<p>Hey guys, I'm currently a junior in high school and am debating which science I should take for senior year. Up till now, all of my science courses have been pre-ap or honors, and this would be my first and only AP science course in high school.</p>
<p>So which one do you think I should pick? I intend to major in Government/PoliSci/IR and plan to ED in Cornell.</p>
<p>AP Environmental Science is pretty easy, especially compared to AP Physics B. Take which ever interests you more, but I wouldn't take AP Physics B without a prior Honors level Physics course.</p>
<p>Kids at our high school take AP Physics with no prior physics class but the teacher is excellent. Ask around at your school and find out what people think of the teachers. Do you know some one who is now in either of the classes?</p>
<p>Ask around and find out what it's like?</p>
<p>Umm.....does this mean I shouldn't do AP Physics online next year? o-o</p>
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Ask around and find out what it's like?</p>
<p>Umm.....does this mean I shouldn't do AP Physics online next year? o-o
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</p>
<p>I strongly discourage taking AP Physics online without a prior physics course.</p>
<p>O sorry, I forgot to mention that I took a pre-AP Physics course as a sophomore. Next year is the first year that AP Environemental Science is being offered at our school.</p>
<p>The previous science courses I have taken are:
freshman year: pre-AP Accelerated Science 1 (1 1/2 sem of bio + 1/2 sem of chem)
sophomore year: pre-AP Accelerated Science 2 (1/2 sem of chem + 1 1/2 sem of physics)
junior year: Honors Anatomy and Physiology</p>
<p>Do you know the new APES teacher? Not sure I'd want to gamble with a first-time class. That said, my son is taking both this year and loves his APES class. Physics, not so much.</p>
<p>APES ftw (10char)</p>
<p>Would colleges prefer Physics B over APES?</p>
<p>I get the impression that Physics would look more impressive, but is there a way to tie APES to your interest? Like environmental policy?</p>
<p>In other words, if you're only considering these courses because you're trying to look good to Cornell, then go for Physics B. But I would hope you would have an actual interest in the classes.</p>
<p>Both classes seem equally interesting to me. I enjoyed pre-AP physics, especially in comparison to bio and chem. But AP Env. Sci also looks intriguing. Ill probably go with physics.</p>
<p>It sort of depends on what you want to do in college. But AP Physics is definitely looked as more intense than APES. I'd say it's one of the most intense APs (up there with calc and chem).</p>
<p>Does your school offer AP Physics C?
I find that this makes a difference in the level of difficulty both actual and perceived of AP Physics B.</p>
<p>I had the same choice last year and I chose Physics B--I'm not really a science person, didn't want to take C, and APES seemed like too much busy work. The tests are kind of hard in B, but there isn't a ton of work, and the rest of my schedule is pretty stacked so I used this as kind of my break. However, I've heard from some friends at schools that don't offer Physics C that B is INTENSE.</p>
<p>However, I will also say about B that the Honors Physics course I took junior year is actually more difficult than it in many regards, so I was tremendously well prepared.</p>
<p>So, basically, it's your call. Do you want the easier class, or more difficult? The one with a lot of reading, or the more math-focused one?</p>
<p>Hmmm My school does offer Physics C as well. I also am not a science-person so I don't think I would be able to handle it though.</p>
<p>I just realized that my post was pretty unclear--if your school offers C, then B should be pretty easy :)</p>
<p>I'm planning on taking AP Physics B my junior year (I've taken bio, and taking chem + physics at Pre-AP level). The thing is that I also want to take AP Euro History, which is open senior year (teacher told me not to take junior even though I could handle it). But I don't have space for it senior unless I take out science. So, I was wondering if anyone would recommend doubeling up junior year w/ AP Environmetnal and AP Phsycis B
My schedule would look like this:
Junior -
AP English Lang
Pre-Calc (MAO)
AP Physics B
AP US Hist
Spanish 4
AP Psych
AP Envrionment Sci
Senior -
AP English Lit
AP Calc BC (MAO)
AP US Gov't/ AP Macroeconomics (classes switch at semester)
AP Spanish Lang
AP Euro History
Math Analysis (required w/ calculus)
Humanities 1/2</p>
<p>If I don't double up junior year sciences you could replace AP Environmental Sci w/ an extra elective and AP Euro with AP Chem. Which is better?</p>
<p>APES deals with a lot of current impacts, which is easily relatable to the social sciences and government type stuff you mentioned you were interested in. It also has the rep for being easier. I took both and ENJOYED taking APES more.</p>
<p>At least in my school, APES is the class you take as a senior if you want to slack off. It may be different in other districts, but env. sci. is definitely not a demanding course by any measure. There is absolutely no contest between Phys B and EnvSci, Physics is the clear winner if you're looking for a demanding course to add to your transcript.</p>
<p>If you've already taken an introductory physics course and if your school offers it, you may want to consider Physics C. In some ways, it's an easier course because it covers a smaller amount of topics than B, though obviously in more detail. It's all about what works for you in the long run.</p>
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I strongly discourage taking AP Physics online without a prior physics course.
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<p>I don't have a choice...I have to take another science, and it's either AP Physics online, DE Physics, which I don't I have room for, or REGULAR Environmental Science, which I didn't take this year because Chemistry is the class for honor roll students...and it would've looked bad when I applied for college this fall. </p>
<p>My only other option that wouldn't make me look like a total ditz with senioritis next year would be to take Enviro and AP Calc online instead...but I don't have a prerequisite Calc class either, because there isn't one. </p>
<p>I think my school deliberately screws us over...</p>