<p>Hello, this is my first post here.</p>
<p>My mother told me that various colleges (MIT, Caltech, UPenn, Ivy League) require physics course credit to even be considered for undergraduate admissions. If I don't have any physics courses, she said that I automatically won't be admitted. Is this true, false, or partially true (if so, which require physics credits)?</p>
<p>I know colleges recommend (some require) that I take physics, but I can't find information that specifically states that I need high school course credit.</p>
<p>I don't have any physics credits from my high school. However, I am taking AP Physics B at EPGY, so I plan on taking the AP test for Physics B and the SAT II Physics test next year. I would like to skip physics at my high school and take AP Chemistry next year (junior year). Will I still be considered for admission to those colleges? I've taken Chemistry Honors and Biology Honors at school already, and I need science APs. My mother says that I should take AP Physics again at school next year just to get the credit, but I think I should take AP Chemistry so I'll have 2 science APs and that colleges will treat taking the AP Physics test the same as taking the course for credit.</p>
<p>That’s definitely not entirely true (I’m at Brown with no chemistry credits for instance). I’m fairly sure MIT and CalTech won’t seriously consider you without physics credits, given the nature of those schools. If you don’t want to take physics, why are you considering those two schools?</p>
<p>You would not be automatically disqualified at the Ivies without physics, but you’d want to have something compelling that you did in its place (I had 7 years of language credit and math through differential equations instead of chemistry). What year are you in? Many schools don’t give AP credit for Physics, and taking the exam definitely would not be seen the same as taking a course when you have that option. I’d recommend taking physics unless you have a very compelling reason not to.</p>
<p>You misunderstand. I do want to take physics (and I am taking physics at EPGY), it’s just I don’t have enough APs, so I want to take AP Chemistry at school. MIT and Caltech want me to take physics, but I am not sure if they are specifically asking for course credit. I will definitely take the AP Physics test to prove that I have taken physics, so I want to know if those colleges will reject me because I don’t have course credit. My mother believes there is a difference in admissions between receiving course credit from my high school and just taking the AP test.</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know if EPGY credit will or will not be accepted?</p>
<p>There is a difference in admission between receiving course credit and taking an AP test. The latter does not look nearly as important. Will this EPGY course grade be sent to the colleges? If not, you’ll probably want to take physics at your HS.</p>
<p>You won’t be immediately rejected without a physics course on your transcript, but it will put you at a distinct disadvantage, especially if you’re considering a science-related major.</p>
<p>Okay.
I will be sending EPGY grades, but I am not sure if they will be accepted. EPGY is run by Stanford University, but it is an online course.
If I take AP Physics in school next year (junior year) and AP Chemistry senior year, will my AP Chemistry be seen as important as if it were taken junior year?</p>
<p>Can I get a second opinion?</p>
<p>The time you take the course won’t really matter. They might not see the course grades from senior year courses, but they’ll see that you’re taking it. You could always take AP Chem next year and AP Physics senior year if you’re worried about that, though.</p>