Physics major with no AP physics?!

[Anonymous]

DD is currently a freshman taking honors chemistry and physics. She wants to be a physics major, but her school doesn't offer any of the AP physics courses. Because of this, by the time she's a sophomore, there will be no more physics classes left for her to take. This is a big disappointment for her, and it also seems like a physics major should take at least one AP physics class in HS, especially when aiming for T20 colleges, etc. Her current plan is to take AP chem instead, which I think is a good idea. Does anyone know of online physics courses? Or would it be possible to take physics at a local community college or state university?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Colleges can't expect courses that her high school doesn't provide. (And in the "Additional Information" section of the application, she can note that she would have liked to take AP Physics but it was unavailable at her school, just to make sure the admissions readers don't hold it against her.) If you do find an outside of school option that works for her, that's a bonus.

AP Chem sounds like a good option. Also make sure she is taking rigorous math classes.

[Anonymous]

There are ways for her to explore the space without taking the class. For example - she could attend a summer program. Be a tutor. Take online classes where she is exploring the application of the subject. Etc etc

For a student who wants to apply to a T20 school - she needs to demonstrate how she solved a problem and was creative to get beyond this very small roadblock - because all of the other applicants will.

[Anonymous]

17:59 here. You might want to post future questions on the College and University Discussion page: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/forums/show/47.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is currently a freshman taking honors chemistry and physics. She wants to be a physics major, but her school doesn't offer any of the AP physics courses. Because of this, by the time she's a sophomore, there will be no more physics classes left for her to take. This is a big disappointment for her, and it also seems like a physics major should take at least one AP physics class in HS, especially when aiming for T20 colleges, etc. Her current plan is to take AP chem instead, which I think is a good idea. Does anyone know of online physics courses? Or would it be possible to take physics at a local community college or state university?

Thanks.

Yes, she can do dual enrollment physics. Just make sure it's calculus-based (there really isn't much of a difference between a good honors physics and AP Physics). If you just want her to be ready come college, she can use resources like MIT's open courseware: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/8-01sc-classical-mechanics-fall-2016/ (the calculus you need is pretty basic; here it is covered in under 20 pages: https://www.everaise.org/static/media/Physics.11838194.pdf )

If you want, you can also look into the f=ma exam. It's the first step to qualifying for the US Physics Olympiad team (like the AMC for math). The best (and most challenging) textbook for this would be Physics by Halliday, Resnick, and Krane.

https://knzhou.github.io/writing/Advice.pdf

If you want something more accessible, get an older edition of conceptual physics by Hewitt, along with the problem solving book. (You can find the textbook and its instructor's manual free online at LibGen). Another accessible read is Thinking Physics.

[Anonymous]

Colleges would want you to take the courses for your major there. You kid sounds amazing and will impress if she does well in the science classes offered at her HS.

[Anonymous]

I was a physics major without taking AP Physics. My HS did offer it but I had scheduling conflicts that forced me to take science classes out of sequence and we were only allowed to take 2 of the 3 AP science classes offered, so AP physics was off the table. I did attend summer science programs during HS, but nothing intense.

It was never a problem because of what someone said above- colleges want you to go through their physics sequence. I think it's more important to max out math opportunities in HS.

I flirted with changing my major to chemistry or bio a few times, and found physics to be one of the most down-to-earth and supportive of any science departments at my Ivy League alma mater save for the geology department. Chem and bio people were awful. If she's going for T20, those schools will include a lot of liberal arts institutions that will permit her to take a wide variety of courses in her first two years. My recommendation for whatever institution she ends up at is to take as many intro-level science classes in her first year as she can and to see which professors and departments she clicks with. There are too many requirements and too much tedious lab work to relegate yourself to a department full of grouchy TAs and professors or obnoxious classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a physics major without taking AP Physics. My HS did offer it but I had scheduling conflicts that forced me to take science classes out of sequence and we were only allowed to take 2 of the 3 AP science classes offered, so AP physics was off the table. I did attend summer science programs during HS, but nothing intense.

It was never a problem because of what someone said above- colleges want you to go through their physics sequence. I think it's more important to max out math opportunities in HS.

I flirted with changing my major to chemistry or bio a few times, and found physics to be one of the most down-to-earth and supportive of any science departments at my Ivy League alma mater save for the geology department. Chem and bio people were awful. If she's going for T20, those schools will include a lot of liberal arts institutions that will permit her to take a wide variety of courses in her first two years. My recommendation for whatever institution she ends up at is to take as many intro-level science classes in her first year as she can and to see which professors and departments she clicks with. There are too many requirements and too much tedious lab work to relegate yourself to a department full of grouchy TAs and professors or obnoxious classmates.

This. Look good in math.

[Anonymous]

Take a community college course in HS junior or senior year.