Anonymous
09/20/2023 10:08
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
Anonymous wrote:A lot of work, but my kid looked at a 2-3 of his target schools and what credit they offered for certain classes.
https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/getting-credit-placement/search-policies/college/1195
Very anecdotally, looking at U Michigan…
the minimum score for physics C credit is a 5. This gives you credit for 2 100-level physics classes.
The minimum score for chemistry is a 4; this give credit for three 100-level classes.
This could give you an idea, of what the school thinks is important, and how difficult the class is compared to the school curriculum. You can also check Out the requirements for the CS degree. It’s similar for Most engineering schools.
if I, remember correctly an engineering CS degree requires 2 physics classes. It also requires chemistry 1, biology 1, and a choice of the second level of either of those.
This summary is misleading.
"Courses" don't matter. Credits matter.
Some subjects are split into class and lab credits.
In that example, 4 on Chemisty is 5 credits, and 5 on Physics is 5 credits for Mechanics and 5 more credits for E&M, for 10 total.
It's probably as easy to get a 5 in a full year Mechanics class as a 4 in Chemistry.
And E&M has an extreme grading curve, because almost no one actually learns E&M in high school.
So ita a big difference whether you do one or both parts of Physics that year. (schools/classes vary.)
Also, that page says Physics 1 or 2 get 10 (lower level) credits, but it's the same 10 credits for both classes, and it's almost certain that credit won't count for a science major.
Anonymous
09/20/2023 09:58
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a STEM magnet and wants to major in CS. Only has room in schedule next year (senior year) to take either AP Chem or AP Physics C (AP Physics 1&2 is not offered). Likes both subjects equally. Which class would be more helpful at college as a CS major where there may be general “engineering school” requirements that include Chemistry and calculus based Physics?
Seriously: Pick the class with the best teacher. A lot of times, schools have a hard time getting AP-certified teachers. They take any warm certified body. Competence in this area is critical.
If your kid can choose between two good options, choose AP Chem, because AP Chem is a foundational course. In a perfect world, every educated person would have a year of college chemistry. It’s a little weird to take extra physics without having a basic level of knowledge about chemistry.
What are you calling "extra" physics and "basic" chemistry?
Both AP Chem and AP Physics C are basic college classes.
Physic just happens to use calculus which scares people so there is a non-calculus version, and basic physics happens to be a larger subject due to the arbitrary distinctions between sciences.
Anonymous
09/20/2023 09:26
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a STEM magnet and wants to major in CS. Only has room in schedule next year (senior year) to take either AP Chem or AP Physics C (AP Physics 1&2 is not offered). Likes both subjects equally. Which class would be more helpful at college as a CS major where there may be general “engineering school” requirements that include Chemistry and calculus based Physics?
Seriously: Pick the class with the best teacher. A lot of times, schools have a hard time getting AP-certified teachers. They take any warm certified body. Competence in this area is critical.
If your kid can choose between two good options, choose AP Chem, because AP Chem is a foundational course. In a perfect world, every educated person would have a year of college chemistry. It’s a little weird to take extra physics without having a basic level of knowledge about chemistry.
Yes, this. Teacher makes all the difference. Go with the best teacher.
Anonymous
09/20/2023 08:05
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a STEM magnet and wants to major in CS. Only has room in schedule next year (senior year) to take either AP Chem or AP Physics C (AP Physics 1&2 is not offered). Likes both subjects equally. Which class would be more helpful at college as a CS major where there may be general “engineering school” requirements that include Chemistry and calculus based Physics?
Seriously: Pick the class with the best teacher. A lot of times, schools have a hard time getting AP-certified teachers. They take any warm certified body. Competence in this area is critical.
If your kid can choose between two good options, choose AP Chem, because AP Chem is a foundational course. In a perfect world, every educated person would have a year of college chemistry. It’s a little weird to take extra physics without having a basic level of knowledge about chemistry.
This is sound advice. My kid is humanities-focused but is taking E&M as a senior because the teacher is so good (after taking AP physics 1 with the same teacher as a junior). Really good science teachers are few and far between; do the research and go with the teacher with the best reputation.
Anonymous
09/20/2023 01:11
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
^^
With this, I would say to take chemistry. Can we get credit for chemistry one. They wouldn’t take biology 1 &2 and physics 1&2.
From experience, it would help to take the classes where there are multiple levels at the same school in consecutive semesters (vs learning physics 1 as a HS senior and the physics 2 as a college freshman)
With this, I would say to take chemistry. Can we get credit for chemistry one. They wouldn’t take biology 1 &2 and physics 1&2.
From experience, it would help to take the classes where there are multiple levels at the same school in consecutive semesters (vs learning physics 1 as a HS senior and the physics 2 as a college freshman)
Anonymous
09/20/2023 01:06
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
A lot of work, but my kid looked at a 2-3 of his target schools and what credit they offered for certain classes.
https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/getting-credit-placement/search-policies/college/1195
Very anecdotally, looking at U Michigan…
the minimum score for physics C credit is a 5. This gives you credit for 2 100-level physics classes.
The minimum score for chemistry is a 4; this give credit for three 100-level classes.
This could give you an idea, of what the school thinks is important, and how difficult the class is compared to the school curriculum. You can also check Out the requirements for the CS degree. It’s similar for Most engineering schools.
if I, remember correctly an engineering CS degree requires 2 physics classes. It also requires chemistry 1, biology 1, and a choice of the second level of either of those.
https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/getting-credit-placement/search-policies/college/1195
Very anecdotally, looking at U Michigan…
the minimum score for physics C credit is a 5. This gives you credit for 2 100-level physics classes.
The minimum score for chemistry is a 4; this give credit for three 100-level classes.
This could give you an idea, of what the school thinks is important, and how difficult the class is compared to the school curriculum. You can also check Out the requirements for the CS degree. It’s similar for Most engineering schools.
if I, remember correctly an engineering CS degree requires 2 physics classes. It also requires chemistry 1, biology 1, and a choice of the second level of either of those.
Anonymous
09/19/2023 22:47
Subject: Re:AP Chem or AP Physics C
Check the admission requirements for the program he's interested in.
Our state flagship's CS program is housed in the engineering department and requirements are clear: strong math and science coursework and grades; calculus preferred, physics expected (if offered at the high school).
Our state flagship's CS program is housed in the engineering department and requirements are clear: strong math and science coursework and grades; calculus preferred, physics expected (if offered at the high school).
Anonymous
09/19/2023 22:43
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
Physics
Anonymous
09/19/2023 22:40
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
It's not a big difference.
Neither one matters for CS (or both count equally for random science elective to fill out requirements).. Physics is more generally applicable.
Do the one that seems more pleasant.
AP Chem counts for 2 courses at UMD , but not for Engineering major.
MIT will give 1 course of credit for Physics, and 0 for Chemistry. (But it's a bad idea to skip the course at MIT)
Neither one matters for CS (or both count equally for random science elective to fill out requirements).. Physics is more generally applicable.
Do the one that seems more pleasant.
AP Chem counts for 2 courses at UMD , but not for Engineering major.
MIT will give 1 course of credit for Physics, and 0 for Chemistry. (But it's a bad idea to skip the course at MIT)
Anonymous
09/19/2023 22:27
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a STEM magnet and wants to major in CS. Only has room in schedule next year (senior year) to take either AP Chem or AP Physics C (AP Physics 1&2 is not offered). Likes both subjects equally. Which class would be more helpful at college as a CS major where there may be general “engineering school” requirements that include Chemistry and calculus based Physics?
AP Physics C. If you are talking about TJ, they cover both mechanics and E&M and there are 2 AP exams. If the score a 5 in each, that would allow them to skip 2 courses in college and go straight to core courses. AP Chem will only count for one college level course. Engineering schools also prefer to see AP Physics C vs. AP Chem.
Anonymous
09/19/2023 22:09
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
Physics > Chemistry for general engineering
Anonymous
09/19/2023 21:58
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
Physics C - but only if good in calculus
Anonymous
09/19/2023 21:51
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a STEM magnet and wants to major in CS. Only has room in schedule next year (senior year) to take either AP Chem or AP Physics C (AP Physics 1&2 is not offered). Likes both subjects equally. Which class would be more helpful at college as a CS major where there may be general “engineering school” requirements that include Chemistry and calculus based Physics?
Seriously: Pick the class with the best teacher. A lot of times, schools have a hard time getting AP-certified teachers. They take any warm certified body. Competence in this area is critical.
If your kid can choose between two good options, choose AP Chem, because AP Chem is a foundational course. In a perfect world, every educated person would have a year of college chemistry. It’s a little weird to take extra physics without having a basic level of knowledge about chemistry.
Anonymous
09/19/2023 21:49
Subject: Re:AP Chem or AP Physics C
Physics
Anonymous
09/19/2023 21:38
Subject: AP Chem or AP Physics C
My kid goes to a STEM magnet and wants to major in CS. Only has room in schedule next year (senior year) to take either AP Chem or AP Physics C (AP Physics 1&2 is not offered). Likes both subjects equally. Which class would be more helpful at college as a CS major where there may be general “engineering school” requirements that include Chemistry and calculus based Physics?