Best grade to take physics?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hello!
At my school the normal sequence of courses is:
Freshman: Biology 1
Soph: Chem 1
Junior: Physics 1
Senior: AP chem/physics/bio</p>

<p>However, I'm thinking about taking AP bio next year (junior year) and postponing physics until senior year-- mostly because I'm very interested in biology, but also because I think it would be easier than physics.
My question is this: would it look bad to colleges if I took the courses out of order? Would they recognize that I was looking to delay physics? I know that physics is required at places like Harvard, Yale, etc; would they count it against me if I hadn't completed it when apps went in?
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>High school physics is easy. I found it easier than chem.</p>

3

<p>Uh, I'm pretty sure they won't know the order of science classes in your particular school, and even if they did, I doubt they would care at all, unless you are planning on a physics-oriented major.</p>

4

<p>Keep in mind that if you take classes early you might have forgotten a lot of the material by the time you get to college (so you'll be weaker in that area). I kind of regret taking biology in 9th grade for that reason -- now I'm doing a research project on it and my advisor kind of looked at me funny when he realized I didn't know what a restriction enzyme or a transposon was.</p>

<p>But at the same time, you'll be less busy, so you'll have more time to spend on learning the subject.</p>

5

<p>I'm taking Physics now, and I'm a senior. I took AP Bio last year. A lot of people think taking Physics as a freshman would be best because it is a fundamental subject, though.</p>

6

<p>I took it as a freshmen but at my school it pretty much ruined my schedule for the rest of HS</p>

7

<p>Don't take Physics until you've had something equivalent to Algebra 2. I'm serious. Don't do it. It would be best if you could double up on sciences at least one year (junior or senior). My recommendation would be AP Chem/AP Bio junior year, and AP Physics (use your own judgment if you want B or C) your senior year.</p>

8

<p>We're not allowed to take Physics at my school until our senior year. However, 9th graders and Honors Juniors are required to take Physical Science before Physics, so this may be why.</p>

9

<p>Take it 12th grade. Sometimes colleges do not consider physics, if you take an AP science course.</p>

<p>You should take an AP science course in junior year.</p>

<p>Are you sure you want to take AP physics? If you want, you can just take regular physics and an AP math course.</p>

<p>That class destroys peoples' GPAs in my high school.</p>

10

<p>I would say take physics junior year, just to take it with your friends- it generally helps with any class. Then, if you suddenly find that you've fallen madly in love with physics, you can take ap physics senior year if you really want. It keeps your options open.</p>

11

<p>I'm taking Physics junior year, but I've also taken AP Bio first semester. I'll say take the AP Bio first, then take physics later.</p>

12

<p>Every school's different, so they won't know (or care) about the order being messed up. My school's, for instance:</p>

<p>Freshman - Biology
Sophomore - Physics
Junior - Chemistry (+ AP Physics)
Senior - (AP Bio and/or AP Chem. 1-2 seniors take AP Physics if they didn't take it junior year)</p>

<p>( ) = optional</p>

13

<p>Take it so it fits to take AP Physics, so I wouldn't take it senior year. This is what I did:</p>

<p>Freshman- Biology Honors
Sophmore- Chemistry Honors
Junior (Now)- AP Biology/Physics Lvl. A
Senior- AP Chemistry/AP Physics</p>

14

<p>I took physics freshman year</p>

15

<p>My school is</p>

<p>Freshman - Integrated Science (bs class, grad req though)
Sophomore - AP Chem
Junior - AP Biology
Senior - AP Physics C and AP Environment</p>

<p>I am a junior, but I am taking both AP bio and AP enviro</p>

16

<p>^how does ur school not have prerequisites?</p>

<p>can't u double up in bio and physics? My school is big on prerequisites so this is what i did</p>

<p>freshman-bio, physics
soph-chem, ap envisci
jr-ap bio, ap physis
senor(next year)-ap chem (!!oh no only one science :()</p>

17

<p>It really doesn't matter when you take it, as long as you take it. Follow your preferences.</p>

<p>My school has:</p>

<p>9th grade: Geophysical science (stupid class, I tested out)
10th grade: Bio/Honors Bio
11th grade: ChemCom (easy chemistry)/Chemistry (will soon be made honors)
12th grade: Elective (usually Physics)</p>

<p>We have all kinds of weird electives, but unfortunately only one science AP (Bio). We do have a cool Zoology class, though.</p>

18

<p>My school is:
9th grade: Biology (Honors)/Earth Science
10th grade: Earth Science/Chemistry (Honors)
11th grade: Physics
12th grade: AP Biology/AP Environmental Sciences (but I think you can substitute an AP for Physics and vice versa). </p>

<p>I'm a sophomore taking Chemistry, and next year I'm going to take Physics.</p>

1 Like
19

<p>Our school is really competitive so students taking AP science classes don't take prerequiste classes.</p>

20

<p>We need prerequisite classes. I believe you have to take Bio, period, unless you took it (and the Regents) in middle school. In order to take Chemistry you must have passed the Math A Regents (with some exceptions). The others require some kind of math and/or department approval.</p>