Jump to content

Menu

Skipping Chemistry


Recommended Posts

DD, 15, is doing Apologia Biology this year.  I'm trying to decide what science to use next year.  With my older two, I did Chemistry after Biology.  I'm thinking of skipping Chemistry and going into Physics with DD though.  She does well with math and I think would enjoy physics more.  Would this be a bad idea?.  Older DD says that her sister has to do chemistry since she did, LOL.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Skip it entirely? That will depend on colleges . . . My dd#1 will not have Biology on her transcript at all. None of the colleges she applied to require biology, but some places do. Same idea for Chem or Physics -- it is college specific. Look around at some places she might apply to and see.

I don't see any issue with going to physics and then going onto chem the next year. My kids so far have all started with physics and then take chem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did back in the day.  I did bio in ninth and physics in 10th and then AP biology.  I don't think in this day and age I'd ever skip chem completely, though.  It hasn't effected my life at all (well, until my dd didn't take chem online and I had to figure some of it out). 

If the question is do you need chem before physics, the answer is no.  You do need algebra, though.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Lanny said:

I think it would look strange to University Admissions people. Especially if she wants to go into a STEM field. And, the universities she applies to may require 4 years of Science. 

Agreed that some universities, especially competitive ones, want four years of science, but it is possible to do four years and not take chem. I don't think it would look weird unless the intended major was something like Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Biochemistry.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I took physical science in 9th, biology in 10th and physics in 12th in the mid to late 90s. Had no problems whatsoever getting into colleges as a STEM major. Never required to take college chemistry either. Just depends on what STEM field you plan to go into. I didn't skip chemistry because I didn't like it though. Quite the opposite actually, I had studied chemistry on my own out of interest in jr high and high school. I tutored people and provided homework help in chemistry in high school and college. It kinda seemed like a waste of time and I had other interests so I didn't take it since it was not absolutely required, just strongly suggested. If I had ever needed to, I could have tested out of chemistry 101 for sure and probably 102. I was never worried about it.

A transcript is just one way to prove what you know and some would argue not even a very good way. There are lots of paths to the ultimate goal of a college degree.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just noticed today that the university system of Georgia doesn't require chemistry specifically; it says "chemistry, environmental science, or earth science" (along with biology, physics or physical science, and a fourth science). I was surprised, because UGA has had, by far, the pickiest admission requirements of anywhere my son is looking at (he's looking at a number of selective schools, but mostly smaller, private LACs). I might give my current 9th grader the option to do environmental science instead of chem next year if he wants (he's doing bio this year). ETA: I just checked Harvard's admission page, for fun, and they do recommend Chemistry specifically, along with Bio and Physics and studying one of those at an advanced level. So if Harvard is her dream school....

 

Edited by kokotg
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...