12th grade: AP Calc BC vs AP Physics I

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi I’m a rising senior who has to choose classes very soon…as in tomorrow. I’m debating whether I should take AP Calculus BC or AP Physics I. Another option would be AP Environmental Science, but we have a bad APES teacher. The other classes I will most likely take next year are Art, regular English, AP Computer Science, and a community college class (probably a Biology or Psychology related one.) Any input would be helpful :slight_smile:

My grades in STEM classes have been:
Alg II/Geo: A
PreCalc: B
Calc AB: B
Honors Bio: B
AP Bio: A (4 on AP)
Honors Chem: C

2

It is best to have some kind of physics (does not have to be AP) in your high school course selection.

3

You have to take a science AND a math.
AP physics 1 is algebra based and you did well with that. As for the math classes it’d depend on whether you intend to apply for a stem major or not.

4

I intend on going into a biology related major; is Calc BC in high school really necessary?

5

Strictly speaking, calculus in high school is not generally necessary (though students who complete precalculus before 12th grade should take calculus if available). However, BC versus AB (depending on AP test scores) may give you another semester of subject credit for math that biology majors are likely to need. Note: if you are pre-med, you probably will have to take a calculus course in college, though you have the option of taking a more advanced one if you have AP credit for the first one or two course(s).

Physics in high school will help you prepare for physics in college. Although biology majors can take a light calculus or non-calculus version (instead of the calculus-based one that physics and engineering majors take), they will be competing for grades with pre-meds who need A grades to have a realistic possibility of getting into medical school.

6

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7

Why biology (currently the lowest ROI major due oversupply.)
You’ll need to take physics in college if you intend to major in biology or any science.
And you don’t have to take bc but you do need a math class senior year.

8

I’m hesitant to take both because 1) the workload for each class is heavy 2) I didn’t do well in chem as I found the concepts challenging and calc is also kind of challenging to me.

As for why I want to do biology…It’s what I’m interested in but I know that might change later on. (I actually sort of hope it changes, as I’m aware of the oversupply)

@MYOS1634 Why do I need a math in senior year? do colleges also want to see math every year like how English is required for 4 years?

9

Colleges want to see a math every year. Maybe do AP Stats?
Make sure you take Bio, Chem and Physics at some point.

10

Yes colleges want to see a math every year just like English and social science.

11

@bopper I took AP Stats and Precalculus concurrently in 10th grade

12

Calc II/Calc III at CC

No sense in taking Calc I again (Calc BC covers AB content and covers Calc II content at a faster pace)

13

I’m a sophomore in BC and it’s way better than AP Physics A. Algebra based physics is kindof a joke, you’d be way better off with BC.