If I’m applying as a computer science major, will it hurt my app to not have any years of physics on my transcript? In my opinion physics is not needed in various cs fields but apparently others tell me it will harm my app if I’m a stem student who doesn’t have physics.
At some schools, CS is in the engineering division, or otherwise requires physics in college. If you have not taken high school physics, you are likely to find physics in college more difficult.
In any case, many students who think logically and mathematically (useful attributes for CS majors) find physics to be the most interesting of the basic sciences.
Many CSCI curricula include the lower division physics sequence. Now, most high school seniors don’t really know that (and I don’t think a lot of guidance counselors know that either…) and apply to computer science without physics. It’s hard to say, however, and, as ucbalumnus points out, it honestly depends on the school.
I will say that most computer science programs I know do in fact require at least a year’s worth of physics, typically and it may be advantageous for you to take it early on if you have the opportunity. A lot of CSCI majors don’t realize that they actually do need to take a lot of math and science courses and you might as well know what you’re in for.