My son is currently a junior who thinks he may want to major in Physics in college. He has taken AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C, E & M,
He was signed up for AP Physics 2 next year, but his counselor told him last week that our school has decided not to offer it next year. She recommended taking AP Computer Science instead. That would leave him with no science course for his senior year. Would that be bad for someone applying as a Physics major?
He attends a large public high school and the college counseling at our school has been pretty close to nonexistent so far. So I wanted to check here and make sure his counselor is not leading him astray.
Thanks for your help!
it won’t look bad even he skips a year of Physics in senior year. Lot of people go into college with undecided major. They take different courses in humanities, social science and natural science in first 2 years. Does the high school have program for students to enroll in JC or Univ during junior/senior years? What state are you in and what kind of school your son shoots for?
So you think he would be okay with no Science course his senior year? I was thinking he might should take AP Bio or AP Chem instead of Computer Science, but he wants to follow the counselor’s recommendation.
We are in Tennessee. There are some dual enrollment options in some subjects, not sure about science. The dual enrollment is through a local junior college, so his school has encouraged students looking out of state to take AP courses instead of DE.
He hasn’t completely narrowed it down yet, but so far he is planning to apply to UNC, Clemson, and Alabama. We are also visiting a couple of other schools this summer, including VA Tech.
AP physics 2 would have significant (but not complete) duplication with AP physics C E&M. Since he has already taken two (or three?) AP physics courses, that should show enough physics interest. Presumably, he has had calculus as well. But note that physics is not usually a popular or impacted major, and physics majors can go to college having completed precalculus and high school physics in high school.
Note also that AP physics courses are often a poor match for advanced placement, unlike AP calculus courses, since many colleges organize topics differently and/or use a higher level of math intensity in physics courses for physics majors.
AP CS principles is a good course to get an idea of what CS is all about, for both CS and non-CS majors. Physics majors will find some knowledge of CS useful.
Of course, he should complete the usual well rounded base curriculum: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/2055289-faq-high-school-college-prep-base-curriculum.html
I mean if Physics 2 is not offered, that’s fine. If he can do AP Chem or AP Bio is good too. Or he can try AP Psychology if available. AO will not narrow mind on whether he takes Physics or Chem or Psychology. As long as he is doing well. Has he taken AP Cal AB/BC? My main point is to be Physics major , he doesn’t need to take Physics every year in HS.
So based on the link and your posts, it sounds like he will be fine with CS and no actual science class next year.
He has completed 4 credits in science in the last 3 years. Bio, Chem, and 2 years of Physics.
He’s currently in AP Calc and is signed up for AP Stats next year.
My husband and I don’t necessarily feel like Physics is a practical major. It seems like a less practical version of an engineering degree. But he really likes it, and my husband is an engineer and doesn’t enjoy his career, so we aren’t planning to push him into engineering.
I think he is signed up for AP Psychology next year too, but I don’t remember for sure. I would have to ask him that tomorrow.
CS and AI is good major. One likes physics doesn’t mean physics major. Some schools offer interdisciplinary degree with Applied Math, Physics and Engineering. in my opinion , he just does not have enough exposure to different things. If he take CS and Psychology next year, he may have different thoughts. Textbook learning would not actually give him any idea. He needs more EC readings beyond classroom materials. Could be YouTube presentation. Good luck.
Three suggestions:
AP Chem since many physics program require a year of gen chem for physics majors.
AP CS since most physics programs require students to have or learn basic computer programming skills. This is either done by a semester class in CS or a computational physics course (programming for physics majors) Your son will undoubtedly need to write basic computer scripts for MATLab or other analytic software packages for his college physics lab reports.
More math. Physics is very math intensive and requires math through differential equations/linear analysis at a minimum. I assume your son is taking AP Calc BC next year. Or if he’s completed that, then Calc3, Diff Eq and/or Linear Analysis through dual enrollment.
If he wants stem, has taken AP physics 1 and CEM- and wants any sort of rather competitive college- of course he needs AP bio or AP chem.
The issue with APCS is it’s still not evenly taught by all hs. Some kids are only exposed to very little challenge. It’s not the level of core AP bio or chem is.
No, not AP psych, as some replacement for a core science. Not with only the physics at the rigorous level. And at many hs, the psych is only one semester.
Yes, having AP chemistry credit may be helpful in college if the physics major requires general chemistry but allows AP credit to skip it, if he wants to avoid a large class filled with pre-meds.
unless he is sure he will be in academics, it is harder for Physics major to get the first job or good pay. CS is safer.
I don’t see what level of colleges. But before concerns about college courses, first you need to get admitted. So, what sorts of colleges? The surer he is to get in, the more leeway you can play with. Agree moving to DE math, if he’s taken BC and DE is available. Why stats (AP psych, and no further science?)
One of my kids is a Physics PhD student with a strong CS background, and she finds it very valuable in the lab. I don’t think it will hurt him at all to take AP CS and no science next year.
Ya. My son took at least 5physics classes before switching major to CS. Physics classics can’t hurt.
Most students take physics c as seniors so the fact that he has it already is fine. I would second thinking about AP chem though although AP CS should be fine too. Also, in terms of major, has he though about applied engineering physics as a major?
CS courses in college often do not have any high school prerequisites and no prior knowledge is required so he would not be disadvantaged in taking intro to CS at college without having taken it first in high school. I would recommend that he consider taking AP Chemistry. As other have mentioned introductory Chemistry is often a required course for many Physics programs, and depending on the area of Physics he chooses to pursue, additional Chemistry courses could be required as well.
I think taking Physics 2 is a worse idea than taking either AP CS or AP Chem. Most colleges don’t accept by major and with two physics courses already under his belt, he’s established himself as more than prepared as a potential physics major. My husband who has a PhD in biophysics regularly bemoans the lack of programming skills in his graduate students. AP Chem should also be considered. There’s a lot of overlap in chem and physics. When I took college physics they told me when I was confused about something that I should remember it from chemistry - a course that was not a prerequisite for the course I was taking.
My ds just graduated with his physics degree. He spent a lot of hours programming. I’d have to ask him how to quantify it in hrs, but I know it would be a huge number. He dedicated about 18 hrs per week to UG research and almost all of his research required him program.
Personally, I think Physics 2 would have been the absolute wrong choice, so I would be glad that he isn’t taking it. AP chem would also be a good choice bc most schools will require a yr of chem.
Fwiw, my Dh and oldest ds are both engineers. This ds disliked engineering. He loves theoretical physics.
This is all very helpful. He was really bummed that they weren’t offering Physics 2, so I will let him know that it might actually be for the best.
I’ll also check with him about AP Chem. It’s been a couple of months since I signed off on his schedule, so I don’t remember every class he chose. I know he doesn’t currently have a science class, but there may be something he can substitute for AP Chem and also take Comp Sci.