AP Psych/Physics/Chem

<p>Next year I have 3 extra AP classes that I can take(in addition to the other 4 I'm taking), but the way things are shaping up I will only have a slot for one of these 3 AP classes. </p>

<p>So, what do you guys think will be the most beneficial for me? I'm currently signed up for AP Psych, but from what I heard, the class is possibly the easiest AP class on the face of the earth. However, I don't quite fancy the idea of AP Physics or Chem either, I took AP Biology this year, and it was a bit of a stretch, I felt that it wasn't really hard, but I don't think I'll have as much control getting a 5 on AP Chem or Physics. </p>

<p>I'm kind of leaning towards AP Chem or Psych at the moment, because our Physics teacher sucks some major crap, he doesn't teach anything. I'd like AP Chem, but I heard its kinda hard :), I don't want to work TOO hard ^^ - how would you guys compare it to AP Euro(It was a breeze for me this year, so if its close to that I think I should be okay). </p>

<p>On a side note, I'm considering applying to RSI and some other summer programs next summer (summer of 06). I'm guessing that having a science instead of Psych will be more beneficial on the resume? Because, I'm not taking any sciences next year at the moment :(. Which would be best?</p>

<p>AP Physics and AP Chemistry involve a lot of math - Physics more so. Chemistry has more concepts you need to learn and to some people, they tend to be a little abstract. I would say the difficulty of Chem and Phys are about the same. AP averages are about the same. It depends on your interest. If you're going to be applying to RSI, then I would definitely recommend taking one of these AP sciences.</p>

<p>Take the AP Chemistry.</p>

<p>AP Psych is sort of considered by colleges to be a blow off and many don't accept it. I personally recommend AP Chem because AP Physics is just basically memorizing formulas.</p>

<p>Hmmm, AP Physics sounds more rigorous for some reason, but I don't think I can pull it off, especially since the teacher doesn't do anything(and hates my guts), otherwise, I would take it for sure :). Hmmm, its such a tough decision :(.</p>

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I personally recommend AP Chem because AP Physics is just basically memorizing formulas.

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<p>:O. Really?? From what I recall Chemistry has the same, if not more, formulas. The difference in physics you hardly get to apply only one, and it's never a straight forward plug and chug. In chemistry most of the time it is a very straight forward plug in items, get answers deal. Perhaps it's just me, but if any of these two subjects is more memorization based, it's definetely chemistry.</p>

<p>physics definitely has more formulas than chemistry (ap), simply because of the interchangability.</p>

<p>I would say ap chem because if the teacher isn't going to teach well (versus "personality conflicts") than it could be tough and you might have to do a lot of studying on your own, which might be more than you want to handle. AP physcology really is a blow-off class</p>

<p>I'm taking Physics 1 honors(prereq. to AP phys :-/) right now which is also taught by the AP physics teacher, and all he does is hand out random worksheets and some formula sheets. Then he just has us plug in some formulas for the equations, he doesn't explain what the formulas do, he just tells us to "read the book." At the moment, I can figure things out pretty quickly on my own, so its not an issue. But my fear is that next year in AP Physics, no one is going to know what to do, I'm not sure about the AP test scores in AP Physics at our school.</p>

<p>Hrm, how about self-studying AP Physics and doing AP Chemistry next year?</p>

<p>Whoa, that's weird. I signed up for all three on my schedule for next year (junior).</p>

<p>Yeah, I would take both, but i need to get in my foreign language, english, math, orchestra, ush, etc. So I have space for only 1. I would self study AP Physics, but I don't think I'm THAT smart :-p. Has anyone here done it before?</p>

<p>By the way, does anyone know if it would be possible to take a course online/ at community college over the summer to prepare for the AP physics exam if I were to self study? I'm not always the most motivated student, so I think to be on the safe side I should have some outside force pushing me :).</p>

<p>Stanford University's EPGY Program? They have an AP physics course, and many more.</p>

<p>See discussion: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=35458%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=35458&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Hmmm... it looks really interesting, but I have to do this at school :(? Because that would kinda defeat the purpose of self study(the extra hour :)).</p>

<p>Nope, whenever and wherever you choose. You'll get a transcript too!</p>

<p>If you aren't in to science that much and don't have that much of a dedication to it, don't apply to RSI, period. No offence, but you'll just be wasting their time, and there are plenty of summer programs for people not as interested in science as the humanities or other subjects, they just don't have the God-like aura that some CC kiddies attach to RSI. </p>

<p>That said, the choice should be easy. If you are not a science fan, take Psych. If you like science but aren't that good at math, or chemistry just appealed to you more in earlier years, take Chem. If you like science and you're good at math (Calculus is used in some parts of Psychics C), take Physics.</p>

<p>I like science very much, its just that I have some long periods of lazyness, and then some periods of overachievingness(If thats a word :)). I guess I learn in "spurts." </p>

<p>For example, since our physics teacher checks homework for completion only, so I just made up some answers and turned them in, and on tests(which are not weighted) I just skimmed by with B's basically from plugging stuff into equations. During class I went to sleep just about every other day and programmed calculator games the rest of the time(It sounds wrong, when I say the guy doesn't teach anything, I'm being totally serious). </p>

<p>Then finals rolled around and I decided to take a look at the book, it turned out to be pretty interesting so I read it. I ended up learning a supposed entire semester of physics in a 12 hour marathon of studying. In the end, I didn't set the curve on the final, but I came pretty darn close ;). </p>

<p>It may sound like I'm trying to stroke my ego, but I really have some personality issues with this guy. He makes things incredibly boring, its not me being lazy - other people slept thru class too. Anyways, I feel that sometimes my motivation in school is not that reliable, so something to keep me on the path is always a good safety :).</p>