AP Chem and AP Physics the same year?

Pre-Med & Medical School High School Student Topics
1

I am a rising junior and I’m planning on taking either 3 or 4 AP classes. AP English, APUSH, AP chem, and AP physics. Would it be too much for me to take AP chem and AP physics on the same year? With the other AP classes? Should I just take AP chem, APUSH, AP English and regular physics?

Thank you :slight_smile:

2

Which physics AP?

3

It doesn’t really say which. It just says AP Physics.

4

Ok, let’s ask it another way. What math are you taking next year?

5

Geometry. But I’m taking Algebra 2 this year and I took Algebra 1 last year. AP Physics wouldn’t be a smart idea?

6

We’re just trying to figure out which AP Physics. If it were AP Physics C, which requires calculus, I would say it’s a bad idea to take at the same time as AP Chem. Since it seems like it’s AP Physics 1, which is algebra based, it should be OK. You, however, are the best judge as to whether you can handle it. You might want to talk to some students in your school who have done this, since they will best know what the workload is like.

7

Have you taken any AP classes during your Soph year? Which English AP class are you planning on taking? Lit, which has a LOT of reading or Language?
APush is a tough class that also has a lot of reading.

I would never suggest 4 AP classes Jr year, especially if 2 of them are AP science classes, along with APUSH and AP English. My suggestion is to take AP Chem, APUSH ,and an AP English class, and save any AP Physics for your SR year.
Your Jr year GPA is JUST as important as the classes you take.

8

I did the same thing with almost the exact same schedule. It is very possible but, beyond all else, it depends heavily on the teachers as well. My AP Chem teacher was much more lax with grading which allowed me to focus more on AP physics which I found more challenging. It is important to talk to teachers and students to see the teaching style that you’re particular class in you’re particular school will have.

That being said, I would suggest you dont load up on those courses right away. You taking 4 AP classses in a year is impressive but you dont want to sacrifice higher grades that would come with loading down the schedule a bit. Junior year will be an extremely tough year because of everything that begins to go on so I would suggest taking only one science and two humanities and saving one for senior year.