IMPORTANT: AP Question

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
1

<p>I would like/need to give my principal my decision tomorrow. I had been self studying AP Physics C (both) among other things one period each day for the year. However, since it is independent study, my principal forgot to order the test. (She admits I told her to order it.) Question is, I can apparently take a late-testing date (which would add more to my $82 cost already). I am a prospective physics student (will be attending in CAS) and was wondering if I can just take a placement test there, or just tell them the mix-up. I would like to be placed into the Honor’s Sequence (which can be achieved with the AP grades.) However, I assume that I can arrange this fairly easily without the grade, provided I know my material at the AP Physics C level. </p>

<p>Can I just skip it all together? I assume its probably not a good idea for a physics major to take credit for the basic sequence, and move past even the honor’s sequence. If skipping it is unwise, then I might as well take it easy and get my money back. Is there any reason why this is a bad idea? Any physics majors know what they are talking about?</p>

2

<p>Jerew,
Why don’t you contact the department directly? This is a situation where you need an official verdict - soon!</p>

<p>If you haven’t seen this, check out
<a href=“http://www.physics.cornell.edu/physics/undergradstudies/Adv_Standing_new.html[/url]”>http://www.physics.cornell.edu/physics/undergradstudies/Adv_Standing_new.html&lt;/a&gt;
Last year’s coordinator should be a good resource. Also, copy the department secretary, who should know whom to contact.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, I did do that. I should have opened this up for more discussion on the difference physics sequences, since this applies to more than just physics majors. Any comments on the freshmen physics classes?</p>

4

<p>So looking at the requirements for the College of A&S, I am wondering how I will get it done. Question is, when setting up schedules, etc, do the Writing Seminars and Physical Education Classes really count as classes? By that I mean, can I register for Physics (Honors), Calc, Computer Science (Introductory), Humanities, and a language course, plus the writing seminar and PE? This is probably too much, but I would like to cover myself in the case that I transfer to the engineering school. (i.e. The Computer Science Class) Anyone here know how fulfilling these requirements generally happens? What year, how many courses, etc. Thanks.</p>

<p>For anyone who is interested, the physics department emailed me back and said that I could simply register for the class, without the AP test. Futhermore, the Math Placement can be the higher of the two placements from either AP or their August test. (In case anyone feels they should be higher than their AP Test warrants) Hope this helps.</p>

5

<p>Writing seminar is a real class. It’s 3cr and counts on your GPA. It will take as much time as most of your other 3 cr courses.</p>

<p>PE is only 1 cr and there’s no work or tests or anything (for most classes) and it’s graded S/U but it will take a couple of hours a week.</p>

6

<p>what does Graded S/U mean?</p>

7

<p>Does this mean you can take the 116-217-218 sequence even if you didn’t take the AP tests?</p>

8

<p>S/U stands for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.</p>

<p>for more info…
<a href=“http://www.human.cornell.edu/hd/advising/s-u-grades.html[/url]”>http://www.human.cornell.edu/hd/advising/s-u-grades.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>Oh PE is S/U? what do you do in that class?</p>

10

<p>Since you are going to be a physics major I would say take the honor physics sequence anyway. There are placement exams, but it would be good for you to take the honor physics here. It’s going to be much harder than what you’ve learned in high school. It’s always good to learn it more in detail.</p>

11

<p>Ecc, thanks for the reply. How many kids, would you say, take the honors physics sequence? Is it ridiculously hard to take Physics 116-217 and Math 223-224 as a freshman?</p>

12

<p>Hey</p>

<p>I don’t really know how hard the honor sequence is. I took all the engineering sequence when I was a freshman. From what I have heard, the honor sequences are really tough and time consuming. I am sure you can pull it off, but you should know that you will probably spend a lot more hours working on the honor problem sets than the regular ones. I also heard the grading is harder because everyone is the class is really smart. If you can get a B in the honor physics, you should be able to get an A in the regular physics class. Anyway, it’s always nice to take on new challenges when you have the AP credits.</p>