I took Physics 1 Honors sophomore year, and I amreally interested in going into a STEM major, something that involves both math and science. I don’t know if I should take IB Biology or switch to AP Physics. My cousin, a current mechanical engineering major, only took Physics 1 Honors in highschool before going off to college. She tells me that taking AP Physics in highschool isn’t that important because AP Physics is algebra-based, while the physics classes in college are calc-based. Help/advice asap! Thanks!
I’ve taken AP Physics 1, and your cousin is only correct insofar as she’s talking about AP Physics 1 or AP Physics 2, both of which are algebra-based. The courses are more meant for non-STEM majors. AP Physics C, on the other hand, is meant for engineering majors, and it requires calculus (a quintessential tool for practically every engineer). Seeing as you already have basic physics knowledge, and assuming you haven’t taken calculus yet or you won’t be taking it concurrently next year, I’d take IB Biology and then take Physics C for your senior year when you will be taking calculus. Otherwise, if you already have calculus under your belt or you’re taking it next year, I’d jump straight to AP Physics C.
TL;DR No, Physics 1 (both AP and non-AP) is not sufficient for an engineering major. AP Physics C and other calculus-based physics courses are far better choices.
She was talking about AP Physics 1&2. She seems to be doing okay with just the prior knowledge of Physics 1 Honors from highschool. (She’s a junior in college this year.) I was not planning on taking AP Physics C at anytime in my high school career. I am taking AP Calc this year, and I am a Junior. I have to continue the science that I decide to take this year into senior year. I am wondering if Bio or Physics is the best choice for me.
My D took AP Physics B I believe, in high school. It was the only physics class her high school offered. I’d venture to guess she would have done the same in college without taking any physics at all in high school. She has a 4.0, three years into her engineering program. She tutors physics. The physics you take in college is sufficient for success in engineering programs. Yes, it helps to be exposed to the material before college, but a student who is likely to do well in engineering (both in ability and work ethic) is capable of doing well even without having taken all the “right” classes in high school.
@Parentof2014grad Do you think that she would’ve done the same without taking AP Physics B in high school because it is algebra-based, not calc-based? Also, how many years did she take physics for?
She took one year of physics in high school. That was the only class offered. My point is that she did very well in college physics (top grades) without having had calc-based physics in high school. I believe she would have done as well with no prior physics. Physics is learnable in college, and it’s possible to do very well in college physics courses, even if it was not taken in high school. If a calc-based physics class is available in high school, and the student has the math foundation to take it, then sure–go for it if you want. If the class had been offered at her high school, my daughter would have taken it. It’s just not necessary to do so in order to pass physics classes in college.