<p>Several colleges that I have looked at, with the most notable being Caltech (California Institute of Technology), require a year of physics. Our school, however, is relatively small as well as new and does not offer physics. Will it be okay? Do I just state that we do not offer physics?</p>
<p>For a school like Caltech, I’d suspect they mean it when they say they require a year of physics. If your school does not offer it at this time, look into the possibility of taking the physics at a local community college, or an online course, or perhaps consider finding another school which does offer it.</p>
<p>If you have your heart set on a top tech school, you will need the physics (many of your competing applicants will have had 2 years of physics). Email Caltech admissions to find out if there is any flexibility in the physics requirement citing your predicament, but do not be surprised if the requirement is indeed, a must.</p>
<p>If your major in college requires physics, it would be a very good idea to take at least high school physics. If your high school is so poor that it does not offer physics, consider taking an introductory* physics course at a local community college.</p>
<p>*The courses for biology majors are more suitable for students with no physics background than the courses for physics and engineering majors, which often assume a high school physics background.</p>
<p>Hmmmm. I emailed the admissions office, and wait for a response. Physics this summer at a community college is feasible, but not all that practical considering my schedule, so in general that will be an uncertain situation.</p>
<p>Considering the phenomenal average SAT scores of other competing Caltech applicants, it doesn’t seem exactly realistic to get in anyway, but I’ll still give it a shot. Thanks for the help, fellows.</p>