<p>Hey there,</p>
<p>I'm a senior taking AP Physics B.
I am brand new to physics, and although I did pretty well in Honors Bio, Honors Chem, and Honors A&P, I just don't understand physics. </p>
<p>Since freshman year, I've had an on-and-off burning desire to learn astrophysics, thanks to October Sky. This year I started out in Honors Physics but I couldn't stand the teacher or the learning style she forced on me and our class. I impulsively decided to switch into AP Physics B, partly because I just flat out love learning and partly because I just didn't want to have her as a teacher. However I realised later on that I made the worst decision ever, because I just don't understand physics no matter what I do. </p>
<p>I got a 25% on the first test, and he let me retake it so I got a 61%. I took a test on Newton's Laws (Atwood Machines, etc.) and got like a 38%. I just don't get it. I go up to him throughout basically the entire period asking him for help but no matter what he does and no matter what I do, I just don't understand it. I am an A student, I belong to 3 Honor Societies, and I have dreams of getting into a rather competitive college (not Ivy level though.) I really don't want this class to screw up my GPA.</p>
<p>But the problem is that I told him about how I am a steadfast student who never runs away from academic challenges. I told him how I love learning and how I want to learn Physics more than anything, and that I won't give up. He seems to have a lot of confidence in me and thinks I shouldn't switch out of the class. I think he'd be really disappointed if I gave up and switched out. </p>
<p>I slid by with an 80 for the first marking period, thanks to the extra credit.
But I just know that this class is going to give me sooo much stress this year, because you can't really study for Physics! He can come up with any scenario he wants and put it on the test. How can I study for that? I can't. </p>
<p>What should I do? Should I switch into AP Chemistry or AP Bio?
I've already gone to my guidance counselor 3 times this year asking her to change my schedule. I would feel like such an idiot if I asked her to do it again. But I just don't think I will do well in this class and it gives me so much anxiety. </p>
<p>Ugh. Would appreciate any input! Thank you!</p>
<p>Bump please, I really need some input on this! I have a test on it tomorrow and some crazy work that I don’t understand, so if I’m going to drop it it’ll have to be tomorrow!</p>
<p>Drop it - I don’t think you’ll fare all that well if you’re barely getting B’s because of extra credit. You’re performing very poorly on tests, so I think its best that you just switch to AP Biology as its more memorization and less application (which is an oft cited reason as to why AP Physics is so hard.)</p>
<p>Thank you! Do you think I’ll do well in AP Chemistry?</p>
<p>At my school, AP Chemistry and AP Physics are regarded as equally difficult but for different reasons - some people who excel in Chem don’t do as well in Physics, vice versa - all I know is that Chemistry is very challenging in its own right - much more so than AP Biology, and much, much more than AP Enviro, haha.</p>
<p>If you’re having trouble with application, you MIGHT have some trouble with AP Chem. Chem is like an intermediate between bio and physics; memorization of bio with the applications of physics (not as intensive as physics, imo).</p>
<p>If I were you, I’d just go for the bio.</p>
<p>Haha that’s for sure. I got a B in Honors Chemistry, which was a pretty rigorous class. At the time, I hated it but I actually kind of miss it! Kind of. Lol. </p>
<p>But at least I have a background in Chemistry. I have no background whatsoever in Physics which might be the reason why I’m struggling in it so much, because I have a very abstract mind, just for different things if you know what I mean. </p>
<p>I’m really good at memorization. I’m still kind of on the fence. </p>
<p>So even though my guidance counselor will probably be irritated with me and I’ll probably have to have my schedule rearranged again, do you still think I should give it a go? I think I don’t really have much of a choice at this point, haha. I’m miserable in this class!</p>
<p>Yeah, just think - its only October. You have essentially an entire year left to “endure” Physics - and what lies ahead is much more difficult. (I recall second semester is much more difficult than first as it deviates away from kinematics, regarded as the “easier” part of Physics.) Just switch to Bio - plus, Bio is pretty interesting IMO. Since its almost total memorization, on tests, you’ll just have to regurgitate information you’ve learned rather than apply super abstract concepts to contrived problems.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>Agree with preamble. I hear that the AP bio test is now more crit thinking based, though, but it should still be relatively easy.</p>
<p>Well they didn’t let me drop it! Guess I’ll have to endure it after all.
Got a 34% on my test today, awesome. Going to be a year of hell.</p>
<p>@thelizardking - I am sorry to hear that. 
Just keep trying to get extra help from your teacher - at my school, a lot of teachers guarantee that students won’t get anything lower than a 70 if they put forth genuine effort and try to do their best, regardless of how they score on tests. Explain to your teacher the situation in its entirety and see what he/she can do.</p>