AP physics 1 or AP physics 1&2??

For my senior year, i can’t choose which physics to take, i hear physics 1 is basically honors physics while 1&2 is insanely hard. If you’ve taken either or, what’s your thoughts on them? I want to stand out for colleges but i don’t want to push myself over the edge… thanks!

Does your school do 1 and 2 as 2 separate periods, or is it one class that goes at double speed? What else are you taking? Neither will get you out of 1st year physics if you are going on in engineering or physics, as you need calc-based physics for that (Physics C). Are you more a STEM kid or a liberal arts kid?

AP physics 1+2 tries to emulate a year of college physics without calculus sometimes offered to biology majors and pre-meds. So it looks like you have a choice of slower pace (AP physics 1 only) or college pace (AP physics 1+2).

Note that not all colleges offer subject credit for AP physics 1 and/or 2, since some have light calculus in their physics for biology majors course, and physics for engineering and physics majors requires more calculus. Pre-meds are generally expected to take physics in college (more advanced courses are allowed, but physics for biology majors tends to be a terminal sequence).

I can take either the 1 as a full year or do 1 first semester and 2 the second semester. I’d also be taking ap chem, ap stats, ap environmental, ap euro, reg public speaking and an honors independent study for neuroscience. I want to major in either biology or neuroscience and i’m definitely more stem based, but i’m only in regular pre-calc right now. I don’t want to take it to necessarily test out but to impress my dream school (BU)

i’m not sure if i’m planning premed but i definitely planning towards neuro (maybe research)

Given the rest of your course load I’d suggest just doing physics 1. You have a strong schedule already and it’s better to get As with a decent course load than risk getting lower grades because you are taking on too much.

Personally, I think you’re better off with an English class (even if public speaking is offered by the English dept) than trying to jam in 4 sciences. But for physics, I’d opt for Physics 1 and drop one of the sciences.

https://www.bu.edu/admissions/files/2017/06/Advanced-Credit-Guide.pdf indicates that BU accepts AP physics 1 and 2 scores of 4 or 5 as PY 105 and 106. PY 105 and 106 are accepted for the physics requirement for BU’s neuroscience major, according to https://www.bu.edu/academics/cas/programs/neuroscience/ .

Have you had a regular high school physics course before? If not, then the college pace AP physics 1+2 course may be rather fast pace for your first look at physics – many colleges’ physics courses assume that the student has had high school physics. The slower paced AP physics 1 may be more suited for students who are taking their first physics course.

In DD’s high school, Physics 1 is one period, but Physics 1&2 meets for 1.5 periods a day. So taking 1&2 basically means giving up a second class. That seals it for us, but I have no idea how one would explain that on a college application. (for what that’s worth)

English is notably lacking. You want a balanced schedule. What science classes have you already taken? AP chemistry tends to be a difficult course for students. AP physics 1 and 2 are algebra based and many colleges do not give credit since they are not calc based. I would consider swapping stats for Calculus.

I’ve taken AP bio so far and then some other electives. I took an intro for chem but i have no full years of chem or physics. I don’t have the option to take Honors english 4 and i wasn’t recommend for AP. Idk how that one is either when it comes to coarse load. I’m willing to switch to it but I don’t want to overwhelm myself. I can take honors intro to calc but i cannot take ap calc because i didn’t take honors precalc this year

Most schools want to see four years of English. I would take the intro to calc to get an understanding of calculus before college since most science majors will be required to take calculus. I would keep ap chem, its just a rigorous class. Then i would choose either physics or environmental.