AP Physics 1 and C -OR- just AP Physics C

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

TL;DR at end

Ok, so I am currently a sophomore and I have already picked my classes for next year, but I can probably still change them. I initially wanted to go with AP Physics 1 junior year and AP Physics senior year, so this was somewhat the plan:

Junior:

Pre-Calculus (H)
AICE English Language
AICE Marine Science
AP U.S. History
AP Chemistry
AP Physics 1
AP Art History

Senior:

AP Physics C
AP U.S. Government & Comparative Politics
Chemistry 2 Organic Chemistry (H)
AP Literature
AP Calculus AB
AP Statistics -OR- AP Calculus BC -OR- Spanish 3 (H) -OR -AP Spanish
AP Environmental Science -OR- Spanish 3 (H) -OR- AP Spanish or other

I was also planning on taking AP Computer Science, AP Human Geography, AP micro, and/or AP Stats online. I am in Florida, so Florida Virtual School is free and it has online AP classes. However, I would consider taking any of these in-school. I am definitely going to take APCS one way or another. I am also considering dual-enrolling Spanish during the summer.

Anyways, I’m not sure if there is really a point of taking AP Physics 1 and C, since half of C (mechanics) will pretty much cover the information taught in 1, if I understand it correctly. If I were to not take Physics 1, that would mean I would have a open slot for junior year. However, I’m really interested in taking a physics course already and I have been looking forward to next year.

TL;DR: Is there a point in taking both AP Physics 1 and C, or should I just take C?

Thanks!

2

Have you taken a physics course before? Or will AP physics 1 be your first experience with physics? If so then I recommend you take AP Physics 1 before AP Physics C.

3

Definitely don’t jump into Physics C without any prior physics experience. Physics C was the hardest class I ever took (although it is relatively easy to get a 5 on the exam, that’s not how I evaluate my knowledge). Taking AP Calc AB and BC simultaneously just doesn’t sound… right. I don’t know how that would be possible.

If I could just mention some other things about your schedule… Depending on your school, you may be able to take Calc BC without taking AB (it wasn’t like this at my school). If so, I’d do that (if you think you can pull it off). As far as APES goes, unless you’re genuinely interested, please don’t take it just for the AP credit… I know it’s easy, but you really won’t learn anything useful. I’d rather take Spanish. I’d also strongly recommend taking AP Stats… super useful class (as long as you actually learn and don’t just study for tests).

One disclaimer: my advice is based on the assumption that you’re interested in STEM. If you’re not, completely different game.

4

AP Physics C is ridiculously hard if you didn’t take Physics 1. One of my friends who jumped into Physics C with no prior experience got a D on his midterm. Take AP Physics 1. It’s worth it.

5

Ok, thanks for the input. Yes, AP Physics 1 would be my first physics course.

@Stanccepted Yeah, I’ve heard it was a really difficult class. Next year they are allowing kids to take AB & BC simultaneously, which may be blocked. I think it may be possible to take BC instead of AB, but although I have read about people doing so on here, I have not heard of anyone doing that in my school. Yeah, I’m genuinely interested in APES, but seeing as I’m taking AICE Marine Science, a similar class that will likely be more interesting to me, I may just not take APES. A major reason why I am taking these two AICE classes is to earn the AICE Diploma, and I need two more classes. Otherwise, I would’ve taken AP Lang.

Yeah, my longstanding projected schedule had included AP Statistics senior year and an undecided 7th class. I wouldn’t take a class unless I was genuinely interested in it or if I was required to take it.

I am interested in STEM.

So, I guess will stick with the junior year schedule above and will continue to think about online classes and senior year.

6

I concur with everybody; Physics C was my hardest class by far, and I cannot imagine trying to do it without a first course in physics.

On another note, depending on how selective the colleges are to which you plan on applying, you need a game plan to work Spanish into your schedule.

7

Unless you are a /very/ strong math student, it would probably be wiser to do Physics 1 before Physics C; however, if you like math, taking C without prior experience is doable if you’re willing to put time and effort into challenging work.

8

Just to add onto the calculus thing, most schools have the courses set up in one of two ways:
AB- first semester calculus
BC- first and second semester calculus
OR
AB- first semester calculus
BC- second semester calculus

If your school does the former, then accelerated and interested students will probably take BC, while weaker or uninterested students might take AB. If your school does the latter, skipping AB to BC would be comparable to skipping any other math class, rather than just accelerating.

I can’t comment on the physics class, although I wonder if taking a non-AP physics course in preparation for Physics C might be a good idea, since the option hasn’t been discussed. I would think that it would be less time consuming, which might leave more time for the other classes you want. Just speculating here…

9

You planning to take physics C without physics 2 and prior AP calc experience ? You are in for a treat.

I know many kids at my school who took Calc AB+Physics B junior year then currently taking Math HL and are still weeping in physics C b/c of how notoriously hard it is(as in getting C for their grade.