Comm College class vs. AP class offered at school

Applying to College
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<p>As I'm just getting around to starting my summer homework, it's dawning on me that physics is going to be a huge pain in the arse. I took an accelerated/honors physics class last year, and it wasn't that bad, but the teacher was confusing, her answers were convoluted, and her tests were nothing that we went over. It was a rough year, but I escaped with an A- first semester and a B+ 2nd semester.
So I thought for sure I’m not going on with this lady. Kids who have graduated still complain about her and a couple have talked to the principal, and one even had a meeting with him. Basically the smart kids teach the class in discussions, and sometimes they are wrong, because you know they aren’t physics teachers , but she does nothing to correct them…so the rest of us are lost and confused. And you couldn’t be absent. I missed a lab and she made me turn in my report the next day anyway, when all I did was the pre-lab stuff. 5/20 did wonders for my second semester grade haha
Anyways, sorry to veer off, long story short, some of my friends who are taking AP Phys talked me into taking it too. And now I don’t know if I could take another year with this teacher. We get along fine personally, she tells me she wishes all of her students were like me, but I just can’t stand her teaching style. </p>

<p>One of my friends (a lot smarter than me) took a physics class at a Comm College just to avoid her (his brother had her and warned him). He was a lot less stressed out than the rest of us taking honors phys, his teacher was decent he said and his textbook was a lot better than ours (well hell we didn’t have a textbook for half a year, so he kind of wins by default). So overall he had a better experience. </p>

<p>So I guess my question comes down how would taking AP Phys at school look compared to Physics at Comm College, for college admissions? My high school teacher is not extremely difficult, I think I could manage at least a B in her class, but some of the busy work gets extremely annoying and she piles it on. And, with her, I’m about 90% positive I’m not going to get a 3 on the AP test, and I sure as hell am not going to get a 4, which is what I’m going to need at a lot of schools I’m looking at. Science is not my thing, I’m more of a history guy, and my high school only offers APUSH and AP Gov, no Econ, World or Euro at AP level. So I’ll only be taking 3 APs senior and I’ll graduate with 4. Not bad, but it would be nice to have 5. </p>

<p>Argh, not sure what I should do. The only reason I signed up for the class was because my friends talked me into it and how it would look good for college. But how would a similar class at a CC look?</p>

<p>Thanks, I’m really not sure what I should do right now.</p>

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<p>Hey I took a Psychology course during the summer at a community college before my junior so that I didnt have to take it this coming year (senior year). I think that if you can do well at the community college, Id say do that because it shows initiative that you are taking a college level course outside of your high school (your comfort zone if you will) and this would def be seen as a positive IMHO. Another reason I would take the cc class is because of the annoying ways and habits of your teacher, and who knos maybe the cc class will prepare you better for the AP exam and you could get that 4 that you need. :slight_smile: hope that helps good luck!</p>

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<p>My understanding from your post is that you’ve already taken one year of physics in high school. That is all colleges (even the most selective) expect.</p>

<p>My recommendation based on the issues that you have is to wait till college to take a more advanced physics course.</p>

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<p>IMO (this isn’t in terms of college admission) AP courses are harder than many CC courses.</p>