*  A word about college admissions: Every college and university is different, and so are their admissions requirements for science. Almost all require the big three: biology, chemistry, and physics. But, even though these are the basic requirements, having these three sciences doesn’t always guarantee admission. Universities are competitive, and the reality is, having a fourth year of high school science makes you more attractive to admissions committees, no matter what your major.

Four years of science is highly recommended, even if not required. And taking any class at an Honors or Advanced Placement level proves that you are a student who is willing to work hard to learn at a higher level. The suggested science pathways above are general recommendations that should make the science portion of your high school transcript competitive when you apply to colleges. But it is always advisable to check the specific requirements for your “first choice” colleges to make sure they don’t have any requirements unique to that school or degree program.