Hi.
I’m getting ready to prepare my schedule for next year. However, I can’t decide whether AP Chem or AP Physics is the better choice. I’m not a big fan of science, but chemistry actually interests me. I don’t know why, but perhaps it’s because chem is more straightforward and logical, whereas bio is more vague. I don’t know what physics is about, nor have I taken a class in high school regarding the subject. But I heard it’s very useful and makes your schedule look more complete rather than having just bio and chem in your high school science transcript. I plan to major in English/Creative Writing, so it’s not as if the lack of physics is a major drawback when I apply for college. But I’m still at a standstill.
Also, is it necessary to have taken AP Physics 1/Physics 2 prior to taking mechanics? I’m taking calc AB next year, so mechanics will follow through with what I’m learning in math.
Many top colleges recommend that you take a year each of biology, chemistry, and physics. If you are not planning on applying to one of these, the choice really does not matter.
While each HS sets its own prerequisites, AP Physics 1 does not require prior knowledge of physics; AP Physics C mechanics recommends a year of intro physics, and having taken Physics C, I would not recommend taking it with no physics background.
Thank you for the helpful information. I plan to apply to JHU and LACs such as Amherst and Swarthmore.
PHYSICS ALL THE WAY. Taking physics was one of my best decisions. It helps you understand calc and most likely mechanics too!
Physics is even more straightforward than chem in my opinion by a mile. It actually makes sense.
I don’t think you’ll like my advice but if I were you I would take an honors science instead of AP because of you major you want to study in college. I took Chem honors and that was probably the best class I’ve ever taken.
This could be different elsewhere, but at my school, AP Chemistry is much easier than AP Physics
Thank you for the generous replies. The AP physics classes here are renowned for being the most difficult of all classes. And in response to Livinitsmart, I am currently taking an honors chem class as a recommended course toward prepping myself for a science elective.
AP Chemistry is definitely easier conceptually than Physics C. AP Physics 1/2 isn’t necessary prior to Mechanics, but it’s helpful to have 1 year of physics prior to taking Physics C Mechanics.
That being said, if your school has Physics C as an all-year mechanics course (mine wasn’t) and there’s no E&M, then that’s probably easier.
I would definitely recommend AP Physics C, but ,as many have said, taking it without any prior intro course to physics is asking for trouble. At the same time, you want to make sure that you’re taking a Calculus class if you ever decide to go with AP Physics C. You already have that covered.
I never took it, but I have heard that AP Physics 1/2 are definitely a great intro point to physics for some (many people in my university took that as their first physics course). It helps that it is algebra based (or so I’ve heard, I may be wrong), so there’s no need to take a “partner class” at the same time, as most people are already in, or have taken, Algebra II by that point.
Of course, this is assuming that physics is an interesting topic to you. You have mentioned never taking a physics course, so I’d recommend AP Physics 1/2. It might make you fall in love with physics, or it might make you think that maybe it “isn’t for me”. Either way, you’ll get a feel for where you stand in regard to the subject.
On the other hand, you have expressed an interest in AP Chemistry. If you like it, you might want to stick with it. Not my cup of tea, but to each their own. I would not choose what classes I take just to make my transcript look great, however. That should be a side effect, not a pursuit. Especially when you’re intended major is a STEM major, what science class you took may not matter as much to admissions.
Take Chemistry. College Board made Physics even more difficult this year…my physics teacher said she “didn’t do very well” when she took it.
@paranoidandroid6
Sorry, a bit off topic, but how did they make it more difficult?
From what I remember, the hardest part of the AP Physics test was the time limitations. Did they reduce the allotted time even further or change the contents…?
@NotYetEngineer Physics C Mech/E&M is of comparable difficulty to previous years, as I took the exam in 2014 and got 5’s on both. However, Physics B was changed to Physics 1/2, and the new exams are far less mathematical and far more conceptual than Physics B. For most kids, including myself, this is more difficult.
Take Physics if you haven’t yet so you can complete the standard physics-chem-bio cycle most colleges would like to see. Then again, personally, Physics 1 was bad enough for me and I had little interest in it. I would take AP Chem because that is much more intriguing and to me, it makes much more sense especially if you have taken a preq req chem class. Take regular physics or AP Chem. That would make sense to me.
I’m currently taking AP Physics C at the same time as AP calc with no prior physics class and I find it pretty straight forward. You did say that you found chemistry interesting so if you feel like you would enjoy it more go for it.
@NotYetEngineer The test actually has less MC questions but they require a lot more steps than they did previously and are more concept based. You could easily fail the AP test if you knew how to do the example problems in class but didn’t have a good understanding of the actual concepts.