Older son took: Living Environment (Bio) in 8th, Physics in 9th (would have been honors or AP Physics b but there was a schedule conflict), Fast paced chem via CTY over the summer took the NY Regents test in August, AP Bio 10th, AP Physics C 11th, AP Chem 12th, Astrophysics honors 12th. Majored in Comp Sci and minored in Physics in college.
Younger son: Living Environment (Bio) in 8th, Honors Chem in 9th , Physics in 10th (AP Physics B was a conflict for him too), AP Bio 11th, AP Physics C 12th. Majored in IR in college.
The two year Physics 1 and 2 AP is a real schedule killer.
Physics 1 and 2 makes no sense. High schools should continue teaching B. Many students do not have room for 2 years of physics in their schedules. I would suggest looking into whether you can get a good honors physics course online or in another way. The integrated class is not honors and likely isn’t suitable. Talk to students in physics C now and see how they got there. Taking honors bio and chemistry in the same year should not be a problem for the sort of student who intends to take physics C.
Took Physics 1 last year. As was seen by the AP scores, it was a complete mess. In my particular school we had two teachers. One of teachers produced a class with a number of 5s while the other I have only heard of 2s and 3s. Additionally, having taken AP Physics 1 then the SAT subject test, I felt incredibly unprepared, although I scored a 5 on the AP exam. AP Physics 1 just seems like a dumb class and I think schools (and parents) should have the kids only take AP Physics C. I am currently taking AP Physics C and the mechanics portion is all of AP Physics 1 w/ a few integrals and trig functions.
It’s more worthwhile to opt for another math class, AP Bio or AP Chem over AP Physics 1, as it seems, at least to me, to be a utter waste of time. Additionally, most colleges won’t accept credit for AP Physics 1 although a few will give credit if you take 1 and 2. Now that I’m taking Physics C, I will probably have to forfeit the credit for 1.
Imho, the best course load would be:
9th: Bio
10th: Chem
11th: AP Bio/Chem
12th: AP Physics C
What high schools should really do to make physics courses sane:
Regular physics, one year course -- use PSSC book and curriculum (or maybe Project Physics if the students taking this course tend to only be those not intending to go into physical sciences).
AP physics 1 and 2, one *semester* each -- basically reverting to the old AP physics B; use this as the honors physics course.
(optional) AP physics C mechanics and E&M, one semester each -- depending on student demand and whether colleges commonly attended by graduates accept these for subject credit.
Well, not taking the math subject test isn’t even an option, especially if the applicant is applying for engineering. And why should a student be forced to take the bio subject test because the HS doesn’t prepare him/her for the physics test? Personally, that would have been a non-option for me; biology is not in my wheelhouse.
There may be come college specific reasons for an aggressive science course placement. UBC (British Columbia) engineering specifies 2 years physics or AP physics and 2 years chemistry or AP Chemistry for US applicants.
Thank you all for your kind responses. Yes, this is Texas and child is wanting to major in engineering probable chemicial, and looking for Tier 2-3 schools that give full or close to full ride NMF scholarships…
Bio is required to be in 9th grade. I have never had physics so I am clueless. I was wondering what would help prepare her best for engineering major. The only AP science/math credit she will be seeking is Calc BC.
Then my comments in #9 is still my advice. The plan you have makes sense. Schools that give close to full rides for NMF don’t require SAT subject tests so you won’t need a subject test in junior year.
Look closely at the endorsements your district has set up under HB5. If your child is going to Calc BC, he/she can do STEM with a math emphasis and with this plan possibly the science emphasis but I think the multi-disciplinary endorsement (which is the old 4x4 plan) is still a good idea for a kid bound for OU, OSU, Texas A&M or Alabama. Those schools are generous with AP credit and your student may want to use the humanities AP credits and retake that STEM classes once he matriculates in an engineering program.
The simple answer is - it does not fit. IMHO, it is not possible to fit all 3 subjects into 4 years of HS, without some heroic acts, either on behalf of a child or a parent.
I applaud children who may take AP Physics without any additional prep classes. I know that such children exist. They are geniuses. In my school (long time ago, in a galaxy far away) we had 4 years of Physics + 4 years of Biology + 4 years of Chemistry. Here in US they try to fit all 4 years into one. Amazing.
My suggestion (works with my kids) - start learning real Chemistry in the middle school, at home. 2 years of additional studies at home, going chapter-by-chapter through the high school chemistry textbook. Learn it, understand it, be very comfortable with it. After the child gains solid knowledge of Chemistry - Bio would be relatively easy for him/her. Plus, it frees time to learn Physics in HS.
H Bio - 9th grade
AP Chem - 10th grade (start Physics in summer, at home, self-paced)
Physics - 11 / 12th grade.
@thumper1
I just want her to have as much exposure to physics and chemistry in high school as possible. I want to make sure she is successful in engineering school.
SAT subject tests should not control what classes one takes or doesn’t take. The Ivies and Stanford require two subject tests in any subject. You can apply to Harvard with no subject tests. There is nothing magical about taking two science subject tests unless maybe you want to go to MIT or Caltech.
I have two girl TiPsters (Center) who are also STEM’y, and my older one is doing IB Physics SL right now in 11th grade. It’s really hard for her, and she’s really having to work at it. She’s advising her younger sister (10th grade) not to do it and just do the on-level physics.
There are very few kids in our school who are doing IB Physics HL (which is taught over two years), and those kids are shooting for CalTech and MIT.
If your kid isn’t going to shoot for schools that require SAT II subject tests, I don’t know that I’d subject her to two years of physics unless she is completely in love with physics.
The hardest track you can take in our AP/IB school is 9th grade honors Bio, 10th grade AP Bio+Honors Chem, then from there into the AP track or the IB track. I did not have either kid take honors Chem in 9th grade at the same time they were taking honors Bio (you can push for this but it’s not officially allowed). They were pretty solidly challenged with just the Bio as freshmen. DD17 is taking IB Bio HL at the same time she’s taking IB Physics SL, but she’s 17 and is managing at that maturity level.
I guess what I’m saying is that if your kid makes NMF, there are going to be a lot of scholarships/full rides out there that don’t require her to grind as hard as you want her to grind. But I’m not an expert, and this is just an opinion from a mom of high school girls in a similar situation with somewhat similar stats.
My opinion…she can be successful in engineering school (in college) without taking this very aggressive course load in HS. Assuming, of course, that she enjoys the course of study and has the potential to succeed.
Probably the biggest thing the mom should worry about is not burning out her kid between 7th grade and college-I came fairly dangerously close to doing that to my kids by pressuring them too much because of their numbers. If you’ve got a TiPster, let her have fun at Tip over the summer (because that’s the true value of TiP, in my opinion), and take 8th and 9th grade to see where her developing abilities lead her.
This entire discussion may be completely moot by then.
Adding to post 38…give your young, growing student the opportunity to experience the arts and humanities. Maybe she would like to excel in something besides sciences. Let her have that chance.