Do I select AP Physics 1&2 in 11th grade or 12th grade?

Seems AO wants to see the most difficulty courses selected during the high school. Does it make difference to select AP Physics 1&2 in the 11th grade or 12th grade? I am apply for LSA, probably statistics/CS major. If I select AP Physics 1&2 in the 11th grade, I can only select AP CSA in the 12th grade and no more room for the Data Structure (Honor).

If I select AP Physics 1&2 in the 12th grade, I will select AP CSA in the 11th grade and then Data structure in the 12th grade. But will it be too late for physics?

In order to be accepted by LSA, which plays a more important role? the AP Physics (more rigorous course)? or the major oriented course (like Data structure)?

No. Do what makes the most sense when looking at the 4 year course choices.

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In a perfect world, you would take Physics C. When you take it doesn’t matter as long as you are at least concurrently in Calculus.

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Physics is more important. The typical sequence is AP Physics 1 in 11th and AP Physics 2 in 12th. I doubt the admissions officer will care about Data structure or AP CSA.

I selected AP CSP and no other AP courses in the 10th grade, and I think this is a mistake because I found others selected 2 APs in the 10th grade. So I try to catch up, or excel than others by selecting more AP courses in the 11th and 12th grade. I plan to select AP Lang, AP US History, AP Calculus BC, and AP physics 1&2 (or AP stats and AP CSA). So I want to choose between AP Physics 1&2 and (AP stats and AP CSA) in the 11th grade.

Talked to other 12th graders who wants to select CS major. They all selected AP CSA and data structure and that is also what counselor’s opinion. But I don’t know how does AO would consider.

I don’t think I am ready for AP Physics C.

If you feel that AP Physics C would be too challenging, then certainly, don’t take it! It is fine to take Physics in senior year - the most common sequence in the US is Bio in 10th, Chem in 11th, and Physics in 12th. Some schools allow students to take these at the AP level, some won’t allow AP until after the student has taken it at the high school level. So if you love Comp Sci, go ahead and take AP CSA in 11th, and in 12th take AP Physics 1&2, plus Data Structure.

I think that it would be a good idea for you to get some regular tutoring in written English from an educated native speaker of English. You’re going to have a tough time with the English section of the SAT or ACT, and even if your admissions essays are buffed to perfection by a native speaker, you will have a terribly difficult time with the first year writing requirement class.

I wouldn’t take C if you haven’t taken freshman non-AP physics and won’t at least be taking Calculus concurrently. If you aren’t confident that you can handle it, I wouldn’t go that route either.

It can be and has been done though. My son took Calculus AB and Physics C as a Junior.

For students who will ultimately need to take calculus based physics, I’m not a fan of 1/2. It’s really a waste as it won’t move you ahead in the sequence. It’s ostensibly AP, but only if you only ever need non-calculus based physics in college.

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Thank you for your advice! I took physics honor in freshman. I am just not sure how hard physics C is. How do I know I am ready for it without taking AP Physics 1&2?

Physics 1 and 2 in one year is like the old physics B. Some high schools used it as the honors physics course option (versus regular high school physics). A student who has not had physics yet may want to consider it as such, not for the AP credit.

The AP credit for physics 1 and 2 is only sometimes accepted for physics for biology majors (not physics for physics or engineering majors). But even biology majors may not find it useful, since many are pre-meds, and medical schools want to see college courses instead of AP credit for pre-med courses, and there is no more advanced physics than the introductory sequence for biology majors (so a pre-med with AP physics 1 and 2 credit may have to mark “repeat” when taking the college physics courses).

Ideally, calculus-based physics is started after you have had a semester of calculus (or calculus AB). Physics C is officially listed as being able to be taken concurrently with calculus, but that may make it more difficult than college calculus-based physics that starts later relative to when the student takes calculus.

It looks like physics C credit in Michigan LSA may not be very useful. AP Guidelines | University of Michigan Office of Undergraduate Admissions lists it as 139 (mechanics) or 239 (E&M), but neither of these is an actual course in the physics section of the course catalog.

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Also one more question. I think I made some mistakes during the sophomore. I selected two 1 credit social study courses (regular) and I know many other students selected AP course for social study. But all of the rest courses that I took during sophomore are honor/AP classes (math, science, english, 2nd language). I don’t know how bad it can be for my application in the future and I am really worried about it because the AO will look at all of the 4 years academic performance. Now the only thing I can think of is to take AP US history in the 11th grade and AP Econ in the 12th grade to make up my mistake.

First off stop comparing yourself to your school mates. Then don’t take AP stats. It will mean nothing to Michigan. Take the courses that you will do the best in. The more AP classes is not better. I am also in the camp of honors physics then physics c with Calc. This is very common for students applying to Michigan. If you like the data structure course then awesome. Take it. Don’t over think it. No one can tell you here if your ready for any class. Defer to your counselor and teachers for that. The trick is to take the hardest classes that you can do well in. If you take an AP course your not ready for and get a C that tells Michigan your not ready for their classes. Have schools that are safeties also. Michigan is hard to get into for the best students… Good Luck

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Thank you for your advice! Are you are UM student?

No. Son just graduated and been on this Michigan forum for like 5-6 years. I have a clue… Lol

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why do you think AP Stats is not useful? I thought if I want to take stats as an option for my major, AP stats can at least show my interest. I know it is a relatively easy AP course.

Take the classes you like, the ones that have great teachers, that you will enjoy and that you will do well in. Don’t take a specific AP class that doesn’t have a good teacher - it will be misery, and you won’t do well in it. Stop worrying so much about impressing admissions committees. The specific classes that you take won’t make much difference, unless you were applying for a STEM field and had never taken any honors/AP STEM classes, assuming that they were available to you.

What will matter is your GPA, a high SAT/ACT (if they haven’t gone test blind by then), and impressive extracurriculars. If you are out of state, your odds go down. If you’re not a US citizen or US permanent resident, your odds go way down. So focus on getting the most out of your high school experience, rather than trying to forcibly mold it with the goal of acceptance to any one specific long shot school.

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This is where taking Statistics might be a bad idea. If you take that instead of a more rigorous math class, say AB or BC, some schools might dock you for less rigor. It’s not about Statistics per se, but what you don’t take in order to fit that class in.

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Your last sentence. Michigan wants high rigor and grades. AP stats is not. If you have enough rigor and want a fun class then sure.

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Exactly and well said.

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