<p>I've heard you have no chance of getting into college if you don't take physics. How much truth is to that is there? The science classes I will have taken at graduation are as follows:</p>
<p>Honors Biology (9th)
Honors Chemistry (10th)
AP Chemistry (11th)
AP Biology (12th)</p>
<p>Am I alright? Would I be better of scratching AP chem next year and taking honors physics? Scratching AP bio senior year and taking AP physics? Leaving everything as is?</p>
<p>
There’s 0 truth to that. Even engineering schools don’t require you to take physics (although it helps in those cases). Your schedule is fine as is, so don’t feel obligated to take physics. If you end up wanting to take it, you can.</p>
<p>I don’t know about D … you posted the thread here …
But I got into UMich COE EA without Physics in high school,
it’s a top 10 Eng program.</p>
<p>I have an 800 in SAT 2 Math though and I’m doing Calculus BC.</p>
<p>Physics is certainly not required, while, as previously said, helpful. However, I would err away from droping an AP course just to take physics. (and the ap chem/honors p thing) for senior year, take what class your more interested in. If it’s not physics, don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>There is little doubt that the Ivies and other most selective schools would <em>prefer</em> that you take the full science sequence.</p>
<p>Whether you should drop AP Chem to take physics is another matter.</p>
<p>It there any possibility that you could take both?</p>
<p>Well, I’m going to graduate with like 6 years of honors/AP history, so I could theoretically not take AP Euro. I wouldn’t want to do that, though.</p>
<p>I think somewhere along the line, you will be asked why you didn’t take physics. It may look like you were trying to avoid it. In our area people take 9th Honors Bio, but in 10th choose between Honors Chem or AP Chem, and in 11th choose between Honors physics or AP Physics and in 12th take AP Bio. Some people take some type of physics in12th AND AP Bio. Don’t know what the typical sequence in your area is. Are you planning to major in a science or engineering? Would you be taking AP Calc BC?</p>
<p>The science sequences in every area are different. In my area, we took Earth Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, and then it was kind of in the air for seniors. I know people that took Anatomy, Marine Bio, Enviro, Wildlife Ecology, Physics… personally, I took AP Chemistry and didn’t take physics at all, and I’m a '13. I know plenty of people that didn’t… just as I know plenty of people that have never taken a language, etc.
As long as you are challenging yourself and taking advantage of what is offered at your school, you’re fine. I mean, you have four sciences… and all four are honors or AP. Don’t worry about it – take what you want to take as long as your classes form a coherent courseload.</p>
<p>coteee, while it is certainly true that there are successful applicants to the most selective schools who have gaps in their transcripts, and it is a gross overstatement to say that one cannot get into college without physics, it is much more of an issue for the unhooked applicant. I find it hard to imagine that there are “plenty” of people at D who “never” took a foreign language. Maybe it depends what you mean by “plenty.” :)</p>
<p>I would recommend studying physics a community college or showing that you have some knowledge in physics.</p>
<p>It’s not a big deal but it certainly does not help.</p>
<p>Consolation, I wouldn’t call a lack of physics a gap in a transcript, but then again, I’m not an admissions officer. Like I said before, as long as you take a science each year and your courses are rigorous, I don’t think it matters very much.
And, okay, what I meant by that is that I know about as many people that have not taken a language before coming to Dartmouth or have only taken a year of something than those who receive placement into 2 or 3 or place out. I guess what I’m trying to say is that… if you want to go to a selective school, take a rigorous curriculum. Physics doesn’t have to be part of the mix, but many argue that it should be. I’m not one of them, but I hope that you choose something that you will enjoy and that will challenge you.</p>
<p>Most of the people I have known who have gone to top colleges, including Harvard (YPSM get very few applicants at my school) did not take physics.</p>