP Biology & AP Physics 1/ AP Calculus BC
12: AP Chemistry & AP Physics C / Multivariable Calculus and Matrix Algebra

Anonymous wrote:Honors Bio, Honors Chem, AP Physics 1, Oceanography. He wanted AP Physics 2 but his HS doesn't offer it so he just took whatever fit his schedule to tick off the "advanced diploma" box. Not planning on a STEM major, obviously. The AP Physics will probably cover his only science requirement in college.

He could have majored in STEM if he had wanted to unless his grades were terrible. Those courses would have given him a decent science background.

Honors Bio, Honors Chem, AP Physics 1, Oceanography. He wanted AP Physics 2 but his HS doesn't offer it so he just took whatever fit his schedule to tick off the "advanced diploma" box. Not planning on a STEM major, obviously. The AP Physics will probably cover his only science requirement in college.

^The AP course wasn't offered in his HS which is part of the reason he went the dual enrollment route.

Anonymous wrote:The advice for Math applies for Science especially for majors

It makes sense to take the first level 111 science class 101 is the non-major version. Skipping a course is just asking for trouble

AP actually makes more sense for non-majors to get college credit

One AP science class is plenty

Schedule that makes sense

9th Bio
10th Chem
11th Physics plus maybe one elective
12th elective or 1 AP maybe 2 science classes but not necessary. Don't recommend taking 2 AP science classes

My son took the Intro (non major) 101 course with lab. Labs in college are more in depth than HS labs. The actual intro course was mostly review but not all of it. Those intro courses aren't necessarily super easy peasy. Plus, it was a good segway into the 111 course w/lab which is a legitimately tough course. Not taking the Intro course saves time, though.

So much depends on the actual course/professor. Rate my professor is quite useful.

The advice for Math applies for Science especially for majors

It makes sense to take the first level 111 science class 101 is the non-major version. Skipping a course is just asking for trouble

AP actually makes more sense for non-majors to get college credit

One AP science class is plenty

Schedule that makes sense

9th Bio
10th Chem
11th Physics plus maybe one elective
12th elective or 1 AP maybe 2 science classes but not necessary. Don't recommend taking 2 AP science classes

My DC was trying to avoid AP Physics, but counselor told him he should take it if he was considering a science or engineering major in college.