APES vs AP Physics 1?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

Hello~

I am a sophomore currently picking out classes for junior year. I already turned in my course request form, and these are the classes I chose:

AP Lang
AP Calc AB
AP Bio
APUSH
AP Spanish Lang
AP Environmental Science
AP Stats
Band as an alternate if I don’t get AP Stats.

However, I am wondering whether to change APES to AP Physics 1. I plan on going into either chemistry, environmental science, or biology in college. When I asked the people around me for advice, 90% of them told me to take AP Physics 1.

AP Environmental Science - I’m actually interested in this course.
I had the teacher for Biology, and he’s pretty good as he makes class fun.
Relatively easy, which may be a benefit considering that I am also taking 5-6 other APs or Band (which also takes a tremendous amount of time.

AP Physics 1 - Colleges (apparently) want to see physics on high school transcripts.
The teacher is super intimidating, and after hearing students in Physics right now complain nonstop about him, I don’t know if I would want to take the class. He is (according to students) rude and condescending.

My high school science pathway would go:
Biology
Chemistry
AP Biology, APES/AP Physics 1
AP Chemistry

In addition, would you recommend me to put Stats as an alternate and Band as my preferred class? I am very interested in Statistics, but I’ve been doing Band for the past two years and quitting after this year would seem as if I lacked perseverance.

The problem with Band is that

  1. it takes up way too much time first semester due to marching.
  2. i ABSOLUTELY hate marching band, and some of my worst experiences come from marching band.
  3. the teacher is scary and I almost got a B last semester.

Would taking band for the third year be more beneficial than taking another AP class?

Thank you so much.

2

I think taking anything other than another AP class would be better; it does not have to be band. You’ll likely die with 7 AP’s. Right now, your proposed schedule looks like you are just an AP junkie, and I’m sure there’s more to you than that. :slight_smile:

Top colleges do. I would opt for physics (it doesn’t even have to be AP) over APES. Or push either physics or AP Bio to senior year to give you some breathing room.