Does this schedule look rigorous? AP Chem vs AP Physics C

Applying to College
1

I am a low income high school senior at a rigorous charter school interested in either mechanical engineering or materials science as my primary college major (I also have a strong interest in economics). I have one issued and two pending US patents and my goal is to get a medical device FDA approved in the somewhat near future. I love scientific research but my primary focus for the future is entrepreneurship.

Unfortunately AP Chem and AP Physics C were the same period, and I picked AP Chem because I like the teacher a LOT more. Is this a sound choice given my interests? Previously in terms of science courses I have taken Chemistry Honors, Biology Honors, and AP Physics 1. My school offers 15 AP classes and I have taken 10. Is this a good schedule? Please tell me any potential flaws:

English IV Honors
AP Biology
Civics & Economics Honors (required)
AP Chemistry
Spanish III Honors
AP Environmental Science
AP Psychology
Calculus III/Differential Equations (dual enrollment)

2

Taking 3 AP sciences concurrently is a disaster waiting to happen. AP Bio and AP Chem are both time consuming by themselves, but they also both have very extensive lab requirement. So in addition to the “normal” AP homework, you will also spend considerable time writing lab reports. On top of that, both these courses usually have double periods and/or meet before or after school to perform the labs.

In terms of Physics C vs. Chem, it’s really a personal choice. One is not viewed more favorably than the other.

3

The only change I can make without reducing the number of APs is switching AP Biology with AP World History. My issue with this is AP World isn’t related to my major or interests, and is meant for sophomores at my school. It would probably be easier than AP Bio but I’m not sure if I should switch into it. Thoughts? @skieurope

4

AP biology is not that related to ME or MSE, unless you have a particular interest in medical or biological applications.

You may want to check whether colleges you are interested in and can afford accept those AP sciences for engineering majors. If not, you could be putting in a lot of work for little gain in advanced placement. Also, even some colleges that accept them for advanced placement suggest that not all students will find it best to take the advanced placement, because the high school AP sciences may not be fully equivalent to the college courses.

5

You don’t have to switch with another AP. Colleges are quite clear that AP’s are not an arms race where the one with the most wins. Take an interesting elective.

I’m in total agreement here. My college, which does, for example, accept credits for Physics C, will not allow one to apply them to a physics or eng major. And for good reason. I scored 5’s on both Mech and E&M, and took and upper level mech class in HS, and the intro mech class in college was soooooo different and harder, and much more mathematically advanced.

6

Specifically with the AP sciences:

  • AP biology does not require chemistry beyond high school chemistry; college biology may require general chemistry or organic chemistry as prerequisites.
  • AP chemistry may only be seen as a semester or less of college general chemistry.
  • AP physics C has single variable calculus (calculus AB) as a corequisite; college calculus-based physics is usually started a semester after first semester single variable calculus, with more advanced math courses taken concurrently (multivariable calculus is typically a corequisite of the course that includes E&M).

At some schools, use of AP credit for subject credit may be accepted if the requirement is a peripheral requirement, but students who need to go on to more advanced courses in the subject may be advised not to take the advanced placement. Students considering taking advanced placement may want to try the college’s old final exams for the courses that they are allowed to skip.

7

I’m not super interested in using AP credits to skip courses. I mostly just want to have a rigorous high school curriculum so I can both be prepared for and accepted into a university engineering program. I might be able to replace AP Environmental Science with an online AP Computer Science course. Is this a smart change? @ucbalumnus

8

AP CS A or AP CS principles?

AP CS principles is probably the most useful if you want a general overview of CS as a non-CS major, although you should not expect any useful subject credit for it. Engineering majors in college usually need to take a computing for engineering course that neither AP CS course tries to be equivalent to.

9

^ I agree AP CS principles would be the most useful to introduce you to the field.

10

Totally sad that there is a scheduling conflict - based on your stated goal of MechE or MatSci engineering, you would be best served to dump the AP Bio and take the AP Physics C & AP Chem.

You are obviously one of the star students at your school - perhaps you could convince your school to add an extra class for you? No harm in asking IMHO - and they just might be able to do it.

Congrats on the patents pending BTW! My son’s GF has a couple of Med patents pending also - and he says she is the most brilliant person he knows. :slight_smile:

11

I signed up for AP CS principles. I did a campus visit to Carnegie Mellon and both professors I talked to said learning about computing/programming is very important for any engineering major. @MYOS1634 @ucbalumnus

12

I’m a mechanical engineer (Ph.D. UIUC).

On the question about CS vs: Yes. This is very important to mechanical and all types of engineering. Take the programming course if you can.

If you take AP Physics C, take it if you can. That said: I would advise retaking the introductory in college unless you get well above 5’s on both tests. Owing to the generous curve, those who get a single 5 just skimming above the cut-off are definitely NOT for follow on courses in solid mechanics, fluid mechanics. AP C doesn’t cover thermodynamics at all. This is very important topic in mechanical and chemical engineering. This is often covered in introductory physics for engineers and physicists-- but is not on the AP Physics C curriculum. (These sorts of mis-matches are a reason engineering schools often won’t even accept 5s on the AP C when granting credit for introductory physics. )

Going forward in ME, you want to be rock solid on mechanics, thermodynamics and it helps to have seem some fluids. (Fluids is also absent from the AP Physics C curriculum. That said: it doesn’t matter that much. The first fluids classes in ME and Chem E pretty much assume you didn’t learn any in physics).

You already look good on math. Did you get a 5 on the earlier calculus AP exams?

As proud as kids can be when they get 4s, if you are going into engineering, you should figure out a way to retake these foundational math courses if you got 3 or 4s in those math courses. (Your university engineering department l may require retaking them in any case).

Content in the first three calculus classes re-appears in thermo, circuits, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics and heat transfer. If you got a 4 on the AP test, you will find yourself in classes where faculty expect your mastery to be better than the level reflected by a 4 on AP tests.

For what it’s worth: calculus, linear algebra and advanced math becomes very important as you advance in economics. So you want a firm foundation there, but I don’t know the specific expectations of econ faculty.

On another issue: going forward in college, your college GPA will matter when people or agencies are considering you for scholarship which sometimes come up, college awards, college honor societies, admission to grad school and so on. You will almost never find anyone who will give “atta-boy” add on consideration for you having APd out of the entry level course. If they are important to your major, retake those courses unless you are absolutely, positively rock solid on them-- meaning you would have gotten an at least a B+ on the previous years final exam at your university. You want to master material in your major to the A/B level at least.