Hi. So I am planning on studying engineering in college. I took honors physics (HN Physics) in sophomore year and I loved it. But because it was just honors physics I didn’t take the SAT subject test or the AP Physics test. The next year, my school changed the name of the class to AP physics, but it is still the same class with the same material that I went over. They have only changed the format of the questions that they go over to fit the AP curriculum. This is where the dilemma lies. I love physics and I want to take another physics class, but if I take AP Physics next year (the only physics class offered at my high school) it will be basically the same thing I took sophomore year. I would be doing it just because I like it and to do the AP test and possibly SAT subject test at the end of the year. Should I take AP Bio. Instead and learn something new or take the physics class? What would colleges prefer?
Thanks
I assume you’re saying that your school is offering AP Physics 1(and not AP Physics 2) in which case I’ll say take AP Bio or AP Chem, whichever floats your boat.
Colleges typically just ask for one Math subject test(preferably Math II) and one science subject test. I do not believe they have a preference of which science subject test you take.
Also have you taken AP Calc or will take Calc this year?(I’m assuming you’re a going to be a junior this fall) If so you may consider dual enrolling at a local college or university and continuing your physics endeavors there.
It sounds like the AP Physics class that your school offers is AP Physics 1 and/or 2, which is algebra-based. That being the case, and since you say it’s just a repeat of what you already learned, take AP Bio instead. In addition to AP Physics being a waste of time because it’s repetitive, it’s a waste of time because you need calculus based physics for engineering.
FYI, honors physics should have been more than enough to have prepped you for the SAT Subject Test.
I am ending my junior year right now and I am going to be a senior next year. I took AP Calculus AB (because my school does not offer BC. The class was pretty much a breeze because math is my strongsuit). and Chemistry at my local community college (the equivalent of 1.5 years of high school chemistry in one semester.)
And I have already looked into physics at the community college, but the times for the class I want to take do not fit into the schedule at my high school. They are in the middle of the day.