I am currently a junior at a predominantly Hispanic and underfunded high school in Northern California. I am a first-generation hispanic student from a low income family. I have been the #1 ranked student in my class of 2020 since freshman year, taking the most rigorous courses available. I scored a 5 on the APWH exam as a sophomore and now that my school is an International Baccalaureate school I am taking IB HL History, IB math (pre-call Honors), IB French, and IB English. I am also taking a computer integrated manufacturing course. This year I decided to take physics to fulfil three years of science (I have previously taken Chemistry Honors and Biology and there is no Honors/AP physics). Essentially, the physics program is terrible this year. The previous teacher retired, leaving an inexperienced substitute to take over and teach everything. The class is always dead silent (except for the teacher trying to explain something she does not know enough about). We learn nothing valuable and I feel like taking the class is counterproductive to my learning. I talked about my situation with my French teacher because he has been teaching for decades and he is the wisest person I know. He needs a Teacher Assistant and I feel like I can benefit from learning genuine information beyond a textbook under his guidance. I know what I would have to do since he has been my teacher for three years so I would probably have some free time for personal growth regarding my future. The only issue I have is how this looks on paper when it comes to college. My goal is to get into the best college possible (most likely a UC). I want to become an entrepreneur with multiple specialties to make valuable contributions to the world. I am worried about how dropping physics to become a TA could jeopardize how attractive my resume will seem when it comes to applying for college.
Highly highly attractive. Don’t set you goal to UC. Aim for top private universities, which might turn out to be easier to get in than top UC campuses in your case. You could get full tuition, fees, dorm and may even be some stipend depends on school.
Drop the physics and look for an easiest intro physics at your local community college in Summer after Junior if you are worried. I am sorry that your high school couldn’t afford a qualified physics teacher. But what can you do. TA would look very good too. And start prepping for ACT or SAT. Plan to take SAT Subject Test next May or June for Math II and another course you are taking this year.
Check out Quest Bridge https://www.questbridge.org/
If you drop physics, will you have the A-G requirements for California? Just be careful.
I have already fulfilled all of my A-G requirements, specifically with biology and chemistry for the science part (only two years required: one life and one lab science)
Thank you so much for your advice, the CC route was exactly what I was considering as a way better alternative. As for the SAT and ACT, I will make sure to be as ready as possible. I scored in the 99th percentile on my PSAT last year with a 1380 I believe (sophomore year).
You have done very well under difficult circumstances. This is pretty much what universities are looking for.
I agree with @SculptorDad. I don’t think that you have to take physics. It is unfortunate that your school does not have a good physics teacher. Physics was my favorite science class in high school but having a good teacher is important for it and nearly any other subject. I think that being a TA for French would also be a valuable experience.
I think that when the time come it might be worth applying to a range of universities, including a few highly ranked ones.
@DadTwoGirls yeah it is unfortunate but I have to work with what I have to make the best of it. I will definitely consider applying to multiple prestigious universities. Thank you for your advice
I think that you have received great advice in this thread.
The TA position is a wonderful opportunity.
My concern , however, is that you are too dependent on a teacher in order to be excited about a subject; although I could be wrong, your post suggests that you may not do as well as you would like in physics due to poor, inexperienced teaching.
Presumably, you have a physics textbook & access to a computer & to a library. If physics is important to you, then teach yourself. If physics is important to you & you prefer not to teach yourself, then highly competitive universities might be a bit of a wake up call to you. And I am NOT referring to teaching quality; I am referring to the types of students whom you will encounter at the nation’s most selective universities.
Since you are a junior, keep in mind that if your school gets a new (hopefully better) physics teacher next year you could always take physics as a senior.
@happy1 Yeah I will try to find out who the teacher will be next year before this school year ends. This way I’ll know if I should take a physics course over the summer at a community college or just wait until senior year.
In answer to your question, you should be viewed as a very attractive candidate to colleges, but your SAT or ACT score will be an important factor as will the presence of or lack of leadership qualities and experience.