How much weight-age is given to taking Physics? In Science, I have
PAP Bio, PAP Chem, AP Bio, AP Env Science and AP Chem.
Bio and Env science are really my interests. So will it hurt not to consider Phy at all for any of the top tiers?
I believe a physics course, even if just an honors physics class, is important to your overall education. I believe top tier admissions officers will wonder why you did not take physics. You are taking plenty of AP science, so I am guessing you could do the work. I imagine you have a good reason for not taking that you have not shared? I suggest you try to fit it into your schedule.
If you are going to be a science major you need math or physics with good grade on your transcript. Otherwise, it will come across as too soft.
@Sam-I-Am , @jzducol I am planning pre-med. I just heard from my upperclassman it is extremely tough and has brought the GPAs down, I am not very inclined towards it as well. The option is also to pick Chem/Phy from my school for science. So I was taking 1 science per year except sophomore with AP Env and PAP Chem
If you are afraid of high school physics your chances for medical school do not look good.
beth, I agree with Tom, above. I might replace AP Environmental with some form of physics. I say this even though I have a daughter getting an environmental engineering degree. She did not take AP Environmental in high school, though admittedly the others in her cadre all did. Physics is a basic building block. If your course work is too overloaded with APs, then you could take it as honors. Don’t bother with taking it at regular level though. Alternatively, since you have identified it as a worrisome subject, borrow a copy of the textbook from your school for the summer (or order a used copy of the same book online) and work on it before the school year starts. Attack it head on. Consider studying for the Physics II SAT Subject Test. There are lots of books available. You may even discover respect, if not love, for the subject. Your success could be the basis of a college application essay, “How I faced and overcame a fear/adversity.”
So does this look like I have a pre-med chance if these are my science?
PAP Bio - Freshman
On level Physics and AP Env Science - Sophomore
AP Bio - Jr yr
AP Phy 1 - Senior
My son wanted his education to be well rounded and realized that if he didn’t take physics in high school, he was unlikely to ever take it. College isn’t where you meet physics the first time!. He wasn’t super worried about protecting his GPA but he was concerned about managing his workload so that he had plenty of time and energy for the courses that mattered most to him. So he took regular old physics.
Was glad he had the exposure and background. Why not do the same?
beth, that is not a bad idea, but have you now dropped AP Chem? I would not advise that. Also, the level of math you have when you take physics can be important. Are you going to take AP Calculus? AP Physics 1&2 are non-calculus based but AP Physics C does require calculus (at least being taken at the same time). Hopefully you have a choice between taking both AP Physics 1&2 together in the same year OR AP Physics C. Also, I think AP Chem is as important as taking physics. If you cannot fit these in, maybe you want to look for a summer program outside your high school where you can cover these bases. Either a state based Governor’s School (not all states have them) or a summer program such as CTD at Northwestern University (you can google this). Make sure that your on level physics can be taken before AP Physics. Some high schools do not allow that, though not sure I understand why.
I do not think that you need to take AP Physics. I do think that you need to take Physics. I am pretty sure that as others have said it is a required premed class in university. Taking it first in high school is going to help you do better when you take physics in university.
To me physics is like science with more math and less guts. What’s not to like about it?
I am pretty good at Math. This is what I have done in Math already:
Algebra 1 (H), PAP Geometry, Next up - Algebra 2 (H), AP Statistics, AP Calc B (12th grade)
@Sam-I-Am Yeah I think I should keep Chemistry. How does this sound.
PAP Bio - Freshman
PAP Chem and AP Env Science - Sophomore
AP Bio and on level Phy - Jr yr
AP Chem - Senior