<p>Hi guys, First time on these forums and I have a question on whether I should skip physics I to take Ap Physics II C, Or maybe take Honors physics over the summer via a local college. </p>
<p>I've taken AP Calc already, and I got a 5 on the exam, but I don't think my guidance counselor would let me take AP Physics anyways, as she really doesn't help out any students in that aspect, she'd say how AP Physics requires Physics I, and would be stuck on that forever... I've heard AP Physics C is one of the hardest AP classes, and it's known to be the hardest class in my school. I'm not fully sure whether to take Physics I or skip it.. I want to mainly major in Astrophysics in college.. so I'm considering taking Physics I.. I'm really not sure.</p>
<p>Any helpful comments or tips are appreciated.</p>
<p>I skipped Honors Physics to take AP Physics C this senior year, and let me tell you, it has been one of the most grueling experiences I’ve had. Sure, the material is interesting and I love the class, but without a physics background, I often find myself lost when the teacher is explaining even the most basic of topics. I definitely have to put in at least three-four hours every night to keep up with lectures.</p>
<p>I essentially followed idaisyi’s path and skipped to AP Physics C as well. Basically the teacher covered the material of Physics I in the first week. Everything else was new. </p>
<p>If you aren’t at least reasonably proficient with physics, it definitely will be a challenge. Did you get a 5 on the AB or BC Calc exam btw? I am not sure the math in the AB test would be necessarily be enough for you if you plan to take Physics C.</p>
<p>I think I’ve mentioned this before with someone else, but I would strongly recommend that you get a College Physics book and browse through it before you make your decision.</p>
<p>Yep, at my school, Calc BC is a prerequisite or concurrent enrollment. </p>
<p>I do wish I had taken that advice beforehand. My teacher just went straight to the Physics C material from the get-go. Got a B first semester :(</p>
<p>My son skipped honors physics and jumped directly into AP Physics B (the school doesn’t officially offer the C classes). He then taught himself the two Physics Cs in less than two weeks and got 5s on all three (note that there is some material overlap between the B and the Cs). The two Physics Cs may be easier than Physics B IF you already know calculus, because they cover a narrower range of material; it may be a struggle if you’re trying to learn Physics C in parallel with calculus.</p>
<p>A cautionary note: my son is the kind of kid who looks at this stuff once and pretty much understands and remembers it. For others, the material requires lots of hours of practice. However, if you’re planning on majoring in Astrophysics in college, you NEED to be the type to gets this material with minimal effort, otherwise you’ll go crazy in college where only the science geeks are left, beyond the first intro course.</p>
<p>Idaisyi, I would take Calc BC next year if my school offered it, My school doesn’t offer BC, only AB, which I’ve already taken. </p>
<p>LoremIpsum, I know calculus, Just not BC level calc.</p>
<p>So I suppose my best approach would be to take the class online, or during the summer, and if worst comes to worst and I can’t do that, to just be dedicated and try to self-learn physics I or just go through Physics C with no physics 1 and have a bad time.</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard though, in my school, people who take Physics C aren’t doing good at all, with 6 kids in the class and everyone having about or less than a B, and that’s with taking Physics I and they are taking AP Calc this year. Kinda of makes me want to take Physics I, otherwise I’d probably do even worse the first marking period…</p>
<p>I know this is a little late, but adding new information from what my teacher told me:</p>
<p>Physics C is usually the type of physics taken by physics and engineering majors.
Physics B is somewhat like regular college physics courses taken by students not in the abovementioned majors.</p>
<p>I think if you took the Honors physics during the summer, and put in the hours next year to do a lot of problem sets, you should do fine. It’s a hard class, that’s a given, so you just have to work hard. :)</p>
<p>Wow, this is the single worst idea concerning high school schedule ever. Have fun with that. I do hope you are MIT/Caltech material. You still wouldn’t be able to pull this off gracefully.</p>