I am currently a junior but our school is having us start choosing classes for senior year. I have currently chosen AP CALC BC, AP ENGLISH LIT, AP US GOV, AP PSYCH and for my 5th course I am debating between either AP PHYSICS C or AP STATS. I have taken AP CHEM and AP BIO in the past already so I feel weird potentially not taking a science related course senior year and since I heard that having all 3 science courses makes you a more competitive candidate(idk about the validity in that though). However, the AP PHYSICS C teacher at my school is known for being notoriously difficult and I understand that first semester grades of senior year still matter. In addition, I am interested in potentially majoring in computer science or business(or both-Berkeley MET 
) so I was wondering which class would be a better suit for my situation?
Have you taken any physics (not necessarily AP) at all?
Wow, they are polar opposite classes. AP Stats is sort of an easy-peasy class that is Algebra based, while AP Physics C is undoubtedly the hardest of all the AP classes and is Calc based. My kid wound up taking both AP classes along with 4 other AP classes and he didn’t have a fun senior year lol.
For Berkeley MET there’s no question the Physics C class will be more useful and impressive, but on the other hand, it’s a heavy load with Lit AND BC and Physics C. 12th grade grades don’t matter much if your only or main target is UCB. Just make sure to stay above 3.0 unweighted, and no Cs.
@ProfessorPlum168 My main targets are MET at Berkeley and Jerome Fisher Management and Technology at UPenn
@ucbalumnus I have not taken any high school physics course before
How about taking honors physics? Some physics exposure in HS would be beneficial is you are going into a STEM field but I would be cautious about doing Physics C without any previous physics class.
You will want some kind of physics in high school before taking physics in college as an engineering major. It does not have to be AP, though.
I’ll vote for physics too, since you already have a math class planned. Start with AP Physics 1 if you can handle another AP.
I’m going to piggyback with the general sentiment here - if you have the option of a regular or honors physics class rather than AP, do that. AP Physics C is doable without intro physics but on top of 4 other AP courses it’s going to be a big stretch and a huge workload when you are doing college applications. AP Stats is pretty easy on the other hand but actually might not be all that useful (you are likely going to have to do calculus-based stats again at college anyway).
A background in Physics ie a regular Physics class is highly recommended before taking Physics C, but not required. A lot of the smart kids at my kid’s HS tended to go right into AP Physics C without any previous background. I can sort of guess that you go to a school in Northern California (I’ll explain later), so I’m guessing it’s not required for you either. It was a major struggle for the first 2 months for my kid, but he persevered.
You need a physics class, but I agree with the others here that you shouldn’t jump into AP Physics C. Is there some reason you are taking all AP classes? In my opinion, it looks like you’re taking AP Stat because you have a schedule full of AP classes and you know it’s an easier class. Are you trying to be valedictorian?
If AP physics C is just mechanics over a whole year (i.e. slow pace compared to college physics courses), then it may be more doable as a first high school physics course than if it covers both mechanics and E&M in one year.
If you have had calculus before, it may actually be easier to understand physics with calculus than without. But if you will be seeing calculus for the first time concurrently, it may not work out as well (even though the College Board lists calculus as only a co-requisite for AP physics C, college physics courses for engineering majors commonly list calculus as a prerequisite).
Penn and CS? AP physics. The engneering dept asks for “a strong prep in physics and math.” Remember the competition. If needed, drop AP psych. Hope you have some math-sci ECs.
Can you prep for AP physics between now and then?
You’ve familiarized yourself with what Penn looks for, right?
Also physics can be a subject that you may want to learn as a computer scientist, as there are many applications of software in physics. For sure if you are aiming at Penn , take the heavy load in 12th grade, study, as thats what will prepare you for Penn or Berkeley. You have to get used to studying much much harder than you did in 11th grade,
to succeed in college. If you don’t take 4 years of science, you may be behind if your college major require physics. If you find yourself struggling in Physics C, get a tutor right away and use Khan Academy to review the concepts and problems, if you do that, you can earn an A in physics. Its much better to get exposed to physics.
If you also want to learn Stats, also a good idea, for CS, use Khan Academy and learn it yourself, over taking the easy AP Stats. Or take both if you have room in your schedule, as you will breeze through AP Stats.
You will be working hard in 12th grade , but thats exactly what you need to do, to be prepared for Penn.
Many top colleges gives college credit for a good score on Physics C exam. AP Stats? No credit at any top university
but a few schools will offer a math credit but I don’t think Penn or Berkeley will offer it, as AP Stats is a high school level class, unfortunately, and needs to be revamped as a college level class, if you look at how colleges treat that class.
Be sure to have some fun this summer !
Good luck.
I would take Honors Physics or AP Physics 1 if you have not taken physics.
Take honors Physics or AP physics 1, not C.
Drop AP Psychology and take an honors society science/history.
Have you taken CS classes?
D and many of her classmates are taking Physics at UCLA over the summer since their hs AP Physics teacher is apparently horrible. I agree with other that you need physics over stats.
@chercheur There is a high possibility that I can be valedictorian if I continue with this track since I am currently class salutatorian. Definitely aiming for that top spot if possible
Ae you saying you’d take AP stats to be val, even if it risks an admit?
Or what?
Please understand that val v. Sal is semantics and chocolate medals. It doesn’t matter at all. It did back when kids didn’t go to college and finishing high school was the peak of their education but nowadays college admissions are more important.