This year I will be entering senior year and am currently signed up for
AP Calc BC
AP Stat
AP Spanish V
AP Human Geography
AP Physics 1
and British Lit, but I feel like this might be a bit much, especially for senior year. I was thinking about switching either Human Geography or Physics for Anatomy, because I am very interested in Anatomy. I would prefer not to take Physics, because I am afraid it will be really difficult, but I feel like I should. Does anyone who has taken these class have any insight as to how difficult this will be, or what the work load will be like? Also, would it be so bad if I didn’t take Physics?
Thank you!
I took five APs my senior year and found it manageable, although you’re the only one who can really decide what works for you. It’ll be a heavy workload, but I think that’s important to experience before college. But if you’re more interested in Anatomy than Physics, I would say follow your heart and go with Anatomy. While Physics is helpful to have, especially if you’re going into a STEM field, Anatomy would still qualify for four years of a science. If you’re really concerned, I would suggest checking the websites of the schools you’re interested in – if they want Physics, they would generally specify that on their list of what they recommend for applicants.
Personally, I never took Physics and I was still accepted into some excellent schools, so it’s definitely not a necessity.
Take anatomy
A course with the same label can vary in difficulty depending on the teacher. Do you know anyone at your high school who took AP Physics with the teacher you would have?
BC is the only challenging one; maybe Spanish too.
siliconvalleymom- A lot of my friends have taken physics, and there is only one physics teacher at my school. They say its not too bad, I’m just not really sure what to expect. I love math, and everyone says that physics is mostly math, I just feel like it will be a lot different from the math I am used to.
Took 5 AP’s senior year, and I am glad I didn’t take 4.
Have you taken Physics before?
I would remove AP Stats and take a “fun” class instead, unless AP Stats is your idea of easy and fun. AP Stats doesn’t add much to your college application in terms of course rigor, would give you time to keep AP Physics1, and would give you time to add a “fun” class you’ve always personally wanted to take.
You should have English, Math, Science, Social Science, and Foreign Language every year if possible so AP stats is the easiest to remove without hurting your course rigor standing.
If you’ve never taken Physics, it’s a toss up between Physics Honors or AP Physics 1.
Unless you have a burning desire to learn about the subject, I would switch out AP Human Geography for something else; it adds less to your course rigor than AP Stats.
If you are targeting top colleges, and you have not taken physics, yes, you should take physics. It does not have to be AP; honors is fine too.
In planning your schedule, make sure you have allocated enough time for that hidden class - College Applications and Essays; rising seniors always underestimate the amount of time this will entail.
My school doesn’t offer honors physics, and I’m not dropping Stat because I think I want to be a math major. I do have a genuine interest in both Anatomy and AP Human, which is why I don’t really want to drop either of them. My guidance councilor said I could probably get by without taking Physics in college as a math major, so I THINK I’m going to drop it and just take anatomy
I took physics 1 this year, it was literally the easiest exam I took. I didn’t even feel like I was being tested on real physics. AP Stat and Human Geo are generally considered filler courses, but they may be challenging at your school. Calc BC can be hard, I am a math person so its not particularly hard for me, but for most people it poses a problem. Spanish was always my weak point and it entirely depends on the individual for how hard it is. Just my 2 cents
For me, as a student also interested in a math major, I took AP Physics too, and while perhaps it might not affect your major, I am almost positive that you will find some use for a knowledge of physics sometime down the line. Physics and math are so closely related it’s unreal! And besides, I doubt Physics will be any less useful for a math major than Human Geography is. Ultimately, it is your life and your decision, but that’s my input.