How important is physics?

[Anonymous]

Taking AP Env Sci but not basic HS Physics is a major red flag. Any college env Sci major would expect basic physics before college Env Sci.

I doubt any selective school would accept an unhooked kid with zero physics, for any intended major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you need Calc before taking Physics then?

No. PP was mistaken. HS Physics 1 is Algebra based, not Calculus based.

In college, yes, Calc 1 was required before taking Phys 1 as an engineering major.

We are talking about high school. Regular high school physics and AP Physics 1 are algebra-based.

In high school, only AP Physics C is calc-based. Typically a second course in physics, AP Physics C is not relevant to OP's question.

[Anonymous]

likely targeting schools like Wisconsin, Indiana and Syracuse, with Michigan maybe her reach.

See what you can find on their websites. Typically there is a section about recommended high school coursework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taking AP Env Sci but not basic HS Physics is a major red flag. Any college env Sci major would expect basic physics before college Env Sci.

I doubt any selective school would accept an unhooked kid with zero physics, for any intended major.

This is my personal view. But I think kids are taking physics much less often. It used to be that a basic college prep curriculum included physics. I think it still should!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taking AP Env Sci but not basic HS Physics is a major red flag. Any college env Sci major would expect basic physics before college Env Sci.

I doubt any selective school would accept an unhooked kid with zero physics, for any intended major.

This is my personal view. But I think kids are taking physics much less often. It used to be that a basic college prep curriculum included physics. I think it still should!

The most competitive kids are still taking Physics. Some students want easier A’s and are concerned about maintaining a high GPA so choose AP Env Sci instead, and I think that’s a fine choice for most of the schools OP mentioned. Of course it’s program dependent so OP needs to research this.

[Anonymous]

My DC got in to 7 schools ranked 35-65 and never took physics. Is an environmental science major and still doesn’t need to take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taking AP Env Sci but not basic HS Physics is a major red flag. Any college env Sci major would expect basic physics before college Env Sci.

I doubt any selective school would accept an unhooked kid with zero physics, for any intended major.

This is my personal view. But I think kids are taking physics much less often. It used to be that a basic college prep curriculum included physics. I think it still should!

Agree. It's also a good way to find out if your kid has learned any math. at. all. It does seem to be less standard now.

[Anonymous]

OP here - not a STEM major. If there was a chance of that, yes of course she should have physics. I have an older child who took AP physics so I’m not unfamiliar with the subject or its relevance. DD just really doesn’t want to take it.

Possible majors are business or something media related, think some combo of marketing, communications, etc depending on the school. She’s probably targeting good schools (Indiana, WI) that she should have the grades and test scores for, but not the most competitive schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

likely targeting schools like Wisconsin, Indiana and Syracuse, with Michigan maybe her reach.

See what you can find on their websites. Typically there is a section about recommended high school coursework.

Schools are intentionally vague to maximize applications. UMD just says "the most competitive applicants get As and Bs and several APs".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taking AP Env Sci but not basic HS Physics is a major red flag. Any college env Sci major would expect basic physics before college Env Sci.

I doubt any selective school would accept an unhooked kid with zero physics, for any intended major.

This is my personal view. But I think kids are taking physics much less often. It used to be that a basic college prep curriculum included physics. I think it still should!

The most competitive kids are still taking Physics. Some students want easier A’s and are concerned about maintaining a high GPA so choose AP Env Sci instead, and I think that’s a fine choice for most of the schools OP mentioned. Of course it’s program dependent so OP needs to research this.

The most competitive students are taking 2-3 credits of Physics. OP is talking about taking 0 Physics, not AP C, not AP 1, not even HS Physics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - not a STEM major. If there was a chance of that, yes of course she should have physics. I have an older child who took AP physics so I’m not unfamiliar with the subject or its relevance. DD just really doesn’t want to take it.

Possible majors are business or something media related, think some combo of marketing, communications, etc depending on the school. She’s probably targeting good schools (Indiana, WI) that she should have the grades and test scores for, but not the most competitive schools.

Why OOS for this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC got in to 7 schools ranked 35-65 and never took physics. Is an environmental science major and still doesn’t need to take it.

That's scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - not a STEM major. If there was a chance of that, yes of course she should have physics. I have an older child who took AP physics so I’m not unfamiliar with the subject or its relevance. DD just really doesn’t want to take it.

Possible majors are business or something media related, think some combo of marketing, communications, etc depending on the school. She’s probably targeting good schools (Indiana, WI) that she should have the grades and test scores for, but not the most competitive schools.

Why OOS for this?

Because we can afford it and in state VA schools may not be an ideal fit. She likely won’t get into UVA, WM may not appeal, Tech is a possibility but also may not appeal, and she might consider JMU but I think Wisconsin, Syracuse, Indiana have more name recognition than JMU in the job market. This is all early days so she’s got time to do visits and change her mind but just asked the question with the current set of parameters.

[Anonymous]

Physics is very important! Without gravity we’d all fall off the planet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is strange to go through high school and not take a basic course of bio, Chem, and physics. But people seem to be forgoing physics more and more. My kids’ school requires physics. And I’m happy about it. It’s the most fundamental of all sciences. An educated citizen should know a little bit about it.

My honors high school physics course was badly done and boring. I retained nothing from it. I was exposed to physics but a lot more content stuck from Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry. In college, for my science distribution requirements, I chose a Genetics elective for science majors and Chemistry and Public Policy (easy class but great teacher and fascinating course material....sort of like studying global warming wouid be today).

I have 2 male PhD physicists in my immediate family, btw. We have a gender split on this interest.

My senior only had the minimum Physics required (1 out of 4 semesters of 9th grade "expose to all sciences" survey course). He took AP Environmental Science. Was going to take AP Bio but due to schedule changes could not get that and is taking AP Stats and AP Calc AB.

I would recommend Physics for pre-med, science, Comp Sci, and Engineering majors. I doubt it matters for many others. At the high school level, it seems mainly to be a check-the-box class for the quantitatively adept to continue demonstrating their A-getting capabilities. (Mini-weed-out class for straight-A students).