For next year, these are the classes I have down (not including electives)
AP Lang
AP Stats
Pre-AP Pre-calc
AP US history
I have heard that AP Physics 1 is pretty hard and I’m not sure if I would be able to handle it with all the other AP classes I’m planning on taking. Would you think that taking AP Physics would be too much for me? I’m also kind of hesitant because I’m planning on taking two math classes as well. Another option I was considering was taking AP Environmental science and on-level physics. IM REALLY NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.
I think it depends on what you want to major in. If not a STEM major, I wouldn’t take AP Physics- at least not junior year.
I haven’t taken AP Physics myself but I know people who have and the general consensus (that I’ve heard) is that it is the most challenging AP science course. It’s not something that you should take just for another AP on your schedule, but rather if you will be genuinely dedicated and prepared for the rigor.
The reason I say I wouldn’t take it junior year is because I have also heard that it’s good to have a calculus background for it, which you will not have built up yet. Additionallu, at my school, we aren’t even allowed to take AP Physics unless you’ve taken Physics honors with B’s or higher, or you took AP Chem (I don’t know why the AP Chem exception exists, but I’m in AP Chem this year and know a lot of people without physics jumping into AP). I know it’s probably different at your school, but it’s something to consider.
If you really love science and you’re interested in a science major, I would do AP Enviro & On level physics your junior year, and save AP Physics for senior year Good luck and don’t overwhelm yourself !
Does your school offer AP Physics 2? In my school the honors physics curriculum is similar to AP Physics 1 (AP is more in-depth and less straightforward questions). So, I have a friend who took honors physics one year and then took AP Physics 2 the following year. You can get a feel of what physics is like and figure out whether or not you’ll succeed in its AP version. If not you could take another science senior year.
Colleges like to see that you have taken physics, whether it’s AP or not, so definitely take some sort of physics at some point in your high school career.
Also, consider this: if you’re applying to elite college, taking any more than 8 APs in your entire high school career will not significantly benefit your admissions chances. If your school offers very little APs, this threshold is even lower. After a certain number of APs, colleges get you can handle the work. So it it okay to take only 3 APs junior year.
Don’t take AP Stats, take physics - AP physics 1 or honors physics (NOT C!). Another choice is to drop AP stats and take both APES and honors or regular physics.
To round out your core classes make sure you have a foreign language (unless you’ve completed level 4 or AP already).
Good luck and don’t overwhelm yourself !