AP Physics for a Humanities/Social Science Major?

Hey everyone! I’m planning my schedule for next year, and the deadline is growing tight for me. As of right now, my mind is a mess trying to figure out which classes I’m making AP and which I’m leaving honors. This year, as a bit of a test to see which side of academic subjects I like more (meaning, which I would like to pursue at a higher level), I took AP Chemistry and AP Art History. I liked them both as courses, but in terms of subject matter, I definitely preferred Art History and found myself enjoying my other humanities courses more than my STEM ones. For next year, the AP’s I 100% planned on taking were AP English Language, APUSH, and AP Seminar. I wanted to take Honors for the rest of my classes- including Honors Physics. However, when I told my intended schedule to others, particularly my guidance counselor and my AP Chemistry teacher, their faces were overcome with disgust when I uttered the words Honors Physics. “Don’t take Honors Physics, you’ll lose brain cells!” “Oh, sweetheart, you’ll be so bored in Honors Physics.” “Honors Physics isn’t a real class.” They all insisted I take AP Physics I. My mind is torn. While I wouldn’t flounder in AP Physics I, and I do prefer a challenge, the thought of taking it seems so tedious. (Furthermore, it irks me that they made such a fuss over me taking Honors Physics, but if I told them that I wanted to take US II over APUSH, they wouldn’t even bat an eye, but that’s another issue in its entirety.) I don’t think I ever intend on going into a field where I’ll need the skills learned in AP Physics I. However, will I regret not taking it and being bored out of my mind in a typical Physics class?

Hey, I wanted to add something here because I am a current junior who was in your exact situation last year. I am working towards majoring in English and Creative Writing and took Bio Honors in ninth grade and Chem Honors in tenth grade. I ended with a B+ in Bio, but I ended Chem Honors with a really high A at 99 percent. When I met with my counselor, I discovered that the school would be offering Honors Physics for the first time. However, when I tried to enroll in it, my previous counselor at the time kept telling me that Honors and AP Physics 1 are the same, except Honors is awarded less weighted GPA, and kept telling me that I had to choose between regular or AP. When I decided I would go with regular Physics, she kept trying to persuade me into AP Physics 1, saying things like what others have been telling you, which were that the class would be too boring.

In the end, I enrolled in AP Physics 1, and while the material is really interesting, and my teacher is really funny, I definitely should not have enrolled in the course. Looking back, I really wish that I had went to a superintendent to complain that I was not being allowed into Honors Physics. All my other grades are an A or A-, with the exception of AP Physics, in which I have an overall C average so far this year. I highly predict that this could drop with the final exam. I struggle a lot in the course and have never passed a quiz and have failed lots of the tests. I also have had a tutor since December, and while it has helped me a little, no significant change has occurred in my grade. My grade is only a passing one due to the fact that I have been doing well on the labs. I also take a much longer time than to understand content compared to my STEM peers.

I do want to mention that I am an outlier because while many kids think AP Physics 1 is difficult in my school, most kids have at least a low B or have a B+, meaning that there is a really high chance you’ll do well in AP Physics. It’s super impressive that you took AP Chemistry and did well. That’s awesome. It’s one of the harder courses out there. However, despite some relation between the two, Chemistry and Physics are very different subjects, and the skills needed are vastly different. If you are interested in the material and feel that you can do well, I think it can’t hurt to try. However, it seems that you’re not too interested in taking the course, and thus, I recommend you take Honors Physics. Because you’re in three other APs already, especially more challenging humanities APs, Honors Physics will still teach you the physics you need to know in terms of a high school education.

I’m sorry that because I’m only a high school junior, there’s not that much useful experience of me to share, but I just wanted to leave this here for you to consider.

Best of luck in your courses and pursuing the humanities! I hope you have a great time next year.

Have a nice day.

@excoverer This was honestly such a helpful and thoughtful response— thank you so much! I really appreciate that you took the time to give such a thorough answer. It will definitely have a strong influence on my decision.

@collegebound1489 I am glad to hear it was helpful. Best of luck!

Have a nice day.