Do most kids take physics junior or senior year?

[Anonymous]

Our school counselor indicated that it is a must to take Physics as a requirement to get into college. My DD has taken Bio and Chem so far and was looking forward to taking an IB Environmental Science class for her junior year. Counselor says she should take physics and an elective instead. Save Environmental Science for senior year, since it won't be as challenging as Physics. Anyone have any experience with this? Does it truly matter if you take Physics junior or senior year, as long as you have it? DD is planning on pursuing English in college. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My son got into a good state college taking IB Environmental Science Junior year and no science senior year. He is a business major.

[Anonymous]

Definitely less important for an English major than a STEM leaning kid. I think colleges understand that kids will usually take it as part of their high school progression. At my dd's school for example it is a freshman class, though AP physics is available to upper classmen. If your dd does well in that class it's nice to have on the junior year transcript as its understood to be a pretty challenging one, but if it's going to be a weak spot in her grades probably better to have senior year?

[Anonymous]

Mine took DE Physics in 11th because AP Physics options didn't fit on his schedule. In 11th, my kid also had AP Lang, AP USH, AP Calc BC, AP Micro/Macro and Band.

[Anonymous]

Short version is take what she's interested in learning and exploring. MCPS junior son currently is taking honors physics. Thought process when signing up for courses before COVID struck was as follows: (1) wasn't sure whether he wanted to take APES or AP Physics C as a senior, wanted to be exposed to physics before making decision and honors physics was a prerequisite; (2) Maryland is/was changing the mandatory science exam to include physics -- although it's not a requirement for his graduating class, he wanted to be prepared for it; and (3) liked concept of physics and was not a fan of chem or biology (seemed at time to have possible civil/mechanical engineering interest). Son has registered for APES and IB Sports Medicine for senior year. Although he is doing well in the class, being taught physics via DL killed off a lot of hard science interest at the moment. Other son (2020 grad) took AP Biology as a junior and APES as a senior. 2020 grad got into several schools without taking physics -- took GAP year, but intends on studying economics or psychology.

[Anonymous]

My DS took environmental junior year and then physics his senior year.

[Anonymous]

My DC has to take it as a senior because he is required to take Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and one other science (Physics for him) in order to graduate. I would hope that’s ok to take as a senior!

[Anonymous]

Our school requires Chem, Physics, AP Bio, any others you want to take in 11th and 12th would be a choice.

[Anonymous]

Physics is required sophomore year at our kids' school.

[Anonymous]

Physics, OP. Then let her choose what she wants.

[Anonymous]

Physics is a freshman class at my Dc’s school

[Anonymous]

My son's HS makes everyone take physics in 11th grade.

[Anonymous]

What physics class are you talking about taking? There are regular Physics classes, and there are three AP Physics classes.

I'm not sure what OP's child would take, but one thing I would not recommend is taking AP Physics C at the same time as AP Calculus. AP Physics C is calculus based, and in retrospect, DS should have waited until he finished AP Calculus before taking AP Physics C.

[Anonymous]

DC accepted into several Engineering programs, Bio in 9th, Honors Chem in 10th, AP Physics 1 in 11th, AP Physics C in 12th. Selective colleges do not view Environmental Sciences classes, even AP, as rigorous.

[Anonymous]

The counselor is giving good advice. You should follow it.