I’m just starting my senior year in the IB Program and I still haven’t taken physics. One of my teachers said that colleges are looking a lot to see if you’ve taken physics in high school, especially if you want to go into medicine or anything like that. I want to go into exercise science and the reason I’m not taking physics is b/c I am only allowed one elective due to my IB schedule and I also want to minor in music and I figured I would need orchestra to show colleges I’m committed to music. So my question is, is it really necessary to take physics?
It is not necessary; You will be accepted into a college. However, in order to be a viable candidate at highly selective schools, you will probably need to take physics. So the answer to your question really depends upon the schools that you will apply to.
Physics in college will be harder if you have not had physics in high school.
We had exactly the same thing happen to my daughter, also an IB student, who is interested in Biological Sciences. She moved schools after 9th grade, having not studied physics till then and Physics was offered at her new school only in 9th grade. She took a Physics course at the local community college to compensate for it and after we started reading the college websites, we were thankful she did do so. I would recommend you get Physics under your belt somehow.
@njmom666’s answer is spot on!