<p>I haven't been on CC for a while, so thank you for those of you who take the time to respond to this thread!</p>
<p>Alright, so I am a Junior in High School in the lovely city of Atlanta. I go to one of the best (Top 100) schools in the nation. At this point in time, I am trying to decide exactly what classes I should be taking next year to get me into the college of my dreams (I'm not really sure what it is at the moment. Emory? Vanderbilt?). Nonetheless, the process is a lot more difficult than I wanted it to be.</p>
<p>Here are the classes I am taking this year:
1: Georgia Tech Distance Calculus (This is the course GA Students usually take after AP Calc AB/BC.)
2: AP Spanish Language
3: AP Chemistry
4: Junior Class Council/Lunch
5: Adv. Orchestra 3
6: AP United States History
7: AP English Language</p>
<p>It's a pretty tedious schedule, but I seem to be managing well. A couple more months and I'm on my way to weeks of AP exams and a well deserved summer! Still, next year's schedule must be arranged.</p>
<p>This is what I have so far:
1: AP Biology
2: Adv. Orchestra 4
3: AP English Literature? Or should I take Georgia Perimeter's College English Dual
Enrollment option?
4: AP Psychology
5: 1 semester of a medical internship, 1 semester of AP Microeconomics
6: AP Physics B? Or AP Physics C?</p>
<p>The problems jump in around number 3 and number 6. The thing about Physics in Georgia is that AP Physics C does not suffice as a graduation requirement BUT colleges like Georgia Tech do not count AP Physics B for college credit. Therefore, I put in hours of work over the summer taking on-level Physics to save myself the trouble and jump straight to AP Physics C. Now, I'm having my doubts. I want to be a doctor. Will I even need Physics in college? By the way, our school's AP Physics teacher is brand new, and as of now, the comments I have heard regarding his teaching style are far from positive.</p>
<p>So what should I do? College English or AP Lit? AP Physics B or C?</p>
<p>As a pre-med, you will need a year of physics in college, whether it is the introductory courses or more advanced courses after skipping the introductory courses with AP credit. Many medical schools do not accept AP credit for pre-med course requirements.</p>
<p>The same goes for other pre-med courses like biology, chemistry, and math/statistics.</p>
<p>Grades in dual enrollment or college courses taken while in high school do count toward your GPA for medical school applications. AP scores do not count.</p>
<p>Note that taking the pre-med courses can be done alongside any major.</p>
<p>@biomedengkid: Thanks for your response! No, I have run out of math classes! I CAN take AP Statistics, but, honestly, I don’t have the time or determination required to take it.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus: So it doesn’t matter whether I take B or C? I will end up taking it over in college anyways? And, hm. So I’d be better off with AP Language? Georgia Perimeter isn’t the most prestigious college around here anyways. Most kids can get in without an SAT score on file…</p>
<p>Help me too!
Should an 11th grader take Physics or AP Chem given the choice. He has Honors CHEM now in 10th so thought AP CHEM would be fresher in 11th than waiting until 12. BUT IF Physics will be on SAT should he take that instead? Its just offered as a regular class, no honors. He will take Calculus/ TRIG (honors) combo class which is required to take the AP Chem. Help. Course selections are due yesterday! His teachers said he could take either but thought Physics would be on NECAPS, but I heard they weren’t even given any more.</p>
<p>@studentsmom: Hiya! (: Welcome to my thread!</p>
<p>Honestly, if I were him, I would take AP Chemistry. It’s not necessarily harder than Honors Chem, it’s just a lot more material a shorter amount of time. If he’s willing to put in some effort and time, he will do well (assuming that he’s doing okay in Honors Chem). I have taken on-level Physics and I will admit that it’s harder than most on-level courses because of the various levels of math that come with it. Nonetheless, it WILL be his junior year and it is safe to assume that most colleges will be looking at his Junior Year under the impression that he is taking the most challenging classes he can handle. Therefore, again, on-level Physics won’t do him any good.</p>
<p>In the end, I would recommend the AP Chemistry course, as long as he’s doing well in the honors class with a reasonable amount of interest in the subject as a whole.</p>
<p>I’ve taken on-level Physics online. But that was last summer, so I don’t know how much of it I will recall come next year. And I believe Physics C at my school covers both.</p>
<p>@padresgm Thank you! I got a 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam with a 5 AB subscore. I don’t know if that indicates anything, though.</p>
<p>It means that you know calculus and can go on to more advanced math if you choose (you may have to take a more advanced math course or two in college for pre-med purposes if you do not want to repeat your AP credit).</p>
<p>For physics purposes, since you have completed calculus and an on-line high school physics course, you should be prepared enough to take AP physics C.</p>
<p>I’m just somewhat worried because I have heard some pretty terrible things about the teacher (turns out he’s the epitome of a slacker…) and I don’t want to screw myself over. </p>
<p>Would I be okay if I bought some Physics C prep books over the summer and studied through those to expose myself? I might have to self-teach some of the course…</p>
<p>@tennischicaxo I would review stuff over the summer. My AP Physics teacher isn’t the best and I’m doing a lot better than many other kids because I already have the concepts down a little prior to doing them in class.</p>
<p>For pre-med purposes, you will likely need two semesters’ worth of physics courses in college. If your college does accept AP physics C for subject credit and placement, you will have the option of taking more advanced physics courses instead of the introductory ones. (Most pre-meds would not do this unless they are physics majors, since those more advanced physics courses will be math-intensive courses filled with physics majors.)</p>
<p>If you are a pre-med, you will likely need to take a year’s worth of college physics courses anyway, either retaking the introductory ones or taking more advanced ones if you skip the introductory ones with AP credit.</p>