I am a high school sophomore that is an international student. In our school, very few APs are offered for freshmen and sophomores, so I self-studied AP physics 1 and C Mechanics in grade 9 and got 5 on both tests. I’m also self-studying AP physics 2 and C Electromagnetism right now and will likely get 5s this year. However, since I finished these exams but didn’t take any courses, should I still repeat these AP physics courses at my high school next year? (they’re offered for juniors and seniors) Is self-studying for these exams in grades 9 and 10 and getting 5s impressive to colleges? If I don’t repeat the courses at my high school in my junior and senior years, will colleges think it’s weird that I didn’t take physics courses in my last two years of high school? (since I’ll be an engineering major)
Colleges are often more interested in the grade you get for the class than in the AP test score, although a high AP test score is always very nice to be able to show. But taking the class is more important than just taking the test.
Yes, they will want to see that you have actually taken a physics class in high school.
Agree with the above. Cramming for an AP exam is not the same as succeeding in a year-long class with labs. I would try to find something better to do with your time than studying for APs – especially before you take the course. Seek out meaningful ECs that interest you.
If I retake the AP Physics course & exam in my junior year after already getting 5s on the exam by self-studying, will colleges consider this a lazy or unrigorous course selection?
Alternatively, stop self studying for 2 and E&M if you are going to take the course in the future
Oh, and sitting for 4 AP Physics exams is one too many. And I’d argue it’s 2 too many if self studying
Well, it’s better then them considering you a one dimensional wonk that has nothing better to do than self study.
Congrats on the great scores.
As a general rule, colleges prefer student take the classes where offered and not do tests without classes, unless there’s a compelling reason, like the school not offering the class or the test being a requirement to get into other classes, etc. Colleges are usually not impressed by students who were too impatient to take the classes, even if they score well. It’s super common even for top feeder schools to limit the number of APs students can take, particularly in the first two years, so you were never at an admissions disadvantage if you had waited – colleges would have known your school profile and judged relative to it.
But what’s done is done. My question would be, are there more advanced classes you can get enrolled in at the HS or a local college that would demonstrate that you used the tests to place into even more advanced coursework in those subjects? If so, I think that would play even better than taking a class you already have demonstrated high proficiency in.
If you cannot do that, then you probably should consider taking the AP course now. Colleges will car that you actually took lab-based science course, independent of the tests. They want to see you got that lab experience.
Also, why are you bothering with 1/2 if you are simultaneously doing M/EM (i.e. C)? There’s literally zero point and colleges will care less about 1/2 if you did the C tests. 1/2 is non-calculus-based physics which roughly translates to a colleges entry level physics specifically designed for non-STEM majors. Once you demonstrate competency in calculus-based physics, the 1/2 course are totally irrelevant. They are fine for the student who was progressing from them to C, but meaningless once you do C.