I’m taking AP Physics C: Mechanics next year; is it a good idea to self-study and take other 3 Physics AP exams also?
(Physics 1, Physics 2, and Physics C: Electricity and Mechanism)
No.
E&M is the hardest AP course, IMO, so I can’t imagine that it would be easy to self study. Additionally, almost no college will give credit for all 4 AP Physics exams. Third, self studying does not impress a college. Finally, aren’t you already taking AP Bio and Chem next year? Taking these 2 together is a huge time suck. Adding on AP Calc, USH, and Physics C as you have indicated in your other posts leads me to question if you are aware how much work these classes will entail.
Skieurope is spot on. Two AP sciences in the same year is going to take a considerable amount of time. Adding a third is asking for trouble, AP Calc does make sense, but USH will also take considerable time. This will not just be an issue during the year, but at exam time when you won’t have enough waking hours to properly review for 3 sciences. On top of this you want to self-study the other Physics exams? First, Physics 1 covers much of the same material as Physics C Mech (but is algebra based, rather than Calculus with Physics C), and Physics 2 has the same relationship with E&M. Assuming you want to major in a STEM field (otherwise why take that many sciences), the credit you might get for Physics 1 and 2 wouldn’t be particularly useful - you would still need to take Calculus based Physics. They are only good in place of an introductory HS physics class (and even then, only taking Physics 1 (or even Physics C mech) isn’t good preparation for the Physics subject test, because the scope isn’t as broad.
Is Physics C Mechanics taught as a one year class? Usually the 2, Mechanics and E&M are combined together, one semester each. At least that’s what I thought.
Some schools offer them separately - if you look at the way the exams are scheduled, the two parts are taken one after the other, but are listed individually. The Calc BC exam includes material from AB, but does not have the two parts of the exam individually listed - some schools offer BC as a standalone class, but more and more are requiring AB as a prerequisite, and only covering that portion as a review. This, along with offering Physics 1 and 2, are watering down the AP program, because more and more schools want to offer AP classes, but don’t have the demand for the more difficult math and science classes.
@skieurope @CTScoutmom Thank you guys for your reply. Sorry for the confusion; I meant to take it “next year” as my senior year. I’m not taking this year. I know that it’s early to think about it, but I was making plans on what AP exams to take. I wanted to know that if it’s possible to take AP Physics C: M in my school and then to take other three Physics exams. The college I want to go give credits for all 4, and yes, I want to major in a STEM field as so far. But from your answer, it seems it’s pretty difficult to self-study…
@ProfessorPlum168 I actually need to double check on that. In my school website, it only shows AP Physics: M, but I believe it’s a year-long course.
@CTScoutmom My school only offers AP Physics: M that’s the problem.
While the schools you’re considering offer credit for all 4, look at what they transfer as, and whether they are part of the appropriate degree plan - you should be able to do well on the Physics 1 exam, but it might just end up as low level technical elective credit (filler credits). If physics is at all relevant to your intended major, I wouldn’t try to self-study E&M. Not only is it a difficult exam, but even if you do well, you won’t get out of it what you would from taking the actual class. 30 years ago I took AP Physics (when it was only offered as the full Physics C), and got 5 on both sections. I didn’t feel confident with my E&M performance, so even though I was offered the opportunity to skip Physics 2, I took it and learned considerably more - and my college used the exact same textbook as I had used in my AP class. Don’t cheat yourself of the opportunity to learn
Is is possible? Yes. Is it the best use of your time? Probably not. Will AP Physics C: Mech be your first physics class? If so, you’re biting off more than you can chew trying to self study E&M. With AP Physics C: Mech, you can probably self study Physics 1 with minimal prep, but again, I fail to see the point, particularly as you’re planning on majoring in STEM. Even if the college gives credit for all 4, I doubt all four will apply to a major. As I said in her other thread about taking the Calc AB exam after BC, the only possible reason to do this is for those who are chasing the (IMO) pointless AP Awards.
I have to imagine e that you have something interesting to do outside of the classroom. Since few colleges are looking at one-dimensional candidates, I would look for other uses for your free time.
Physics C E&M is the hardest exam out of all AP classes, so you should not self-study for this test unless you are a Physics genius.
And yes it seems weird that Physics C Mechanics is offered as a year long class when it should be one semester. It seems to me that AP College Board should control the length of time on a lot of these classes. Physics 1 and 2 and MacroEcon and MicroEcon should definitely not be one year classes, nor should Psych or Stats for that matter.
We can certainly (and should) agree to disagree since you’ve expressed this view multiple times. But it’s not gonna happen. It’s one thing to control content (and that’s part of the reason why some top HSs are dropping AP), but few schools/districts will want the CB to control how they set up the course structure.