Darthpwner

I'm definitely taking four AP's next year (English Literature, Calculus BC, Art History, and Microeconomics) and self-studying Psychology and U.S. Government, but I don't know whether I should take regular Physics or another AP class like Statistics instead. My AP Physics teacher has a notoriously low pass rate (nobody passed the test last year and probably this year), and I'm not smart enough to self-study the class. So I'm wondering if I should just take regular Physics or another AP because the A-G requirements recommend that I take Physics, but I want another AP to boost up my GPA. Any advice would be appreciated.

ucbalumnus

If your potential major in college requires taking physics, it would be a good idea to take at least high school level physics to get an overview of the subject before taking a college physics course. In general, selective colleges like to see all three of biology, chemistry, and physics in your high school record.

Assuming you are applying to UCs and CSUs (since you mention a-g requirements), they won't see your senior year grades, although they will attach conditions to offers of admission that you do sufficiently well in your reported senior year schedule.

yodelo

ucb is right; you should take physics if you're going into a major that requires it, otherwise choose something else

cfl927

I'd take the AP's
My senior year schedule included: Calc BC, Comp Sci, Eng Lit, Physics C Mech, US Govt, Macro, APES, and French. It wasn't bad at all. Granted some of my teachers were better than others and I am decently smart. I didn't study for my exams outside of class mock exams and still think I got at least 4's on everything except French.
Overall, I took 15 AP classes over all 4 years. (We could only take 1 a year freshman and soph year and junior year I needed prerequisites for French and Physics). So far I'm the distinguished ap scholar thing. I'd say take all the classes you can, because I know I am getting 38 credit hours since that is the max you're allowed to use, but I'm also double majoring with a minor, so I need every bit of it.

cfl927

It also makes you a more aggressive applicant for college admissions. Esp physics (I'm assuming it is Physics C since I don't understand the purpose of the other exams). Granted I had a supposedly awesome physics teacher who is lead teacher in district/grader etc with high passing rates. I didn't expect to do well on the exam since I hate spinning objects and won't be an engineer- I basically stopped caring in the class because I wasn't getting high grades, but when I took my practice exams I received solid 4's on all of them. You will feel murdered by the exam, but then happily surprised by the results.