AP Physics (algebra-based) vs AP Physics (calculus-based)

Hi all,

I took a one-semester general physics class (algebra-based) at a community college previously in middle school. However, my high school offers AP Physics C: Mechanics, which is calculus based. For my target colleges (MIT, Caltech, UC Berkeley), would it be of any benefit to take the calculus-based AP Physics C: Mechanics at my high school?

Additionally, my high school does not give high school credit on the physics class I took in middle school. Would you happen to know if colleges recognize the physics class I took in middle school?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

If you are planning on studying engineering, taking mechanics will be a big help in terms of exposure to the materials. If E&M is offered, I’d consider that too. Physics C was the single most useful HS course per my daughter.

Colleges will only see the courses on your high school transcript so it depends how your HS handles advanced middle school coursework. My dd’s HS transcript included foreign language, math, and science courses that she took in middle school but were at the high school level. Speak to your guidance counselor to clarify that question.

Since you will report or send your college record to colleges you apply to or matriculate to, they will see it.

For transfer credit for the college course or AP credit, you can look up each college’s policy.

Algebra-based physics is a lower-level class at the local community college and is meant for non-science/nonmath majors. Have you taken any physics in HS? What are you planning on studying in college? Any school will see the class because you have to report all college coursework regardless of when you took it. My daughter would have killed to be able to take calc-based physics in high school. She is not competitive for Caltech/MIT but those would certainly be her dream schools.

To be competitive take physics C. Take the highest calculus class you can also like multivariate if your school offers it.

Have you taken calculus already ?

Good point… Lol… Talk Calc first. My son took physic 1 as a freshman then took physics Calc with multivariate as a senior.

You need to take AP Physics C, especially for Caltech (even though it doesn’t give credit for any AP courses for any scores, including Physics C). These colleges want to see you challenge yourself with the most demanding classes.

Thanks all for your reply.

Here is the complication. My HS does not allow me to take AP Physics C as they said UC and college reps recognize the Community College Science classes as equivalent to AP so I should not take the C class at HS. At the same time, my HS does not give me high school credit for the general physics class I took at CC as it was taken while I was in middle school. I don’t believe taking AP Physics C will hurt my college application. I am going to “negotiate” with them. However, if they insist on not allowing me to take the class, what would be your suggestion as to the next step? I have been talking to the vice principal, should I go to the principal next or should I go directly to school district?

To answer the question from some of you… Yes, I already took Calculus.

Thanks again!

A non-calculus-based physics course in college (of the kind commonly offered to biology majors and pre-meds) would be the one that AP physics 1 or 2 emulates. A calculus-based physics course in college would be what AP physics C emulates. In practice, the community college versions of these courses may be better accepted for subject credit at UCs than the AP scores, especially, since calculus-based physics in college can use multivariable calculus in the E&M part.

In any case, you do have a physics course on your (college) record, so you should not be concerned about not having one when you apply to colleges.

Can you have your HS expunge the CC physics class from your record and then take AP Physics C instead? An algebra-based CC physics course isn’t really useful for some of the colleges you’ll be applying to.

My guess is that you are asking the question wrong, or that they are not understanding what you are saying. An algebra-based physics class from a CC is not equivalent to a calc-based physics class,whether a college class or AP Physics C. Additionally, AP Physics C at almost all high schools (there are exceptions, though) require a previous course in physics. I’d ask again, rephrasing…

You’d likely have to report any college courses, so you would be covered on that front.

I would explain to them that there are two types of physics classes taught: algebra based and calc based. Engineering atudents require calc based. Algebra and calc based are not anymore the same course as physics 1 and 2 being the same as physics c. They are entirely different classes. Print out theap curriculum and they may understand. But I was told many students were taking linear algebra at the HS because the principal did not understand linear algebra is not the same thing as college algebra. So unfortunately administrators dont neccessarily get it as they do not understand college sequences of courses.

Note, however, that it is not required for engineering (or Caltech) students to take calculus-based physics in high school. Engineering students normally take calculus-based physics in college; the prerequisites for such courses are calculus and high school physics. So a college physics course for biology majors and pre-meds (along with calculus) is certainly more than enough prerequisite for that.

It is enough to (more than) fulfill the high school physics prerequisite for calculus-based physics in college.

In terms of the (limited) usefulness of AP physics C for subject credit and advanced placement:

Caltech: none; http://admissions.divisions.caltech.edu/apply/first-yearfreshman-applicants/academic-preparation-requirements
MIT: 5 on both AP physics C exams => 8.01; http://uaap.mit.edu/first-year-mit/first-year-academics/incomingcredit/previous-study/ap-and-transfer-credit-advanced-placement
UCB physics: none; http://physics.berkeley.edu/academics/undergraduate-degree/the-major-and-minor-program
UCB engineering: 5 on AP physics C mechanics => Physics 7A; https://engineering.berkeley.edu/2016-17-undergraduate-guide/2016-17-exams-ap-ib-level-and-transfer-credit-information
UCB chemistry: sum of scores on both AP physics C exams >= 9 => Physics 7A; https://chemistry.berkeley.edu/academics/exam-credit-info#ap

AP Physics 1+2 is different from AP physics C. One could consider one to be the pre-requisite for the other, for instance.

Ok I am aware that it is not a requirement in HS but it is in college for an engineering major.

@ucbalumnus My point is not how useful AP Physics C is relatively to an algebra-based course, but some of the colleges on OP’s list expect the OP to take the MOST challenging physics class when it’s offered by the HS.