I took Honors Chem last year and I’ve taken Honors Physics 2 years ago. I was planning on taking AP Chem this year, but I just found they couldn’t fit it into my schedule (I’m a junior now). I’m so mad. I really want at least AP Chem or Physics on my college application. I want to self study AP Chem since I just took honors last year. But I don’t really like chem, I heard it’s superrrrr hard to self-study, and honors barely covers the stuff in AP.
AP Physics C is also known to be one of the hardest APs, and my physics knowledge is a bit rusty. Which one do you recommend self-studying with a book like Barron’s or Princeton Review? I NEED to take one of the two choices this junior year.
Help please! I hate my school’s messed up scheduling system. Thanks.
Then I would suggest not self studying chem. You need a lot of self-discipline and motivation to pull this off, and having an interest in the subject helps.
@skieurope Yeah I wasn’t planning on doing Physics C this year at all, but the only reason I’m considering it is because chem is so frustrating to me. I’m pretty good at math so physics might be easier.
if you’re a rising junior, can you take the course in senior year? Or summer school?
For lab sciences, just self-prepping for the AP test isn’t the same as a class, not in learning and not in impact. Another option is a reputable online course.
I never took AP Chem (schedule conflicts) but I did “self-study” Physics C: E&M while taking Mech in class.
Oh boy. E&M was an adventure. I got a 5 after some miracle with Form M. (And I got a 5 on the Physics B exam prior to taking both Physics C classes).
@lookingforward is completely right. It’s much better to take AP Sciences in class, because it’s near-impossible to recreate the labs at home. There’s nothing like physical on-hands experiences… even if it’s yelling at a malfunctioning voltmeter while drawing equipotential lines (Sarcasm). Half of my AP Physics labs were not just prepping for the exam, but for college labs as well.
@lookingforward Yes but then I wouldn’t have either one of those AP scores when I’m applying for college. I know its not the end of the world if I don’t self study and just wait till next year, but I really want to.
@usedtaco21 Yeah I know mechanical physics much better than e&m in general.
I agree lab experience is important, which is why I’m now leaning towards self-studying physics, because I feel like the labs in chem are a lot more hard to read through and imagine by yourself.
? If you plan to apply to highly competitive schools, just pushing for the AP score is not going to overcome missing the AP chem or physics on your transcript. If all you intend is to get credit to be able to opt out of low level college classes in chem or physics, maybe. But first you need to be admitted. Think about the level of colleges you’re targeting.
You’re thinking of a STEM major, right?
@lookingforward I know it’s not the end of the world if I don’t do AP chem or physics before college apps and that AP is not everything, but I just really want to do at least one. Yeah, I’m thinking of a biology related major. I’m not doing this so I can skip introductory college courses, I would just like to have a few more major AP sciences on my application.
Self studying physics is difficult because it requires a certain method of thinking that is hard to reach yourself. Have you taken physics before?
@TheWaffleMan149 Yes, I took Honors Physics freshman year, and I also learned mechanical physics in my 8th grade science class. I looked at the the topics for Physics C M and E&M and I’ve pretty gone over all of these topics in Honors Physics, although non-calculus and definitely shallower than what AP will require. But concept-wise I’ve pretty much had at least basic understanding to all the topics
Ok. Then it should be much easier. Half of the battle is thinking like a physicist