Hello, I’m currently a junior in high school. So I’m wanting to either a chemistry or biochemistry major on the pre-med track, and I was going through credits needed to be completed for a chemistry major, and saw that general physics 1&2 is a requirement. With the numbers in the parenthesis I see that you can either take the lower level physics, or the higher level physics. So when I went to see what AP credit fulfills that, I saw that Physics 1/2 is the lower level physics, and Physics C is the higher level.
Now, don’t get me wrong I’m not looking for finishing off credits with AP (med schools don’t really do that as far as I’ve read). I just want a background of physics before I get into college. I’ve seen that it’s been said Physics is very basic on the MCAT and only algebra-based physics is required for those majoring in life-sciences or Pre-med. But the MCAT is changing. So, with that, knowing that I want to do a chemistry major on Pre-med track, is it better for me in the long run to just complete AP Physics 1/2 in senior year to help me in college and not do calc-based physics APC? Or should I go with the more rigorous one, AP Physics C?
I’ve made SO many posts for physics, and talked to so many people about physics, so I’m hoping this is my last time. Thank you for all your help.
It depends on how much you like physics and challenging yourself.
Have you already taken a physics course? if so, did you like it, what grade did you get?
What math will you have completed by senior year?
Which class has the better teacher and a higher pass rate?
Which class do most college-bound seniors at your school take? If most people take Ap Physics C then it might look weird if you didn’t.
Does your school teach AP Physics 1&2 as two separate year-long courses or are they taught together in one year?
@IAmNotCreativ I took Physics 1 Honors online through FLVS, so I don’t really have much say about physics. I will be finishing IB SL Math (similar to AP Calculus AB) and planning to take AP Calculus BC next year. Both Physics 1/2 and C have the same teacher. C is considered extremely hard, and normally whoever finished IB SL Physics/AP Physics B go on to take AP Physics C (unless they’ve taught physics to themselves already). AP Physics 1/2 is taught as 2-year long separate courses.