This past year (2019-20) I finished AP Physics 1, and got a 5 on the AP Physics C: Mechanics test. For this upcoming year, I’ve decided to further my study of physics and take dual enrollment courses (for physics/engineering majors) in E&M and waves/optics.
Would it be worth it to self-study for the AP Physics C: E&M test even though I am taking E&M as a dual enrollment class? I am reaching for some top STEM schools (MIT, CalTech, Stanford).
For reference: I am a rising junior taking 3 other APs this year (spanish lit, english lang, and apush). My math background is good enough for physics (completed multivariable calc, diff eqs, linear algebra and above-AP stats).
The only advantage is if you enroll at a school that would give credit for AP but not for your DE class.
If you take the DE class, you already HAVE the college credit, at least from some college somewhere. The only question is will it transfer?
One takes AP exams to possibly earn college credit, depending on whether the college awards AP credits in that subject. It is not necessary to take it to impress admissions. It’s duplicating your efforts and costing additional money to boot.
I actually think you should take the AP test without extra prep. Focus your energy on doing well in the DE course. The course should cover the AP material. If you get a 5 on the test, submit it (otherwise don’t for the three colleges you mentioned). Of those schools, only MIT gives course credit if you get 5s in both AP Physics C tests (Caltech gives none and Stanford gives you some placement benefit).
If you are taking the AP test for this reason (double coverage for placement or credit, although you should not expect double credit), then there is no need to do any additional prep for the AP test since you will have learned everything in the college course.
That presumes the college course covers the AP curriculum/material on the AP test. Much as College Board likes to say “it’s a college course”, courses vary in content and coverage.
OP, you should check and self-prep for gaps, if any, if you plan to take the AP. You should have enough material at the beginning of the year to compare and tell what might be missing.
AP physics C E&M is a lightweight compared to typical college courses covering E&M for physics and engineering majors. The college courses usually have second semester single variable calculus as a prerequisite and multivariable calculus as at least a corequisite (versus AP physics C listing single variable calculus as a corequisite), and some of them cover more than just E&M. For example, see PHYS-230 at this community college: https://www.dvc.edu/academics/cte-pdfs/physics-info.pdf . Note that MATH-292 listed as a corequisite is calculus 3 or multivariable calculus: https://www.dvc.edu/academics/cte-pdfs/mathematics-info.pdf