Four years of science necessary for College Apps?

Hi everyone, I'm a junior trying to plan my senior year schedule. I've been debating whether to take another year of science. Is that often expected by colleges? Do most of them prefer students who've taken four years of science?

While not all colleges mandate four years of science, many highly selective institutions do recommend or find favorable applicants who have pursued four years of science in high school. This recommendation doesn't mean you absolutely need four years of science to get accepted, but it can strengthen your application, especially if you are planning to major in a STEM field.

For example, schools like Columbia University recommend 4 years of science. This not only shows course rigor but also that you can handle challenging and diverse subject matter. However, this doesn't necessarily mean all four years must be laboratory sciences. Often, schools will explicitly state they're interested in biology, chemistry, and physics specifically but others may accept courses like environmental science, anatomy, or computer science as well.

An additional consideration here is the balance and rigor of your overall course load. If skipping your fourth year of science allows you to undertake an honors or AP course in another discipline you're more passionate about or develop your "spike" more thoroughly, that could be a fine trade-off.

It's always best to check the specific admission requirements of the schools you're interested in. Most schools provide this information on their admission web pages. Ultimately, what colleges want to see in your course selection is that you're challenging yourself appropriately and excelling in your studies.