<p>I'm double-majoring in math and biology, and I'm going to apply for PhD programs of biology or biomedical science. In my school, every bio-major students are recommended to take introductory physics, whose credits I already got with my AP credits. So, I'm not sure whether or not I have to take more advanced physics classes just in order to put grades of physics in my transcript. I don't want to take physics classes if I don't need to take, but instead I want to take more math classes. Thus, I have to pick one of the following three choices:</p>
<ul>
<li>Taking advanced physics courses,</li>
<li>Retaking introductory physics courses, or</li>
<li>Not taking physics courses in order to take math courses </li>
</ul>
<p>Advanced physics courses typically list physics for physics majors as prerequisites, not physics for biology majors. Only AP physics C could possibly apply to physics for physics majors, although not all schools accept it for that.</p>
<p>However, the recommendation to retake AP credit may be due to the fact that many or most biology majors are (at least initially) pre-meds, and medical schools often do not accept AP credit for pre-med courses. If your major does accept your AP credit against its physics requirement, and you are not pre-med, then you may want to consider this method of deciding:</p>
<p>a. Check the catalog for any courses you may want to take later that list physics as a prerequisite.
b. If there are such courses, try the old final exams of the physics courses you may skip to see how well you know their content from the college’s point of view.</p>
<p>For math courses that you may be able to skip with AP credit, it is also a good idea to try the college’s old final exams.</p>
<p>I have Physics C Mechanics and E&C credits, and my college only accepted Physics C. </p>
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<p>For (a), I didn’t find any math or interesting classes whose prerequisite is the introductory physics classes. So, I will just take advanced physics classes or ask my counselor. I’m actually good at topics such as analytic mechanics and thermodynamics, so this is, at least, better than retaking the courses. I will also find the past exams of math and physics and check my understanding. </p>
<p>If you’re asking this because you’re worried that biology PhD programs will be looking for physics classes, they likely won’t care whether you retake intro physics or not. They’ll be more concerned with your ability to do advanced work in biology (which can be demonstrated by upper-level courses in biology and your GPA) and in your ability to do research (which can be demonstrated by research experience and letters of rec). For PhD programs, unless they list specific prerequisites, you don’t need to have physics classes on your transcript just for the sake of showing that you took physics.</p>
<p>Opps! I just scrutinized the admission requirements of Harvard BBS, my primary choice, and I found the following statement. </p>
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<p>Does this mean that Harvard BBS will look at my grades in physics classes? I may have to take at least two semesters of physics classes, if that’s true. </p>
<p>“…undergraduate preparation in calculus, physics…” If you have AP credit, then you’ve likely fulfilled any requirement for undergraduate preparation in physics. Moreover, like nanotechnology said:
</p>
<p>Graduate departments care about your research experience and area of interest, whether or not you will do good research, and whether or not you fit well with a particular faculty advisor. Graduate admissions is not about checking off boxes for the sake of checking off boxes.</p>
<p>If it’s still bothering you, then just call (or email) them and ask. It’s much better than asking a random group of people on the internet.</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. I completely got convinced by you that I don’t need to take any physics classes. I will probably be never bothered by anything about physics in my life from this moment. I appreciate all those who helped me in this thread for solving my question!</p>