<p>I want to take both AP Physics and AP Chem sr year, but if I take Physics C, I have to drop orchestra, which i have done for 3 years. I can take B+Chem without having to do this. Is it worth taking physics C at the expense of orchestra? Also, if I self study calc-based physics from OCW's 8.01 video lectures (along with B in school) and indicate that I will take the C test on my app, will that be good enough? Just wanted an MIT perspective on this. Thanks.</p>
<p>It would be better to get Ben Jones or someone to comment on this, but I would take the AP Physics instead of orchestra. Just mention somewhere in your application that you had to sacrifice orchestra to take AP Physics because of scheduling...</p>
<p>Is there a local youth orchestra you can play with your senior year?</p>
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will that be good enough?
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Let's approach this question another way: How interested/passionate are you about (a) physics, (b) chemistry, and (c) orchestra? If you had to rank them, what would your ranking be? If you love the sciences and also get satisfaction out of instrumental music, I would say that AP Physics B, AP Chem, and Orchestra is a great way to go! If you crave the subject matter in AP Phys C, that may lead you to a different matter.</p>
<p>I know students who matriculated at MIT within the past two years who never took beyond Honors Physics (not AP) or Honors Chemistry (not AP), and they did just fine in their GIRs. (And I know there's at least one MIT student who posts here sometimes who did not take any physics at all in high school.) Don't give up orchestra just to try to fit your schedule into something you think will meet some standards the MIT Admissions Officers are expecting. Give serious thought to what will give you the most challenge and satisfaction.</p>
<p>It sounds like he would prefer to take physics but he's worried that Adcoms will think he doesn't have a passion for orchestra.</p>
<p>Physics is important...regardless of what MIT would rather you do, I think it's unwise to try to teach yourself physics in your spare time. What if you want to take the theoretical versions of physics at MIT (8.012 and 8.022)? It's better to take the regular version first in preparation for 8.012/8.022. </p>
<p>You can always continue practicing your instrument and perform in some other venue other than orchestra. </p>
<p>Anyway, I think CalTech would find it odd that you chose orchestra over AP physics so that may be something to consider.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses-also just to make sure I'm clear-it's not a choice between ap physics and orchestra-the minimum i am taking is ap physics B. Just a matter of B vs. C.</p>
<p>i agree w/ mootmom, you should definitely go with what you're most passionate about. if you did orchestra, how much do you think you'd miss out on taking physics ap? vice versa, if you did physics ap, how much do you think you'd miss out on orchestra (especially since you've already put a couple of years in this). which one do you think will give you that "thank goodness i chose this" after you take it?</p>
<p>physics-wise, you could always self-study, and orchestra-wise, i'm sure you might be able to find some community youth orchestras to join (assume you live in a relatively big city)</p>
<p>hate to sound cliche, but if you stick to your passions, then you'll end up at the school that's the best fit for you. would you want to go to a school that saw your passions as a weakness on your part?</p>
<p>I agree totally with mootmom.</p>
<p>As a senior in high school, I had to choose between show choir (an EC that I absolutely loved) and taking AP Biology (which I was really excited about taking). I chose to stay in show choir and never looked back -- that's the choice I would have made even if it had kept me out of MIT.</p>
<p>Either choice (dropping orchestra for Physics C, or keeping orchestra, taking Physics B, and self-studying) will be fine for MIT admissions. The best choice is, of course, up to you and to your priorities.</p>
<p>Thanks mootmom+molliebatmit. I like that answer.</p>
<p>Take AP Physics C at your school, continue studying orchestra from a private tutor or a group in your neighborhood, and indicate this on your application if it bothers you.</p>
<p>Btw, studying Physics C on your own is a bad choice. Studying orchestra on your own won't be hard, since you have 3+ years of experience.</p>
<p>Actually, Amit, I'd think that studying Physics C (intro-level physics) on your own armed with basic calculus, a good book, and OCW would be far easier to handle than something that's already specialized and advanced into the 4th year (Orchestra). </p>
<p>I'd vote take Orchestra and Physics B, and self-study C. Make sure to note that you are doing this on your app, and the circumstances which kept you out of Physics C at your school. </p>
<p>Besides, B does have certain uses, such as a more eclectic curriculum which covers 5-6 basic units rather than just Mech and EM, albeit at a much more simplistic "for non-scientists and engineers" level.</p>
<p>well you have to take into account that he is applying to MIT.</p>
<p>yea this is a tough decision, thanks for all the input. kind of hoping the scheduling of one of my other classes will force me one way or the other.</p>
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well you have to take into account that he is applying to MIT.
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Right, and you also have to take into account that applying to MIT can't be someone's major motivation in life. After all, 87% of applicants don't get in.</p>
<p>Here's just a thought I've been taking AP Physics B over the summer through stanford's EPGY and I highly recommend it, they offer a AP Physics C course as well which I think will also be great, if your school can give you a free block (which doesn't conflict with orchestra) you could do the course through them and that way you'll get best of both worlds!</p>
<p>that sounds good-i was actually thinking of taking physics c through epgy to supplement b in school. wow you guys are great-glad i posted this in the MIT forum rather than elsewhere.</p>
<p>If i take General Chemistry for Engineers at Rutgers, would that be as good or better than taking AP Chem in school?</p>
<p>Take Physics C and Chem at school. I have taken the EPGY courses, and will argue that it can be a huge boost if you study a course in a classroom and talk about it with other peers.</p>
<p>Yes it is important to follow your passions, but don't be so sure you even know what your passions are at this point. And Physics isn't one of those ho-hum classes that you just take and forget about. Physics C will teach you a lot about what makes the world go round and is necessary for a solid foundation. </p>
<p>Another way to think about it: when you watch one of those movies with the badass from MIT, does he flail when posed with some intimidating physics problem in a real world scenario? NO! BeCAUSE (S)HE TOOK PHYSICS OVER ORCHESTRA IN HIS SENIOR YEAR! So don't worry too much about what Ben and Matt and Mollie and all the other sane people on this board say, if you take physics, cinema is on your side.</p>