If the AP physics offered Physics 1+2 or is it Physics C. Physics 1+2 are algebra based introductory classes, Physics C is calculus based physics. If the teacher is that bad, I suggest dropping down to honors level. Unless you’ve had introductory engineering classes or other exposure to the material covered in Physics, you will need a physics class, even if it’s not specifically required, but you need one where you can learn the material. If you’re taking that many AP classes, I would not rely on your ability to teach yourself, nor should you be satisfied with an easy grade without learning anything. If you really want your fun class, you’re going to have to drop AP biology (or one of the others that isn’t required for graduation). As others have said, you don’t want to head into an Engineering program, where you will be expected to take Calculus based Physics, without first being introduced to most of the concepts on a more basic level. Since they added Physics 1+2, it is the only one of the three major sciences where the AP level is and introductory level class.
This is for your senior year. You don’t really need an A in the class and you don’t need a high score on the AP exam because you aren’t going to test out of physics in college anyway. But to apply for engineering without a single physics course in college is madness. Personally, I think the ability to teach yourself is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. You will have bad professors, bad TA’s bad text books, etc. all through your educational career. Once you learn to self teach, nothing can get in your way. Take the class.
Pick the college you want to attend if you’re no longer an engineering student.
As an engineering student, Friday evenings are great because the library is quiet and its easy to get a big desk where you can spread your things out. Same with Sat and Sun morning when other students are nursing their hangover.
Is every weekend like that? Of course not. But talk to any engineering student and they’ll be happy to compare their workload to that of other majors. And you will be doing that comparison, too. By 2nd semester if not sooner I bet you’ll be asking yourself if its really worth it, sacrificing your chance at the “college experience” when you could be enjoying yourself like so many of your friends.
Thanks guys, I think I’ll just wind up taking physics but I don’t know if it will be possible to drip bio for painting with my schedule, and I can’t really drop any of my other classes because they’re required for graduation or stuff I really like. There isn’t an honor physics at my school and all the regular ones I could get into are full as well 
At least two of my AP classes (Spanish and lit) are very easy at my school with a light work load. The only thing is I could also see myself going into biochemistry and biology is supposed to be much more fun and the teachers great. Oh well, the other thing I could do is swap out of BC calc into AB calc which is significantly easier at my school so i wouldn’t be as stressed. A college rep in my state did say taking bc was kind of pointless there.
What is it about chemical engineering that appeals to you over a chemistry or biochem major? You don’t seem overly excited about physics or the more rigorous calculus, while you really seem to love biology.
Regarding what the college rep said…are you a girl? If so, be very wary about people telling you to take “easier” math courses. Bias against what girls can and should take in math is still a very real thing and it’s exposed in statements like this.
Did the rep know that you wanted an engineering major? Calc BC might be pointless for most non-engineering majors but for chemE you would be expected to have a your high school’s top math rigor. Especially at the schools you mentioned in your first post!
Yes, many AP classes are very very easy. A few like AP Statistics are not accepted as college credit excepted at
a few public schools.
You should be able to take six AP classes and it will prepare you well for college. The idea that you should
slack off in 12th grade is a bad one. Use the summers to slack off. You will be happy that you took the two science classes at the same time because chemical engineers take three to even four, if you count math! Its pretty tough
to take four technical classes in college. . Taking AP Bio and AP Physics will give you a chance to learn time management when it hardly counts against you!
Its all about balance though. I see you like to paint, and it seems to me you could still paint too, on weekends or after school, carve out time to do that. Busy people are often MORE successful than those that take it easy.
Learning to time manage with AP classes is the best way to prepare for the colleges you are aiming at.
Remember, some students play a varsity sport at U of Minnesota and still major in Chemical engineering there.
They may get some tutoring, but its possible.
So learn to time manage in 12th grade. You will be very very happy you tried that. Even if its not straight As,
your senior year will affect you less, to have some Bs. Try for As but be satisfied with Bs
if you take a very heavy load in college.
Know when to take a break and learn how to work FASTER. You will need that in college.
I wonder what tier that rep works for. And what the conversation context was, what questions were asked. OP, do you feel you have a solid idea what engineering does, or ChemE? If you have any interest, take the physics class. Don’t assume less is more or that they won’t question your prep. If art is your priority, rethink stem. Or take the dang art class on Saturdays.
Are you ready for BC calculus? Its usually meeting twice as often in the fall, to fit all the material in.
AB Calculus is the SAME difficulty level, but half the material is taught. You can take the BC calculus class
and then take only the AB Calculus exam, is one way to handle that. I don’t know that you get more homework
in BC Calculus, but its more rapid paced and if you don’t feel ready for that, take AB Calculus, as it will go slower
and still give you a very good introduction to calculus.
In college, calculus classes almost NEVER grade homework. You are expected to go to an answer board
and grade your own math homework in calculus, as its such a popular class. (almost all engineers, CS, and physics, chemistry and math majors take it, along with some social scientists. ). So no big university, like the ones you are looking at, bothers to grade Calculus 1, 2 or 3 homework sets , I would bet.
So thats the big jump to college, you are totally on your own to do the homework sets and if you don’t understand it go to the TA and learn it through extra tutoring.
Its a huge jump to college, because of the way homework sets are treated in mathematics. Paradoxically, if
you take upper level math classes, they grade the homework! They just do not bother for Calculus 1, 2 and 3
at most US colleges today.