<p>I'm currently a sophomore and next year will be a junior trying to decide if I should take A) Honors Physics or B) AP Chem as my science course next year. Apparently our honors physics class is incredibly difficult (even to my friend who got 2000+ on her SAT the 1st time). This current year I'm taking Advanced Honors Chem which would maybe make the transition to AP slightly less difficult. Advice? Our school does not require physics to graduate.
Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Since you just recently took Chem, I’d recommend AP Chem.</p>
<p>Colleges like to see physics on students’ transcripts. That said, colleges don’t like to see failing grades.</p>
<p>It would depend on what you want to major in when you get to college. Science (including bio and chem) and engineering majors need to take physics in college, therefore you would need to have had taken physics in high school to give you the needed background. If you’re not going into the sciences, why are you considering taking AP chem?</p>
<p>I agree with parentoftwo. Also, I took Physics my Freshman year (bad choice) I had to learn new math by myself because I didn’t know Trigonometry, nor Pre-Calculus material. I ended up with a C. Anyways, Physics is fun but it contains tons of word problems and some can get confusing. Since you’re already taking Advanced Honors Chemistry, why not take AP Chemistry. One thing though what’s your grade in Advanced Honors Chem?</p>
<p>^^^because even the Art History majors will have a required science course.</p>
<p>I would take AP Chem, then Physics the year after</p>
<p>You’re right, FutureVpFinance - I forgot about science gen ed requirements.</p>
<p>I’m taking AP Chem next year (junior), and then some form of physics senior year. Are you planning on taking science all four years, or just up through junior year?</p>
<p>If you have any interest of going into a STEM field, I would recommend physics. In physics you will learn how to think about the world around you and you will develop an understanding and appreciation for how everything works. The foundations of physics are harder to learn than those of chemistry, but only let this be deterrent if you are one lazy son of a *****. You can succeed in physics if you commit yourself. I think you’d find physics much more interesting than just more of the same with chemistry. Also, the better students tend to take physics their junior year.</p>
<p>I am a senior in HS. I have taken Chemistry, Calculus, Physics, and this year I am taking statistics and Abstract Algebra.</p>
<p>Physics requires lots of math, Algebra 2 and up. I guessing you’re taking Geometry as a sophy.
I’d suggest AP Chem.</p>
<p>Ap chem ! <3</p>
<p>I have taken physics, and I can tell you that it does not require more than Algebra 1, unless it is AP physics C. You will not do well in a class you find incredibly boring. You will be covering the same topics in AP chem as advanced honors chem. If you are considering which of these courses to take, you have some interest in science, and thus will certainly enjoy physics more.</p>
<p>Plus, with both an honors chem class and an honors physics class under your belt you can decide for your senior year which topic really interest you, and take an AP then.</p>
<p>I am currently in AP Chem and love it (no interest in majoring in science in college).
Lots of math (but not like physics more just basic stuff) and labs are difficult to get right because of how precise you need to be. I also have a great chem teacher so that helps.
People in my AP Chem who are in Physics/ have taken Physics hated it and it is apparently very difficult.</p>
<p>If you do both I would probally do Physics senior year and AP Chem Jr. year so you would get an additional math class inbetween and since your in Honors Chem now the transition would be easier.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Don’t listen to people like Newton13 who clearly have not taken physics. The people who have told him they hate physics are probably the dim ones who struggle, and consequently are more likely to complain about the class. Math in high school physics, other than AP C, does not use more than easy algebra. It is the ideas and concepts that make it hard, not the math. Only take AP chem if you think you’re not smart enough to do well in physics.</p>
<p>^ Wow, what a pretentious and downright rude post. The above poster thinks he’s better than everyone because he understands physics.</p>
<p>I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help the OP make the right choice, which is physics. Physics, calculus, etc., are all only difficult before you understanding. You brought up the idea of superiority, which I belief is in fact a projection that reflects your thinking that I am superior. In that sense, I agree completely. :)</p>
<p>My AP Physics B class involved trigonometry. It varies by school.</p>
<p>I found the concepts in physics to be a lot harder than the math, but if you’re bad at setting up word problems and that sort of stuff you might have trouble.</p>
<p>By trigonometry they mean sin, cos, and tan for the most part; it’s fairly simple.</p>
<p>science all 4 years!</p>