Need to take chemistry to apply to college, or can I skip it?

Quick question – I'm juggling my junior year schedule and wondering if I need to fit in chemistry. Is chemistry a high school class that colleges are looking for? Or can I focus on other subjects without worrying I'm wrecking my chances?

Hello! It's great that you're thoughtfully planning your junior year schedule. While requirements can vary from college to college, most competitive schools recommend that students complete at least three years of laboratory science, including biology, chemistry, and physics. Chemistry is often a foundational course that colleges expect students to have taken. Skipping it could potentially close doors, particularly if you're interested in science, engineering, pre-med, or other STEM fields.

Additionally, chemistry might be a prerequisite for other advanced science courses your school offers. If you're confident that you won't be interested in those courses, nor in eventually pursuing a science-related major, some colleges may offer more flexibility. However, demonstrating course rigor in your schedule is beneficial for any application, and especially those to highly selective universities, so keep that in mind if you think you may be interested in some of those schools. If possible, try to fit chemistry into your schedule, or consider alternative options like summer school or community college classes, to ensure you'll be able to show colleges that you have at least a basic skillset in chemistry.

If you have further concerns or unique circumstances, I'd recommend discussing them with your school counselor, who can provide advice that's more specific to your situation. Good luck with your course selection!