Made a mistake and didn’t take physics in high school. I’ll be taking the SAT Math IIC though. If I get a good score, will that be adequate enough to allow me to take any pre-req courses for Physics in college?
(I’m also trying to self-study for the SAT Physics, but with only 5 months till test day, not sure if I can do it or get a good score)
Thanks.
Not sure I understand your question. Do you plan to major in Physics? What are you asking about pre-req courses? Depending on the college, there may be intro Physics courses for majors and non-majors. The courses for majors will be more math intensive, and potentially have a Calculus pre-req.
I do plan to. Sorry, I meant introductory Physics. But thanks for the answer!
So you need to take Calculus for sure, preferably AP BC if your school offers it. You will take TONS of math in college if you major in Physics.
Sounds like you are Junior. If so, then take physics in your senior year. If you are in a position to start college with Calculus I in your first semester and you have had a physics course in high school, then you should be fine. Having taught physics at the university level for many years now, let me give you a little hint on how to be ready to do well in physics: make sure you are very, very good at algebra.
Looks like you are a current junior taking precalculus. So just take calculus and physics in senior year.
Calculus-based physics 1 in college typically has calculus 1 (or high school calculus AB) as a prerequisite, with calculus 2 as at least a corequisite. High school physics is often a recommended prerequisite. The latter may not strictly be necessary, but it may be harder in college if you have not had a high school level view of the subject before.
Thank you for all the help, everyone!
Have you taken any calculus? If you have another year left, you should take ucbalumnus’s advice and do physics and calculus for senior year. Also, at least where I am, most people start at the intro level (calculus-based) physics courses even if they’ve taken physics in high school. The only requirements for physics I are usually calculus I taken prior or concurrent and and for physics II, calculus II prior or concurrent. (Some places require you to have finished calc I prior to physics I.) So, you won’t be behind in the major, but it will be helpful to have seen the concepts before.
Definitely learn as much math as you can your senior year. And take calc based physics. And master it. You will greatly appreciate the effort now when you go to college.
Don’t take Calc based physic before high school physics 1. Listen to the posters above. Take Calc and take physics your senior year. You can combine them in college.