My top school is William and Mary and I’ve been told that physics, calculus, and four years of a language makes you more competitive. I am taking four years of a language but not calculus. I wasn’t originally intending on taking physics, but I could do it next summer. I’m already taking a third science and will meet the graduation requirement, but I’ve heard from lots of people that four years looks a lot better on applications. My UW GPA is pretty low (3.5) for the colleges I want to attend (the average is all 3.75 or better). Could I sort of make up for this by taking physics?
What major do you plan on pursuing in college? If you aren’t doing something science or engineering related, I honestly don’t know if physics will definitively help your application.
If you want to take physics because you think it’s interesting, go right ahead. But don’t take a class for the sole reason of impressing the admissions officers and/or improving your supposed chances of admission. If you don’t plan on pursuing math/science/engineering, your ultimate decision will probably not be based on your lack of physics during your senior year.
I agree with above, but I alos think there is an expectation at very selective colleges that applicants will have physics. However, if the rest of your courses have been rigorous and you aren’t studying STEM, then you might be fine without.