AP Physics B or AP Computer Science [Senior]

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#1

<p>My current schedule..</p>

<p>AP Physics B
AP Gov/Honors Econ
Spanish 3
AP Calc AB
AP Biology
AP Literature</p>

<p>I can do fairly well in both Physics and Computer Science (though physics will be probably 10x harder), my question is will having physics over computer science significantly help in the admissions process?</p>

<p>Of the 3 major sciences, I have taken regular biology, regular chemistry and no physics. This year I am taking AP Biology and maybe AP Physics...</p>

<p>My top 3 colleges are Berkely, UCLA, UCI. I am aiming the most at UCLA.</p>

#2

<p>I suggest you take Computer Science this year. I would say they are both on the same level when it comes to how the adcoms see them, but Comp Sci will add variety to your schedule.</p>

#3

<p>Neither AP Physics B nor AP Computer Science A will give useful subject credit at Berkeley or UCLA. UCI may give subject credit for an introductory CS course for AP Computer Science A.</p>

<p>AP Physics B does give more generic credit units (8 quarter units or 5.3 semester units) than AP Computer Science A (2 quarter units or 1.3 semester units) at all UCs.</p>

<p>If you have not taken any high school physics at all, you may want to take AP Physics B, since having some sort of high school physics is recommended before taking a university level physics course.</p>

#4

<p>^^True, but there are still many university freshman who take Physics with no prior background. Just a bit more studying is involved.</p>

#5

<p>I am willing to go into college with no prior physics background and having to study it from scratch.</p>

<p>What I am wonder is will having AP Physics B on my senior schedule somewhat significantly help me in the admissions process?</p>

<p>And if I were to drop AP Physics B, would AP Computer Science be SIGNIFICANTLY easier?</p>

#6

<p>As far as admissions goes, some schools may prefer to see that you are taking all of biology, chemistry, and physics (whether AP or not) in high school. UC's specify at least two years of lab science, with three years recommended, chosen from biology, chemistry, and physics.</p>

<p>University</a> of California - "A-G" courses</p>

#7

<p>"Two years (three years recommended) of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in two of these three foundational subjects: biology, chemistry and physics."</p>

<p>This means you can take Honors Chem one year, than AP Chem, than AP Biology. That would meet the "recommended criteria."</p>

#8

<p>anyone else?</p>

#9

<p>If you're interested in becoming a science major, I'd recommend taking AP Physics -- while you likely won't get credit for it, it'll give you a solid conceptual foundation of the subject and make your calc-based physics classes in college easier to wrap your head around. </p>

<p>Having studied both CS and PhysB last year, I would say CS is significantly easier and will require less studying time. CS is also a conceptual subject, but the way the CollegeBoard approaches it, a lot of your work will be memorizing syntax and rules. Physics will take a lot more studying to fully understand, but if you're interested in science, I'd say it's worth it.</p>

#10

<p>AP Computer Science is largely a joke now, after they dropped the deeper AB version (which wasn't particularly much to begin with). The chances that you'll get an underqualified teacher are also quite a bit higher.</p>

<p>Go with Physics, since it'll be much more substantial and will probably be a better experience. High school CS is really a crapshoot.</p>

#11

<p>We have a good and qualified teacher for comp sci...that is not a problem. Reading the rest of your post, I guess your saying that physics looks 10x better on the senior schedule?</p>

#12

<p>AP CS is a joke. You could probably learn most of it in a month or two and get a 5.</p>

<p>Go with physics.</p>