As a rising senior, I can’t take AP Physics C due to a scheduling conflict with AP calc bc (which i am required to take). Also, I’ve already taken AP chem, bio, and environmental science, so I will not be able to take a science class my senior year. The only AP classes left (haven’t taken or aren’t on my senior year schedule already) at my school are the languages that I don’t know and AP physics.
I’m applying as STEM major to Ivy leagues and stanford, duke, etc. I also understand that AP physics is super important for a stem student’s transcript. So, will my situation (Not taking AP physics or even a science class senior year) hurt my chances at more selective schools?
Thanks
Are you saying that the only section of AP Calculus conflicts with the only section pf AP Physics C? If so, you will not be faulted for a schedule conflict, plus you already have a bunch of science AP’s. Have your GC explain the schedule conflict, although I’d question the wisdom of a school that puts these 2 classes in the same period, since most students who take Physics C are concurrently taking calculus.
If, however, there are multiple sections of either calc or Physics C, then that is not a schedule conflict, but a decision on your part. In that case, you could clear the conflict yourself by replacing the class that’s causing the conflict.
Physics isn’t too important if you’re doing STEM. I feel like you’re overemphasizing the importance a bit. It all depends on your major. If you’re doing Physics major, you definitely need it. For computer science, bio, not as much.
No you don’t; that’s why they offer intro physics in college. Additionally, at many colleges, if you are a physics major, you get no waiver from the intro physics classes anyway.
@MurphyBrown I took honors chemistry before AP so I have 4 science credits to graduate. Chemical engineering would be my first choice and electrical engineering my second.
I went on campus tours and info sessions at MIT and Stanford over summer and they “strongly recommended” taking physics, which is why I’m worried. Stanford is probably my dream school.
Why are you required to take ap calc bc?
@VickiSoCal I need 4 math credits to graduate (1 each year) and ap calc is the only math class available. I took honors precal last year and the only math level up is ap calc.
You really need both of these to be competitive at the top schools. Drop/Change whatever other classes are causing this conflict. They can’t possibly only have 1 section of Calc and Physics at the same time. It’s not just about getting into a top school it’s also about being successful once you are there and having no physics at all will put you well behind your peers some of whom will have had 4 years of physics (AP1 and 2 AND C-E and M and C-M).
Have you taken any physics at all? If not yet, it is a good idea to take a high school physics course, even if not AP, since many college physics courses recommend high school physics as a prerequisite.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not required to have AP physics in high school to get into college or do well in college physics. But it is a good idea to have some kind of physics in high school.
Agree in fact there are schools that don’t even offer it.
Thank you guys. Yes, we only had one section per class, but I talked with my counselor for like forever and got some of my friends to talk to him too. They decided to move Calc bc to a different section, so I can take both now.