I took AP Physics 1 this year I school but the teacher is god awful. She teaches so slowly that we are having to cram right now before the exam because we are way behind. I will be a senior and I could take AP Physics 2 next year. Seeing as it’s only her as the teacher, and seeing as how my school now supports self-studying APs through Virtual High School, AP Physics C might be an option. My school doesn’t offer the class normally, so that’s why I’d have to use VHS to self-study. I will be taking AP Calc BC next year concurrently with it (going to be senior) so that will help with the calculus portion of the exam. With an A/A+ all year in AP Physics 1, I feel like I could handle it well. I will also be taking AP Chem, AP Lit, AP Spanish with it. How hard is AP Physics C to self-study (both exams in one full year) having already taken AP Physics 1 and maintaining a fairly well understanding of it? Is it worth it to take over AP Physics 2, seeing as hardly any colleges accept the algebra-based AP Physics 1 and 2? Thanks.
PS: I could also take AP Bio in school instead, or self study something like AP Econ even. Lots of options here and not sure what exactly to do.
Because I need a certain amount of classes to graduate. I need another AP, whether that be Physics C or whatever. I’m just looking for recommendations.
Hi. Mom of a junior who is taking Physics 1H this year, AP Calc AB and who is planning to apply to engineering schools. Is that also your intention re: college major? If so, your desire to have a lot of AP math & science classes on your transcript makes more sense.
Anyway, to answer your specific question, you might want to discuss this with your school college counselor. (Although perhaps you are here because they are too busy (or not very good in your opinion.))
You probably should wait to see what your score is on the AP Physics 1 exam, since you’re already going to take it. These tests are graded on a curve, and if you search this website you’ll see posts by students who thought they did terribly on a physics AP test, skipping sections and not finishing others, and were surprised by a decent score.
After you see how you do on this year’s test, then you will have good information to decide whether to do AP Physics C on your own next year. The AP exams are all given in May, so you won’t know your score until well after you are already admitted to a college. No need to make your senior year of high school harder than it has to be by overloading your already rigorouso schedule.
Meanwhile, I assume you are doing as much as you possibly can to maximize your chances of doing well on the AP Physics test you ARE going to take in May. Don’t write if off when you have over 4 full weeks to prepare!