Hi everyone, and thanks for taking the time to review this thread.
I have just begun my senior year of high school and have an issue with my schedule. I am currently enrolled in 5 AP’s: Psych, Gov, Lit, Spanish Lang, and Calc AB. I am also enrolled in Hon Physics 0 period and ASB. Unfortunately, 0 period Physics is just not manageable for me… I suppose I could survive it but it’s just going to be a lot of work with everything I have going on. So I’m considering dropping that Physics class.
I have already taken four years of science in my three years of high school. I took honors bio as a freshman, honors chem as a sophomore and AP Chemistry and Honors Anatomy and Physiology as a Junior. I am not a stem person, but I have still earned A’s in all of my science classes and I passed the AP Chemistry exam. I have also earned A’s in all of my classes and have passed all of my AP exams.
I’m just worried that dropping Physics would hurt my transcript, and then my application. Will not having a senior year of science make a big impact? Or will it not matter since I have already taken 4? I am considering applying to top UC schools and a few Ivy League schools so I need my transcript to shine.
I also apologize in advance for any annoying grammar mistakes or awkwardly worded sentences. I’m typing this in a pinch on my phone and I’m sure mistakes abound.
What level college are you looking to apply to? Many colleges like to see applicants take a biology, chemistry and physics class. I’d talk to your HS guidance counselor before dropping physics.
Are you planning on majoring in a STEM? If you are I would recommend picking up a science senior year. Is there perhaps another science class you can take that’s not as rigorous as Physics.(perhaps even AP Environmenatl if your school offers it). If you’re not majoring in STEM, then you might be able to get away with not having a science. My only concern is that since you’re considering such top tier schools they might not like the fact that you don’t have a science.
No, I hate STEM. I love government and history. I wanted to take APES but literally every class at my school is only offered one or two periods so I’m pigeonholed into my current schedule. The only way I can take a science is to have a zero period, or drop ASB which is not an option. I also really hate Physics–math in general. I know I could do well in it, I somehow managed to pass and get A’s in AP Chem, but I hated it…
If the dream is Stanford I would say to keep the Physics class, unless you’re certain you’ll do very poorly in it. If you’re certain it will be too much than just drop it. You have 5 APs you can focus on to show you can handle rigorous courses.
But wouldn’t they see that I have already completed four years of science? Is it worth noting that interesting science classes (I would have loved APES) just don’t work in my schedule?
Uggg. See I know I would do fine in my Physics class, I just hate the subject. And the homework will seriously cut into my other classes, but keeping it is something to consider. Thank you for your input!
They would see that you have 4 years but it wouldn’t have the same weight as doing it all 4 years. I graduated highschool with 7 sciences (granted my school offered a lot) but it shows your interests and that you’re willing to go the extra mile. If you really don’t want to then don’t last thing you need is do poorly in a class because you hate the subject. You could note that there were scheduling conflicts
^^^^ 1) For admissions officers to take it seriously it would have to be the guidance counselor (not the applicant) noting the scheduling conflict. 2) There seems to be no scheduling conflict with physics other than an undesirable time slot and I would not recommend starting an application with a lie.
If there truly was a conflict I would do what happy1 said about having a guidance counselor make a note of it. Because for colleges a “schedule conflict” could just mean you didn’t want to drop a class you thought would be easy/fun for something more challenging. (not to say your schedule isn’t rigorous already because it is, I’m just trying to express their side)
Strictly speaking, only being able to take physics during zero period (which at many high schools is at an ungodly early time opposite to adolescent bodies’needs) would be a conflict, and I’m surprised a lab science is even offered then.
Talk with your guidance counselor: will S/he check the most rigorous box if you don’t take a class zero period?
What about switching Psych out to take physics on that period? (Psych is an elective and an AP lite).
Or you could just take your chances, as a non stem major with lots of relevant academic-interests-classes senior year.
Admissions rarely hinge on just one class and with Stanford’s admissions around 5% I think you should ask each MATCH school whether you should take physics if it’s only offered zero period. Specify in a parenthesis the 2 main majors you’re considering.