Hi guys, I’m doing pretty well in my senior year, taking 3 AP’s but I’m struggling in honors physics. My teacher is honestly horrible, and keeps telling the class how easy physics is and says 2-3 times a day that " it isnt rocket science". I’m not going to blame it completely on him but I’ve had instances where just learning from a different person utterly reconstructs my whole mindset on a class. My GPA other than physics will be really good- near hundred, and my physics will just bring it down. So im wondering whether or not to drop this class and take another class in its place, so I can actually learn something.
You should not blame himat all Nobody will care for this as an excuse, particularly when there are so many resources on the internet. The learning is ultimately your responsibility.
Define “struggling.”
There’s tendency to blame the teacher when one doesn’t do well in a class. In most cases, the main culprit is oneself. Physics is the hardest subject in high school for most students. Doing well in other classes doesn’t guarantee that you’ll do well in physics.
If this is the only physics class you’ve taken, do not drop it. Go talk to your teacher, find a tutor, do what you need to do well. Colleges expect to see bio, chem, and physics and one of those AP.
This is very college and major dependent. No way does every college expect AP science for every major.
Because Dr. Phil put it in the news, and a parent I know has a kid there, I looked up Slippery Rock. 3 science classes, with 1 a lab, is recommended (not required). I guarantee you a vast majority of student there don’t have an AP science.
(Fwiw, a lot of rocket science is physics)
I’m just saying the truth that hes not a good teacher. I’m also not very good at Physics i guess.
I have a 60 or something. I went to extra help and all that
Whenever I’m on college confidential there tends to be condescension. Now flame me for that comment.
i dont know if you’ll believe it or not, but I really did make an effort on khan academy. I also cant afford a tutor. and believe it or not its extremely hard to conversate with this teacher, and at every extra help he helped me literally once and then he would help other people and some students much longer than other, and then he leaves.
and even if I do well from this point, like 100’s which is unlikely, my gpa will not be salvaged, and for a pretty good year Im having, especially in the last drive before college decisions, that really hurts.
To the OP, I feel for you. At D20’s high school the AP Physics teacher is notoriously bad and doesn’t give many A’s or B’s so many of the non-STEM students take regular Physics at UCLA over the summer. They historically have had great college acceptance results without taking the HS Physics class.
I think you have two options a) get a tutor for Physics, if you can get a B or even C its not going to kill your GPA; or b) drop the class if you still can and take APES.
That is actually some great advice. I was thinking between APES or APCS, but I may even consider just sticking with physics. My average is a 67 right now but if I kill the next couple tests in the quarter I could maybe get a B+
If you contact the teacher who is in charge of the science honor society or the national honor society at your school, they should be able to put you in touch with a student tutor. My D21 has found this so helpful, and it’s a lot cheaper than an adult tutor. They should be able to find a senior who took it last year, or someone who’s doing well now.
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im also experiencing a lack of motivation because senior year wont make my college application. It can only break me, and at best impress colleges, but not be consequential like 9-11 grades
Admission offers from colleges will be conditional on sufficiently high grades or GPA earned in courses that were in progress at the time of application. What “sufficiently high” is depends on the college (some list specific grade or GPA thresholds, while others vaguely “expect you to maintain your high academic performance”).
The general belief is that a D or F grade would risk rescission. When a specific GPA threshold is not listed, there may be risk if you have a large GPA drop (the college may not be happy seeing a drop from 3.9 to 2.1, for example).
Can you link all the resources there are for physics and in general on the internet? Thanks
lol