<p>How important is it (to Emory University) that students take physics? I've heard it said that colleges in generally want to see that the student has taken a physics course. </p>
<p>Well, my problem is that I have signed up for Honors Physics at my school but due to schedule conflicts, I can only take AP Physics. Now, I'm not a science genius, nor am I a math expert. It's definite that if I do take AP Physics this year (senior), I will be putting lots and lots of time, effort, and energy into this course (not to mention I have 5 other AP courses I'm taking this year). I may very well struggle to maintain an A-. </p>
<p>My question is:
Does Emory really care and look to see that the applicant has taken a physics course? </p>
<p>If not, I am thinking of dropping AP Physics (because I want to utilize my time studying for SATthan cramming my brain with physics).</p>
<p>For my science courses, I have already taken the following:
Earth Science (9)
Biology (9)
Honors Chemistry (10)
AP Biology (11--to which I recieved a 5 on the AP exam)</p>
<p>Please give me some advice! My SAT score is quite low and the October one is basically my last chance to do well on. I really want to focus my energy on the SAT but if physics is really that necessary, I'd have to do my best and juggle.</p>
<p>You’ll actually be fine w/o physics. As long as you have taken the courses to graduate plus many more rigorous courses (which you have done and are clearly doing this year), you’ll be fine. I also don’t know if Emory even too much cares how you do on the exams (in other words, you don’t have to get a 4-5 on most of them to be a strong candidate for admission). Just make sure you get good scores in the actually courses (in other words you could take AP physics and just get a good score in the class, don’t stress getting a 5, my weakness was Calc. when I took 5 APs at once. I only got a 3 on that one). And if you get an A- average the upcoming year, don’t stress. An A- is like an Emory 3.7. This is a competitive GPA in extremely rigorous courses. Even an unweighted B+ might acceptable (I think Emory will actually recalculate to help, even though they only publish unweighted GPAs in their stats). I mean Emory takes into account the rigor of your courses. And again, if you’ve completed what is necessary to graduate, Emory basically recommends a certain amount of units in each subject area, not the particular courses. As long as you bring your SAT (I hope this isn’t you being OCD, saying you have a low score when you actually don’t. For some people, I know anything<1400= low) up, do pretty well your senior, and make sure you’ve gone a bit beyond the recommended units, and you should stand a pretty good chance.</p>