So currently I am a freshman and I’ve been thinking about what classes I’m taking next year. So am currently in: health&safety/college seminar , chemistry, English honors 1 , geometry, fitness 1, and mandarin 1. I an in geometry Because I took a summer class of algebra (the most recent summer )which I did well in. Next year I will be taking: AP Computer science principles, AP Biology or AP Physics 1,English honors 2, AP statistics, AP World History , and Mandarin 2. I am going to do algebra 2 this summer at my local community college because I think Algebra is rather easy and I have previously dipped in to algebra 2 concepts and they seem pretty easy to me. So my question is, “is AP Physics 1 in my sophmore year is a good idea for me?” Thank you XD
Ok chief you need to relax, four APs as a sophomore is asking for burnout especially with AP World and AP Physics. Can I ask why you aren’t taking geometry honors since you seem to like math? Unless it is VERY common at your school to take four APs don’t do it. I don’t know if taking algebra 2 over the summer is a good idea either since both AP Physics and AP Statistics build heavily off of it. Since you have not taken any APs yet, you shouldn’t be taking a science AP (APES would be better if that’s offered). Also, you don’t seem to have precalc/trig in your schedule? That is most definitely needed for AP Physics and for AP Calculus in the future. My recommendation is this, take AP CSP, AP World, Mandarin, English honors, precalc or algebra 2, and a science such as APES. You can take another AP science if you are highly motivated; don’t take AP Physics if you aren’t taking precalc/trig; take AP Bio if you have already taken a bio course and are prepared for heavy reading and memorization.
This is the same person but I forgot the password to the other account. Anyway, I’m not in geometry honors because my school doesn’t offer it. My school also doesn’t offer any APs freshman year. Thanks for your advice, I won’t be taking ap physics . To add unfortunately the only choices I have for sciences next year is either AP Physics or AP biology. ( which is odd due to the fact that I haven’t taken cp biology.) I already signed up for the summer class For algebra 2 so I guess I am stuck doing either ap statistics or pre calculus. Thank you for your help , any tips for ap classes ? ?
I recommend precalc (this is on the assumption that your school makes precalc a prereq for AP Calc). AP Stats is a great class and you should definitely take it at some point but it should not replace calculus (assuming you will take AP Calc junior and senior year). If Bio and Physics are your only options, then you need to assess your strengths. If you are good at applying mathematics to the real world, you will prob enjoy physics but it’s not gonna be easy and will be a tough transition from no APs to one of the hardest APs. Bio requires a lot of reading and you can often get by with memorization (which won’t work in physics, you need to understand the concepts there). I don’t wanna dumb it down to this but AP Physics is manageable if you think smart and AP Bio is manageable if you have excellent work ethic/good memory (again these are extreme simplifications but still…). Again, if you end up choosing AP Stats over precalc then you shouldn’t go with AP Physics.
Have you sort of worked out a plan for all 4 years? Do you have a plan fit in math, english, and a science each year?
Does someone who has more knowledge about AP Physics know if a particular math knowledge would be helpful to have under the belt? I know my D took honors physics at the same time as AP Calc and her Calc knowledge was super helpful. But she didn’t take AP Physics so I am less knowledgeable about that.
@PrdMomto1 Calculus may better help with understanding AP Physics 1 (AP Physics C absolutely requires calculus but 1 and 2 are just algebra-based) after all, Calculus was initially invented to help solve physics problems. It isn’t necessary though. Precalc, even if taken concurrently, should help (although at my hs, the course was precalc with trig and we did trig first which is a pretty large component of physics).