AP physics as a freshman at Blair?

[Anonymous]

Did anyone have a kid who took this? It is recommended for freshman at Blair who are taking Algebra 2 and we are unsure of whether or not to have our child try it. I've heard mixed reviews...

[Anonymous]

It would be great if the county just had a more rigorous Honors physics class, but they don't. At least if your kid takes this as a freshman, colleges won't expect very high scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be great if the county just had a more rigorous Honors physics class, but they don't. At least if your kid takes this as a freshman, colleges won't expect very high scores.

You absolutely have no idea but just had to spout nonsense, right?

[Anonymous]

Why on Earth would anyone do this.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a terrible idea. FYI there is no prize for having the most APs anymore.

[Anonymous]

We don’t have experience few with it at Blair, but DS took AP physics as a freshman at a different HS and got 4 on the AP test. It’s doable.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand the benefit of this. If DC is taking Algebra 2, then he isn’t taking the Physics C exams.

This sounds like taking APs for the sake of taking APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on Earth would anyone do this.

OP. That’s why I am asking. It could be that it is a really interesting, well done, rigorous class that kids get a lot out of. Develop a love of science and so forth. Or it could be a pressure cooker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the benefit of this. If DC is taking Algebra 2, then he isn’t taking the Physics C exams.

This sounds like taking APs for the sake of taking APs.

What are the Physics C exams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the benefit of this. If DC is taking Algebra 2, then he isn’t taking the Physics C exams.

This sounds like taking APs for the sake of taking APs.

What are the Physics C exams?

They require calculus. There is also an easier physics AP which OP is presumably referring to.

[Anonymous]

40 YO here. Do schools even allow that? Back when I was in HS, you needed to be taking calculus if you wanted to take AP Physics.

Personally, I'd wait. There's real value in taking some of the fundamental classes in college rather than high school.

[Anonymous]

The AP physics students take as freshmen at Blair (and Wheaton) is AP physics1, and is algebra based. AP physics C classes are calculus based, and taken later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be great if the county just had a more rigorous Honors physics class, but they don't. At least if your kid takes this as a freshman, colleges won't expect very high scores.

You absolutely have no idea but just had to spout nonsense, right?

My child took Honors Physics first and had a lot of fun, getting A's. Then he took AP Physics 1. He said that Honors Physics did not prepare him well for AP Physics, despite being a really solid math student. He is usually a reliable reporter. Perhaps Honors Physics is taught in a more rigorous manner at other schools, but I thought that the county had a standardized curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be great if the county just had a more rigorous Honors physics class, but they don't. At least if your kid takes this as a freshman, colleges won't expect very high scores.

You absolutely have no idea but just had to spout nonsense, right?

My child took Honors Physics first and had a lot of fun, getting A's. Then he took AP Physics 1. He said that Honors Physics did not prepare him well for AP Physics, despite being a really solid math student. He is usually a reliable reporter. Perhaps Honors Physics is taught in a more rigorous manner at other schools, but I thought that the county had a standardized curriculum.

Also, when I was in high school, the Honors level science classes were sufficient preparation to do well on the SAT Achievement Tests (now called SAT Subject Tests) without any extra study. That does not seem to be the case at my DS's MCPS school.

[Anonymous]

AP physics 1 and 2 are part of the lower tier AP curriculum. AP Physics C is the real deal.