<p>So I'm taking the AP Physics C test next year, because it will let me skip introductory physics in my freshman year of college. I've taken a few practice tests, and I'm confident I will get 5s just doing a little studying myself (I've already taken AP physics B, and I went beyond the course material). My question is, would it look better on an application if I took a community college course, or if I just took the test with no class?</p>
<p>I advise you to take the community college course just because you can learn the material more easily and it’s probably more interesting. </p>
<p>Note that the multiple choice of physics C may be easy but the free response requires mastering beyond physics B.</p>
<p>and, shouldn’t this be in the AP forum?</p>
<p>I basically already know the material; if the practice tests I’ve taken are accurate, I would get 5s if i had to take it tomorrow. I’m asking if it would look better on applications to have a community college class, since I could take one for relatively little money.</p>
<p>Personally, I’d find it more impressive if someone could take the exam and score a 5 without taking the class. Moreover, I can’t imagine taking a CC class vs. self-studying making you look any better. To be honest, I don’t think it has a very significant impact at all.</p>
<p>If you’re confident enough, don’t bother wasting time for the class – just take the exam and get a 5. You could fill your schedule with other classes or you could put your time into EC’s or whatnot. I don’t think it makes a significant impact anyway, so, if you already know the material well, don’t bother wasting time with the class.</p>
<p>I guess it’s okay to just take the exam since there are a lot of resources on these available online. You can watch the 8.01 and 8.02 lectures by Walter Lewin on the youtube MIT account/MIT open course ware. </p>
<p>I self-studied the physics c’s and ended up getting 5’s on both of them. I thought that i would get 5’s easily at first too, but realized there were a lot of things that i needed to grasp. The real test turned out to be harder than the practice tests i took, just saying.</p>
<p>I got a 5 on AP PHysics C: Mechanics by acing the multiple choice, and absolutely failing the essay portion.</p>
<p>I have come to realize that CollegeBoard is full of fail over these past 4 years.</p>
<p>If you can get a 5 without spending time in a class than don’t take the class. If you want put “I took cc class in high school” on your resume then take a class in another subject (ex calc BC or Econ or some other subject that you have not yet taken)</p>
<p>the essay portion contains most of the advanced physics knowledge in the exam that are harder to self-study. if you dont have a firm grasp on those topics, it’s not going to be great to skip the freshman course if you want to do something physics-related.</p>
<p>If your next year is senior year then self studying and taking that AP test will do nothing for admissions since all thats way after admissions are done. I guess you can tell them you plan on taking the AP test but that doesn’t really hold any weight. If this is the case then you should take the CC class if you want to put something tangible on your application about your physics mastery above the level of your high school class. If you’re entering Junior year then it won’t matter because you’ll have your AP score as tangible proof of your self-studying to put on your application.</p>
<p>^ Balaylay has the perfect advice imo</p>