Take APES. I took that class rather than AP Physics and I was accepted to Princeton’s Class of 2026 through SCEA. It was the right class for me and I’m enjoying it wholeheartedly.
There is no such requirement regarding AP Physics from any of the elite institutions out there. However, I will argue that class rigor is important, so if you take APES, it may be in your best interest to complement it with BC Calc +.