<p>My math guy had to take a regular physics course one term instead of honors or AP because of scheduling conflicts (though he then took AP senior year.) Both my kids skipped out on AP English. Colleges don’t expect you to take every single AP just because your school offers it, and they do understand scheduling conflicts. Your GC should be able to put a note in her recommendation that you had a scheduling conflict and that is why you took honors instead of AP. Given that you are in pre-calc not calculus, I suspect your honors physics will be as good as the non-calc version of AP physics.</p>
<p>
I agree–you should explicitly ask your GC to do this–don’t assume that it will be done if you don’t ask.</p>
<p>My daughter opted for Orchestra over AP Spanish one year (she dropped Spanish altogether) and AP physics the next year, and never regretted it. She did end up taking AP Calculus, Government, both sections of English, and Psychology, but only honors physics. She’s not going to an IVY or anything, but she wasn’t going to an IVY whether she took AP physics or not!</p>
<p>I can’t imagine taking AP physics without having calculus. In fact Calc is a prerequisite for Ap physics at my kids school. </p>
<p>I agree that chorus is a fine choice too</p>
<p>It sounds like you’ve been involved with choir for a while? If so you should continue - especially since it brings you so much joy. You’ve received some excellent comments and advice in this thread - I’ll just add that when adcoms view your application you will be up against thousands of students with almost exactly the same academics, grades, GPA and test scores, and what will make YOU stand out is your essay, supplements, and demonstrated commitment to ECs and/or other outside interests. </p>
<p>Follow your music and see where it takes you! </p>
<p>@surfcity that is AP physics C. OP would be taking AP physics 1 or 2, previously AP Physics B, which are algebra based, not calculus.</p>
<p>I agree that you should take choir! My D stuck with band throughout HS, knowing that it gave her both a break from academics during the day and an outlet for her stress. I have told my kids…if you have to sell your soul to get into a school, you don’t want to be there as that will be the continued expectation to stay there. Go choir!!!</p>
<p>If it were a matter of chorus and no physics, the decision would be very difficult, but in this case I say definitely go with the honors physics and keep chorus! </p>
<p>My daughter’s dropping flute. :’( I’ll tell you, I was a math major and loved it, but I skipped so much “fun stuff” in high school that I wouldn’t be accepted anywhere now probably. Unis look at that: what have you done for your school and community, and music counts! But what really kills me is that my daughter LOVES music; has perfect pitch, can sing, play piano (she had classical piano training since age 7), plays flute for the school, and she loves flute. (She sings like an angel, but as a Sop 1 she’s always put in a solo part and hates that; does it only at Church.) She’s probably conservatory material, but wants to study math/physics. WHY she’d drop flute (rising 11th grade) is beyond me, because it’s relaxing (for her AND US!), it’s beautiful, and IT COUNTS. Please keep up your music. PLEASE. I know it’s still work (her argument), but it’s a different kind of work (my argument), and colleges LOVE seeing a well-rounded applicant.</p>
<p>My son kept piano and (just this year) got a FULL RIDE to an engineering school based on his piano training! (They have a new building, few STEM majors do music, I suppose). His first choice school! …though he accepted a “fall back” school because of the campus feelings or something. (Or he’ll be a big fish in a big pond. I don’t get it, tbh…) Anyway, he got accepted everywhere he applied, and had only a 3.6 GPA and crap SATs (well, average-high), but he tried hard (took all APs and skipped physics), and led these “clean the bay” projects, and planted gardens in the community …but mostly he performed music for the community, and was recognized (huge surprise for us!) for it. The colleges LOVED him when they met him (he played music for them on a whim; I guess that’s easier than breaking into song, lol, but still, be PROUD of what you do, and ready to stand out when you’re meeting prospective professors. They WILL remember you and go to bat for you). Seriously, the schools he applied to sent him acceptance “packages”, and while he ran varsity cx, it’s not like he’s a football player. So I say sing your heart out and take physics in college. (My experience: the schools think their physics departments are far and away better than Physics AP, but in reality the h.s. AP classes are more rigorous. Depends on the h.s./college, but physics CAN WAIT!)</p>
<p>Another fan of choir! </p>
<p>Look, you may not be able to be a part of the choir in the college of your choosing. Choirs might be by audition or require a huge number of rehearsal hours. Do choir now, because you can. You can take physics at any college. What difference does it make if you out it off a year?</p>
<p>You can potentially take the AP exam with Honors physics if you want to- taking the course is never necessary for taking an AP exam. AP physics is NOT calculus based. At son’s school some take it after regular physics and others, like him, take it instead of regular physics. Those who intend on majors requiring college physics will take it again in college- with a calculus requirement. </p>
<p>I would definitely do the choir class. You probably won’t be involved as much with choir at the college level due to time conflicts. HS is a time for exploring many options and doing things you won’t have time for later. You need some fun, relaxing, stress relieving classes as well as the academic ones. I’ll never regret being in HS band (wasn’t allowed in the mandatory junior high choir class- some of us just can’t stay in tune vocally).</p>
<p>@wis75 there are two different AP Physics tracks: AP Physics 1 and 2 (previously B) are algebra based; AP Physics C IS calculus based</p>
<p>Some schools only offer one AP physics.</p>
<p>Take what you love. Admissions offers at many schools are looking for that commitment to an important extracurricular. </p>