<p>I would definitely opt for AP Physics. In my opinion, the more you learn in terms of math/science at the high school level where the pace is slower, the better of you are in college. He’s already way past the age where he has a huge advantage in learning Mandarin younger–and he can take that in college/summer programs/community college later on. If he wants to go into engineering, he needs AP Physics more than he does Mandarin. In terms of college admissions: I have plenty of friends who never fulfilled the “four years” thing (including me) who got into the likes of MIT, Brown, Harvard, etc. </p>
<p>I opted out of taking Mandarin even at my university because I figure that the courses I get to take now I won’t be able to take later, while I can learn Mandarin at community college.</p>