I’m taking AP Physics C, which I thought I was going to love (I have a 100% average - a complete anomaly at my school - in Multivariable Calculus III). However, I don’t really like it that much. I honestly feel that my understanding the material is absolutely hopeless - I’ve tried everything.
I won’t cite any excuses or reasons, but suffice to say I am barely clinging to an A- with a 90% (which is only due to the fact that I spend hours perfecting labs, homework, etc.). We are only supposed to get lab/homework grades for the rest of the quarter, so I think I can keep it up there (though I am concerned about semester grades).
The deadline for dropping a course is tomorrow, and my parents urge me to do so as they see how much time/stress I put into the class. They say only having four courses (AP Gov, Multivar. Calc, French IV (S1 only), Shakespearean Tragedy (S1 only), AP English (S2 only) is perfectly fine for colleges, but having a B+ or A- senior year is not.
Thus far my grades have been the weakest part of my application (you can look through my profile if you’re too curious).
However, to me the rigor of my schedule if I drop AP Physics C would be signifanctly lower - I’m an aspiring biology major and dropping science my senior year further troubles me. I’m applying to Princeton SCEA. CCers, what should I do?
Wow. At our HS when you sign up for AP you aren’t allowed to drop a class unless you are truly trying and still failing. With an A- in the class you wouldn’t even be allowed to drop!
I think it comes down to “less rigor” vs. “lower grade/gpa”. I think you would be hurt more by the less rigor than by the B+.
My vote goes with keeping Physics C.
That said, your parents may be more worried about your well being (are you too stressed? not getting enough sleep…etc.). Only you (and your parents) can really decide if that trumps everything.
Agree that an A-/B+ in that class won’t hurt you. In addition, if you filed your application you would have to contact every school to let them know you dropped the class.
Don’t drop the class. An A- is excellent.
As far as understanding Physics goes: practice, practice, and practice. Get the AP Physics C review book. Set up an appointment with your professor to go over any complications or problems you don’t understand. Use google and physics forums if you’re completely lost or have no clue how to start on a problem.
You’re smart. You’ll be fine.
As stated above, “they” are wrong; a B+ will not hurt you. Dropping the class may nad, as also stated earlier, you would need to contact every college. Stick it out with Physics C.
A B+ might hurt you, but dropping the class would hurt you more. If you can hang on to the A- you will definitely be fine. And understanding physics really is worth while.
@T26E4 - Sorry! I promise this is not really indicative of my normal attitude toward things - college stress + the sieve that is a CC post is not portraying this in the best light.
My main frustration is not the grade, but the fact that I feel like I will never “get” the material. Of the I don’t even know how many homework, practice, and test questions I’ve done in and out of class, I have not gotten a single one right by myself. [Tests are all multiple choice so I mainly get by with B’s using process of elimination and because everyone else is doing pretty horribly as well - the tests range from 30% to 60% and she puts them on massive curves.]
That’s… pathetic. I’ve been to all of my teacher’s office hours, had tutors, read the book through multiple times, posted on Physics help forums, and done problem set after problem set. It’s frustrating for me not to see any progress in my understanding, especially because it’s gotten to feel like I have no hope of understanding this in the future, either.
This frustration is often expressed through my grade, because it often feels like if I can’t get any questions right why do I even have an A-. The current consensus among my class mates is that all of them are doing just as poorly, but that may be high school talk and hyperbole. I’m not used to all A’s - I get A-'s reasonably often and a B+ or two, but this class is definitely bothering me.
Not sure if this will help, but I recently wrote a post about how my husband advised my son to do physics problems. This was for Physics B, but applies also for Physics C:
There are videos that might help you understand the concepts. Perhaps someone can recommend some. Maybe Kahn Academy? Did you have a prior physics class, or is this class skipping a lot of material that you might have had in an honors physics class?
@Anonymoose3
Those circumstances (getting A- without fully understanding the material, exams that everyone bombs) are more common than you’d think.
The material is indeed difficult, and your teacher might be giving your class tests that are above your level of expertise.
I would suggest enrolling in a Coursera/edX Introductory Physics course. In fact, there is currently a self-paced AP Physics course by “Davidson Next” on edX.
The difference between an A and A- is 3% at the very most. If you get an A-, I seen no reason why you can’t get an A as your semester grade. Maybe you just had a rough start in the class and will get the hang of it later?