6 answers
SNB
Student
Miami, Florida
2
Questions
Asked
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Should I take Physics Honors or AP Biology?
I'm in high school and for my science class next year I have the option to take Physics or AP Bio but I don't know which one would be more useful. I want to go into biomedical engineering and biology is more closely related to that field but I have also heard that colleges want students to take the main three sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) in high school. Which class should I choose?
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6 answers
Andrew Au
Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Retired
183
Answers
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Biomedical engineering is a cross-discipline endeavor. It is a marriage of physics (foundation of engineering), chemistry, and biology. Taking physics or biology early on in high school is a great preparation for college.
If you take AP Biology, it can be articulated into college credit if you score 4 or above. On the other hand, Honor Physics may not be transferrable to college. It is a difficult decision.
As a full disclosure, all my degrees are in physics. I would like to recommend taking Honor Physics (AP Physics is possible). Generally, students tend to do better academically, especially in STEM area, with exposure to physics. It may be that in learning physics, students are also learning mathematics, the language of science and engineering.
If you take AP Biology, it can be articulated into college credit if you score 4 or above. On the other hand, Honor Physics may not be transferrable to college. It is a difficult decision.
As a full disclosure, all my degrees are in physics. I would like to recommend taking Honor Physics (AP Physics is possible). Generally, students tend to do better academically, especially in STEM area, with exposure to physics. It may be that in learning physics, students are also learning mathematics, the language of science and engineering.
Thank You!
SNB
Michael Newman
Software Engineer
4
Answers
Trumbull, Connecticut
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Go for AP Biology. Any intro courses you get out of the way opens your schedule for more advanced courses when you reach college. (Plus, some colleges give you more preference for picking dorm rooms if you have enough AP credits.)
Thank you!
SNB
Anita Hall Frost
Engineer
6
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Anita’s Answer
This is a great question. To get the best answer you need to check with the university you are most interested in attending to find out which AP credits they accept for their BioMedical Engineering (BME) program and what AP test score they require. AP biology may only credit a General Biology requirement so these credits may not apply to your BME degree. However, taking biology in HS will give you the background you need for your college courses. Take calc-based physics in high school regardless of whether it is AP or honors level. AP Physics may not be accepted as credit toward an engineering degree program, but their HS calc-based physics course will give the background to make your college course more meaningful. Take AP calc AB and BC yet consider retaking calculus 2 in college since it will typically go into much greater depth which will be appreciated as you progress into calc 3 & 4 at the college level.
Given all of this, here are recommendations from recent engineering grads: Research your targeted universities to figure out what AP credits they will actually take, then beyond that, only take easy AP courses for the grade boost. AP Statistics, AP History/Civics, and AP Economics will likely transfer, so it's good to get them out of the way. Take debate in HS as it will teach you logic, how to structure an argument, how to think on your feet, and will get you comfortable speaking in a group setting. These are skills that you will use continuously. Join clubs that interest you and take on leadership positions. Clubs are fun, leadership skills are valuable, and your experiences will give you something to write about on your college application. Most importantly, enjoy your remaining HS years.
Find out what AP credits your targeted university will accept.
Given all of this, here are recommendations from recent engineering grads: Research your targeted universities to figure out what AP credits they will actually take, then beyond that, only take easy AP courses for the grade boost. AP Statistics, AP History/Civics, and AP Economics will likely transfer, so it's good to get them out of the way. Take debate in HS as it will teach you logic, how to structure an argument, how to think on your feet, and will get you comfortable speaking in a group setting. These are skills that you will use continuously. Join clubs that interest you and take on leadership positions. Clubs are fun, leadership skills are valuable, and your experiences will give you something to write about on your college application. Most importantly, enjoy your remaining HS years.
Anita recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, this is really helpful.
SNB
Thirada Boonrawd
Science research student
18
Answers
Bangkok, Thailand
Updated
Thirada’s Answer
Hi! Hope you're enjoying high school! May I ask, which country are you going to for university? My answers below will depend on the country:
If you're going to the united states...you can take either class. AP biology will probably give you transfer credit for first year biology class, which will save you time, since you can skip 1 year (2 semesters) of general biology. This would also be true if you took AP physics or AP chemistry (but I'm not sure if honors physics will give you transfer credit. Please check for the universities you're applying to). All of this assumes that the colleges you apply to accept AP transfer credit (most universities in the US do). Personally, I only took IB physics and received transfer credit for that. As a neuroscience major, I had to then take general biology and general chemistry in university (since all three sciences were required for my major). The thing about studying in the US is that you can take whatever pre-requisites you need in first and second year of college. Taking AP, IB, or British A level classes just saves you time, as transfer credit allows you to skip some first year classes. Also, please note that if you are pre-med in the US, you need to take all three sciences as well.
If you're going to Canada or the UK...you probably need to take both. For the UK, I think each major/program has its own pre-requisite requirements (I didn't actually apply to the UK, but I have friends that did). For Canada, you apply to a department instead of a program, but each program still has its own pre-requisites. For example, since I only took IB physics , but not chemistry and biology, I couldn't major in psychology at University of Toronto (I applied, got in, but didn't go) because they have a biology pre-requisite for the psychology major. Luckily, University of Toronto is flexible, and allows you to fulfill the biology pre-requisite (and other pre-recs too) by scoring well on the SAT subject test. That means it's possible to self-study and take the test if you didn't take the AP class for that subject.
Main point: if you're going to Canada or the UK (or Australia maybe?), then you need to check the pre-requisites carefully for the programs and universities you're applying to. If they require physics, take physics. If they require biology, take biology. If you're going to the US, you don't have to be as concerned because you have the chance to take the pre-recs in first year of college. Personally, if you have the chance to take both physics and biology, I would say go for it! Physics is still very useful for life science majors, since physics, chemistry, and biology are all related! Hope that's helpful!
If you're going to the united states...you can take either class. AP biology will probably give you transfer credit for first year biology class, which will save you time, since you can skip 1 year (2 semesters) of general biology. This would also be true if you took AP physics or AP chemistry (but I'm not sure if honors physics will give you transfer credit. Please check for the universities you're applying to). All of this assumes that the colleges you apply to accept AP transfer credit (most universities in the US do). Personally, I only took IB physics and received transfer credit for that. As a neuroscience major, I had to then take general biology and general chemistry in university (since all three sciences were required for my major). The thing about studying in the US is that you can take whatever pre-requisites you need in first and second year of college. Taking AP, IB, or British A level classes just saves you time, as transfer credit allows you to skip some first year classes. Also, please note that if you are pre-med in the US, you need to take all three sciences as well.
If you're going to Canada or the UK...you probably need to take both. For the UK, I think each major/program has its own pre-requisite requirements (I didn't actually apply to the UK, but I have friends that did). For Canada, you apply to a department instead of a program, but each program still has its own pre-requisites. For example, since I only took IB physics , but not chemistry and biology, I couldn't major in psychology at University of Toronto (I applied, got in, but didn't go) because they have a biology pre-requisite for the psychology major. Luckily, University of Toronto is flexible, and allows you to fulfill the biology pre-requisite (and other pre-recs too) by scoring well on the SAT subject test. That means it's possible to self-study and take the test if you didn't take the AP class for that subject.
Main point: if you're going to Canada or the UK (or Australia maybe?), then you need to check the pre-requisites carefully for the programs and universities you're applying to. If they require physics, take physics. If they require biology, take biology. If you're going to the US, you don't have to be as concerned because you have the chance to take the pre-recs in first year of college. Personally, if you have the chance to take both physics and biology, I would say go for it! Physics is still very useful for life science majors, since physics, chemistry, and biology are all related! Hope that's helpful!
Thank you so much!
SNB
Lisa Lima
Global Brand Manager
4
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
I would recommend AP Biology, as that seems to be accepted as a credit for a college course vs. a high school honors course. I would also check with specific colleges you are interested in as they can provide to you information on AP courses that they accept. As a molecular biology major, while physics was a strong part of my curriculum, biology and chemistry were the stronger focuses throughout all four years.
Thank you!
SNB
Jerome Petit-Jacques
I was a scientist for 25 years
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
I would go for AP Biology to start with, and you can start a training in engineering once you have a solid base of biology to rely on and to know what exactly you want to train in.
AP Biology
Jerome recommends the following next steps:
Thanks for the help.
SNB