<p>Would it look bad to highly selective colleges if i switched out of physics honors in the middle of the year? Anything would help?</p>
<p>bump? anyone?</p>
<p>You enjoy the class and you find it challenging (I suppose that’s what “difficult” means), and you’re applying to highly selective colleges. That sounds like the right equation, and the right level.</p>
<p>Attitude counts for a great deal when taking difficult classes. Your highly selective colleges are looking for students who thrive when taking classes that challenge them.</p>
<p>So I don’t understand why you would drop the class to take (?) something easier. Perhaps since it will be the second semester of your senior (?) year they won’t notice.</p>
<p>I guess i should clarify a few things. I’m a junior right now. </p>
<p>My class goes something like this. A few strong students understand everything the moment it comes out of the teachers mouth. The rest don’t. Unfortunately, i belong to the second group. 
When the teacher is going over problems, the select few students who understand tell him how to do it. </p>
<p>I’ve been trying to learn more using the textbook, but still only have a half understanding of the material. Can anyone recommend any study materials which could help me understand more. Maybe an AP study book? I can’t afford a tutor.</p>
<p>You can get a tutor for about $20. Its a book called something like “Physics Problem Solver” and it has thousands of worked problems. Think of them (there is a whole series – chem, calculus, biology, they got you covered) as like sitting down with a tutor who goes over problem after problem. You need to use the book right; don’t just read the problem and answer and think you’ve got it, because that’s not how you learn math or science. Cover up the answer, work the problem, check it against the book. Repeat until you’re getting them right.</p>
<p>In college a rule of thumb is that you send 7-10 hours per week studying the material for a math/science class. A HS class may be somewhat easier, but if you use this number as a guide to how much work you should be doing.</p>
<p>Also you are not limited to using the textbook you were given by your school. In addition to the book I mentioned earlier, you can go to your school or local library and see if there are other texts that explain physics better for you. And you can find tons of material on the web, even complete college lectures from some top schools like Berkeley.</p>