<p>My S2 is a current high school junior. He is interested in Engineering.</p>
<p>He will take AP Calc AB and is planning on AP Physics C. In our high school, kids take regular Physics as a Junior, or Honors Physics or AP Physics B. He chose the honors class and so far is maintaining a B+/B average.</p>
<p>So as a senior, he would choose from AP Chem or AP Bio or AP Physics C.</p>
<p>I just want to be sure that you all agree that taking Physics C, even if it means his GPA will drop slightly is a good move for him so that he can see how tough the class is and get the experience he needs for college Physics.</p>
<p>you can start with physics without any background but you have to prepare yourself for the math >>> mainly the precalculus ,buy a book like “precalculus for dummies” and it will prepare you very well.
about chemistry ,it is as well as physics.</p>
<p>The academics are not That important. Get him doing some projects and find him a mentor. Thay will help him accelerate his advancement. Physics c and calc are always good to take though.</p>
<p>He’s taking pre-calc now as a junior. AP Calc AB as a senior and probably AP Physics C too. He likes Physics slightly more than Chem. Pre-Calc he is holding his own with a B average…thanks for suggestion, maybe I’ll go buy him that book.</p>
<p>If he’s taking the class then I can’t imagine there being a benefit from buying a book like that, especially since it doesn’t sound like he’s struggling. Definitely have him take Physics C. It still won’t likely be taught at the same level as the college course (mine wasn’t) but it will definitely still be useful in that it will expose him to the marriage of calculus and physics before he gets to college. That can never hurt.</p>
<p>I don’t really know what phasor means by get him a mentor, but I never had anything like that in high school an I turned out okay. I don’t really know anyone who was like that in high school as most were too busy with band or sports anyway. Most colleges aren’t going to care whether an applicant has some kind of mentor but will care than an applicant used the resources at his or her disposal to take the most challenging courses available at their high school.</p>
<p>That’s exactly the feedback I’m looking for. While he is not an A student by any means in Math or Science, he is not failing either. I wanted him to experience Physics C for the reasons you mention. So he knows what to expect in college.</p>
<p>Any books to recommend where he can do practice problems? Is there a Physics C book for dummies? Or Calc book for dummies?</p>
<p>I’m bot really sure about books, to be honest. I just used whatever the school’s textbook was back in high school. I am sure at least one “for dummies” book exists for each of those subjects but I’ve never looked at them so I have no idea how useful they’d be. When all is said and done, an engineer is going to want to know calculus and physics a little better than the cursory treatment those books would give the subjects though.</p>
<p>there is “Calculus workbook for dummies” and it has tons of problems.
I can send it to you by e-mail to review it before buying it.
just post your e-mail here if you want.</p>
<p>He’ll sign up for Physics C and will ask the teacher as the year progresses what books may be helpful to him for additional practice. Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>As long as your son can start fall semester/quarter with Calculus I (or Pre-Calculus if he plans to major in computer science), he should be OK.</p>
<p>Yours truly had a grand total of ZERO AP credits (What are AP credits anyway??..lol) and I majored in Math…and took 90% of the CS program just to do it.</p>
<p>…and on year 23 on being some type of engineer (either software or systems).</p>
<p>These days it seems as if everyone is taking at least one AP. My S1 took honors and AP across the board all throughout high school. </p>
<p>S2 took honors in Math & Science mainly since he knew he wanted to go into engineering. His math & science grades have all been in the B range and his teachers think he can handle Physics C, along with Calc. AB. He’s taking pre-calc now as a junior.</p>
<p>I think that’s the way to go. His GPA might get bruised a little bit, but colleges will see that he tried by taking a tough class to get himself ready for engineering in college. Thanks for the vote of confidence! :)</p>
<p>Can I just add that it’s not a bad idea to also take Chem AP (along with Physics AP)? “Chemistry for Engineers” can be a weed-out course at some colleges, especially if it’s not a favorite to begin with. So, if you can get it over with in high school by taking the AP exam and placing out of it for college, I would recommend doing so.</p>
<p>Maryversity beat me to it. Unless he plans to do chemical engineering, it would make sense to get Chemistry out of the way in high school. The Jr year physics along with calculus should be enough prep for college physics. And I’m not sure about the ‘colleges seeing that he tried’ thing.</p>
<p>It may be worth checking the AP credit charts of various universities of interest, to see whether AP chemistry or AP physics C will be more useful (AP physics C may be less widely accepted than AP chemistry, especially the E&M part).</p>
<p>Note that, at many colleges, the physics for physics and engineering majors sequence starts after completion of calculus 1 (which AP calculus AB approximates). E&M is often in the part of the sequence expected to be at least concurrent with calculus 3 (multivariable calculus). That can be why AP physics C is less well accepted.</p>
<p>Okay, let me see if I can understand this in the most basic sense:</p>
<p>This is a B/B+ kid. The teachers recommended he take only two AP’s as a senior.</p>
<p>As a junior he is taking pre-calc and honors physics.</p>
<p>So as a senior, he is taking AP calc AB and you think AP chemistry is a better choice than AP Physics C? To get it out of the way in high school so he doesn’t need to take it in college? Even if he has a low score on the AP exam?</p>
<p>First choice of colleges is WPI.
Thank you!!</p>
<p>I’d be careful with this approach though. Just because something is more widely accepted for AP credit doesn’t mean it is the more beneficial class. If you can take both, I would take both. Otherwise, unless you are a chemical engineer or possibly materials scientist, then physics will likely be the more beneficial class.</p>
<p>Since he’s already taking AP calc AB, he will take one AP science.</p>
<p>My instinct is to have him take Physics C. Will he need to take Chem in college?
Leaning toward Elec/Comp engineering or Robotics (offered at WPI)</p>
<p>cookie, first, take everything you read here with a grain of salt. Everyone here offers “expert” advice freely, but there’s a vast range of breadth of experience and knowledge behind those opinions. You’ll get opinions from engineers with multiple years of practical experience in the field and opinions from people who’ve yet to set foot into a college classroom. As I said, buyer beware.</p>
<p>With that said, the best answer to your question will be found at WPI. Just call their admissions office and ask. After all, it’s their opinion that really matters.</p>
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