Is my Grade 12 schedule realistic?

skieurope
Sun, 12 Aug 2018 00:49:57 +0000

So, drop the physics C and add a social science?

Or drop AP Physics 2 and add a social science (AP Psych/Econ/Gov are all fine choices).

No no no, drop the Physics 2, it’s redundant.

AP Physics 2 is not redundant; it is a continuation of non-calculus based college physics. Whether the OP takes AP Physics 2 or AP Physics C really depends on his/her potential major. I would recommend AP Physics C for engineering and most natural science majors. AP Physics 2 is fine for a bio major, pre-med, and all humanities and social science majors.

It’s a very good possibility that AP Physics 1 and 2 won’t be accepted for credit at most good schools.

AP Physics C credit is indeed given at more schools that AP Physics 1/2. That said, credit for 1/2 is given at far more schools than lightweight APs like AP Human Geography. As examples, top schools like Princeton and Stanford all give credit for AP Physics 1/2. But where a school does give credit for 1/2, it is likely that it will not give credit for all 4 AP Physics exams. Regardless, unless a student has a guaranteed acceptance, I would not make a choice of class contingent upon a school’s AP credit policy.

btw do you think 2 is enough? Would it give me a significant advantage to take more, or not worth the effort?

2 Subject Tests is enough for all schools except Georgetown. You may want to take three just in case one is less than optimal, but I see no advantage to sending 3 scores to schools that only require/recommend 2.

why do you think to sciences plus CS is overkill?

I don’t think AP CSA is overkill; I think 6 APs plus writing college apps is overkill. Now you might be one of those few that can handle that type of workload, but none of us here knows. I still am unclear on the need to take 2 lab sciences, regardless of which Physics it is. There is something to be said for taking a fun class just for the hell of it. Again, you don’t want an overaggressive schedule to impact your GPA.