Will it make that much of a difference to colleges?
I am already taking AP Calculus, AP Micro, AP Macro, and AP Literature. I took AP US History last year as my only AP class. I am a senior.
Would it be a make or break to any colleges? I feel like I would be better off taking just regular physics and use the free time from not having as much work to get some community service in.
Colleges stop counting AP’s after 5, and even then AP’s don’t matter much. One AP class won’t make or break your schedule - taking regular should be fine.
Assuming you’re talking about AP physics 1, there’s a very, very small difference between a regular physics course and AP physics. If you wouldn’t like to add another AP onto your schedule, I guarantee that you’ll be fine only taking regular physics.
I don’t think you should add another AP to that rigorous schedule. Regular physics is fine.
So is it unlikely that it would be a make or break situation to college admissions?
It’s extremely unlikely. Out of your whole app, I HIGHLY doubt that this one thing would make or break your admission. You’ll be fine in regular physics.
A few assumptions I’m going to make (and correct me if I’m wrong):
If these are true, the college you are applying to will not care at all. For the former, it should be obvious since if natural sciences are not your interest it’s honestly fine to not worry about being extra-rigorous in those subjects.
For the latter, it can matter a bit if your goal is to go to elite institutions because your counselor’s report will note if you took the “most” rigorous curriculum available at your high school.
But honestly, all of the above aside, you know your talents and skill-set better than anyone else. If your gut is telling you that you would rather focus on community service than take AP Physics, I think you should trust yourself.
I am going to major in Computer Science, so I believe that is a STEM major.
At my school, AP Physics and regular physics are taught in the same class by the same teacher. The only difference is that AP has about 2x more work to do. I already haven’t taken the most rigorous curriculum available (Skipped out on an AP class last year).
At the end of the day, I think I am better off letting my skills and abilities tell my story rather than my schedule. I have never been the type of student who is 100 percent on top of school work, so I think the extra work may actually hurt my grade as opposed to help it. At the end of the day I would rather have an A in regular physics than a weighted B in AP.
IF you want to get into good colleges that offer CS, you need to show that you can handle INCREASINGLY difficult classes, EACH YEAR of HS. Because each yr your CS college classes will get harder and harder.
Taking NO AP classes during your SR year would be a HUGE mistake, particularly since your application will compared to those of students from other HS’s competing against you.
So take AP Physics and one more AP class if you can.
Your SR year is NO time to slack off , when college admissions are so competitive.
OP is already taking more AP classes Sr. year over Jr. year.
OP you are fine. Enjoy your senior year.
sorry, my bad…
I misread and though the OP said “taken” instead of taking…
Going from 1 AP to 3-4 AP is already going to be a challenge. You don’t need to take AP physics as long as you take regular physics and do well.
Also can you take Honors Physics instead of CP Physics?
I don’t think my school offers that unfortunately.
Big difference in Physics and AP physics. Internet is a dangerous source for information. Assuming by now you know your choice of colleges contact your regional admission rep or the Engineering admission person and they will tell you.
If you already decided and looking for votes, change that approach and do you.
My daughter is in the same situation. She can’t take AP Physics this year because it’s a 2 block class. She doesn’t have time in her schedule to take it. She attends a Catholic high school, so religion is mandatory and she is taking French and Spanish as her electives. We determined that taking Spanish 4 and French 3 would be better for her than AP Physics. Somehow we’ve gotten back to school emails for both AP and Regular Physics and the info is exactly the same, even the same book!
It really depends on your major; if your major recommends AP Physics, take it. If it doesn’t you don’t need to. You have enough APs for your senior year.