Hi everyone! I’m a current junior in HS and first term grades just came out and it was a realization that I am facing a serious problem: honors physics. At my school honors physics is the prerequisite to IB physics HL and AP physics C mechanics. With that being said, my original plan was to take honors physics and then move onto AP next year; however, being in honors physics is bringing my GPA down as I have a B in that class. Every other grade on my transcript is an A or A+ and I am taking all honors/AP/IB courses. I should also let you know that last year I took AP Chem + regular bio (there’s no honors bio) and this year i am taking AP Bio in addition to honors physics. So, after speaking to my teacher and the department head, I have two options:
drop honors physics this year and take the class next year
-> if I do this option then next year I would be taking 4 APs, none of which would be in the sciences (I'm not sure if that would harm me as I am looking to be in the science field in college)
move down to regular physics and do a summer study to get into AP or IB physics next year
As someone looking to study science in college, maybe pre-med track, at an Ivy League or top 20 school, which situation is most advisable?
I should also note that if I drop honors physics or move down to regular physics by next week, it will not appear on my transcript. But, if I wait longer it will.
@bopper But if I’ve never had any grade lower than an A- , wouldn’t that look badly? To have As in all AP classes this year but not in an honors class?
No, it’s fine. B in an honors course is okay. You’re not expected to be perfect.
A B in Honors physics is better than an A in regular physics or no physics at all.
I would strongly recommend you stick it out. My high school didn’t have an honors physics class, and regular physics was a joke. When I got to college, physics was REALLY hard for me since I wasn’t prepared like a lot of the other students. I made straight As in high school, but got a C the first semester of college physics! I wish I had had the opportunity to take a challenging physics class in high school! The pain now is worth it.
Thank you for all the recommendations! My teacher is super laid back and assumes we know a lot of the material, since most of the kids in my class have had some exposure to physics before… With that being said I don’t see my grade improving as physics does get harder throughout the year… Is it work taking the risk if a B might turn into a C?
I would drop it and take it next year. You are loaded with sciences already. You took AP Chem, Bio, and are taking AP Bio now. Save physics for next year