Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 17:17     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD is not sure what she wants to do for her career path, but not sure if I expect her to know since she is just a freshman this year. She is overall an A student in the subjects that she takes, works hard to get her As, has ADHD but have learned to manage it somewhat decently.

I am helping her finalize her schedule, and she wants to double up on the Sciences next year to get a feel of what she wants to do in the future. She currently in band, and so is dropping next year to squeeze in an extra science class. She intends to return to school band in 11th or 12th grade. Her schedule looks like this. Does this seem unreasonable?

AP Physics 1 (Alg 2 prereq)
Hon Chem
AP Comp Sci
AP US History
Hon Precalc
Hon English
Hon French 4A

As a parent, this seems too much to me but I don't know how difficult AP Physics 1 is. Personally, I think she should just continue with school band rather than do a second science, but it seems like she wants to have an idea of how much she would enjoy Physics.

Outside of school, she is involved in her instrument through youth orchestra and does field hockey. She does volunteer for a few hours once a week in something that she is passionate about.



Rough, but doable; it's essentially what some magnet students have to do, so it's in the realm of the possible. I do notice none of the dear county's requirements in PE,Health, Art are there. Is your DD squared away with all those diploma requirements? Does, for instance, AP Comp Sci meet the technology (or whatever it's called) requirement?


Yes, DD took PE and Band in Freshman year and did 0.5 credit of health virtually before entering 9th. The Comp Sci is to complete the TE credit. This summer, DD doesn't plan any coursework and is just going to focus on whatever she wants.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 17:12     Subject: Re:Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
My 10th grader has that exact course load except they’re taking AP Env Sci instead of Hon Chem. (Took Hon Chem already in 9th) Grades are OK so far but it’s a lot, especially with any sport or other extracurricular time commitments. Mine’s choosing to back off on extracurricular but doesn’t seem as happy this year. I discouraged the course load last year, but went over their head to counselor about next year’s!
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 17:07     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:I haven’t heard of anyone taking two sciences in tenth grade. This is not necessary. If she enjoys band, she should do that.

Are you from another country? Why are you or she worried about her figuring out what she wants to do? She doesn’t need to decide a major till spring of sophomore year of college, and in some schools fall of junior year.


Magnet students have to double up on science virtually every year. So it is done.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 17:05     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:DD is not sure what she wants to do for her career path, but not sure if I expect her to know since she is just a freshman this year. She is overall an A student in the subjects that she takes, works hard to get her As, has ADHD but have learned to manage it somewhat decently.

I am helping her finalize her schedule, and she wants to double up on the Sciences next year to get a feel of what she wants to do in the future. She currently in band, and so is dropping next year to squeeze in an extra science class. She intends to return to school band in 11th or 12th grade. Her schedule looks like this. Does this seem unreasonable?

AP Physics 1 (Alg 2 prereq)
Hon Chem
AP Comp Sci
AP US History
Hon Precalc
Hon English
Hon French 4A

As a parent, this seems too much to me but I don't know how difficult AP Physics 1 is. Personally, I think she should just continue with school band rather than do a second science, but it seems like she wants to have an idea of how much she would enjoy Physics.

Outside of school, she is involved in her instrument through youth orchestra and does field hockey. She does volunteer for a few hours once a week in something that she is passionate about.



Rough, but doable; it's essentially what some magnet students have to do, so it's in the realm of the possible. I do notice none of the dear county's requirements in PE,Health, Art are there. Is your DD squared away with all those diploma requirements? Does, for instance, AP Comp Sci meet the technology (or whatever it's called) requirement?
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 16:24     Subject: Re:Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
AP Physics 1 teacher here. I do NOT recommend taking AP1 until after successful completion of Honors Algebra 2 and concurrently with Honors Precalculus. AP1 is not easy plug-and-chug simple algebraic problem solving. It is complex algebraic reasoning with multiple equations to describe complex situations and how they change under different conditions. They need to be very comfortable with multi-variable functions, and not just simple linear relationships. They also need the unit circle/trigonometry taught in precalculus. (Timing works well - the AP1 unit comes after the Precalc unit.)

If your daughter wants double science, have her double up with Honors Physics. If she decides she likes it, she should take AP Physics C senior year, concurrently with AP Calculus.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 16:24     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think it’s too much and unnecessary for 10th. I’d advise my kid to keep band and wait on AP physics. Better to take AP Physics C as a senior if physics proves to be of real interest.


At our HS, they won't let you take Physics C without Physics A/B. So one does not have to take AP Physics 1. They can take Physics but a lower level. There appears to be only Alg 2 prereq for AP Physics 1.


I was suggesting the AP Physics C for after 11th grade, when the student would typically take Honors Physics, which in many ways is a better course than AP Physics 1.


Can you share -- why is Honors Physics better than taking AP Physics 1?


It covers more aspects of physics. If you search this forum, you’ll see some MCPS science teachers explain.


I found one:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1032560.page
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 16:22     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think it’s too much and unnecessary for 10th. I’d advise my kid to keep band and wait on AP physics. Better to take AP Physics C as a senior if physics proves to be of real interest.


At our HS, they won't let you take Physics C without Physics A/B. So one does not have to take AP Physics 1. They can take Physics but a lower level. There appears to be only Alg 2 prereq for AP Physics 1.


I was suggesting the AP Physics C for after 11th grade, when the student would typically take Honors Physics, which in many ways is a better course than AP Physics 1.


Can you share -- why is Honors Physics better than taking AP Physics 1?


It covers more aspects of physics. If you search this forum, you’ll see some MCPS science teachers explain.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 16:18     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:DD is not sure what she wants to do for her career path, but not sure if I expect her to know since she is just a freshman this year. She is overall an A student in the subjects that she takes, works hard to get her As, has ADHD but have learned to manage it somewhat decently.

I am helping her finalize her schedule, and she wants to double up on the Sciences next year to get a feel of what she wants to do in the future. She currently in band, and so is dropping next year to squeeze in an extra science class. She intends to return to school band in 11th or 12th grade. Her schedule looks like this. Does this seem unreasonable?

AP Physics 1 (Alg 2 prereq)
Hon Chem
AP Comp Sci
AP US History
Hon Precalc
Hon English
Hon French 4A

As a parent, this seems too much to me but I don't know how difficult AP Physics 1 is. Personally, I think she should just continue with school band rather than do a second science, but it seems like she wants to have an idea of how much she would enjoy Physics.

Outside of school, she is involved in her instrument through youth orchestra and does field hockey. She does volunteer for a few hours once a week in something that she is passionate about.



Drop one of the sciences and take health.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 16:09     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Honors 4 Language courses are also a lot of work/hard unless the student has more of a natural language talent.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 16:08     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The AP Physics 1 experience is very teacher-dependent. STEM-focused DC is at a magnet and this course is more work than all of their others (IB and AP) put together. Spends a ridiculous amount of time self-teaching. So be sure to ask about what it's like at your school.



Similar issue with my kid, who is also taking two sciences in 10th.


AP Physics 1, which my kid is taking as the first Physics course, in our non-magnet W school is a bear. A lot of outside study is required, and the instructor gives AP tests all year, and to get a 3 in the AP Physics 1 test, you need to get 33%. Tests are very hard. GPA busting class for sure.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 14:03     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:The AP Physics 1 experience is very teacher-dependent. STEM-focused DC is at a magnet and this course is more work than all of their others (IB and AP) put together. Spends a ridiculous amount of time self-teaching. So be sure to ask about what it's like at your school.



Similar issue with my kid, who is also taking two sciences in 10th.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 12:57     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think it’s too much and unnecessary for 10th. I’d advise my kid to keep band and wait on AP physics. Better to take AP Physics C as a senior if physics proves to be of real interest.


At our HS, they won't let you take Physics C without Physics A/B. So one does not have to take AP Physics 1. They can take Physics but a lower level. There appears to be only Alg 2 prereq for AP Physics 1.


I was suggesting the AP Physics C for after 11th grade, when the student would typically take Honors Physics, which in many ways is a better course than AP Physics 1.


Can you share -- why is Honors Physics better than taking AP Physics 1?
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 12:54     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think it’s too much and unnecessary for 10th. I’d advise my kid to keep band and wait on AP physics. Better to take AP Physics C as a senior if physics proves to be of real interest.


At our HS, they won't let you take Physics C without Physics A/B. So one does not have to take AP Physics 1. They can take Physics but a lower level. There appears to be only Alg 2 prereq for AP Physics 1.


I was suggesting the AP Physics C for after 11th grade, when the student would typically take Honors Physics, which in many ways is a better course than AP Physics 1.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 12:53     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think it’s too much and unnecessary for 10th. I’d advise my kid to keep band and wait on AP physics. Better to take AP Physics C as a senior if physics proves to be of real interest.


At our HS, they won't let you take Physics C without Physics A/B. So one does not have to take AP Physics 1. They can take Physics but a lower level. There appears to be only Alg 2 prereq for AP Physics 1.



What is Physics A/B? I have never heard of it
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 12:35     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:I haven’t heard of anyone taking two sciences in tenth grade. This is not necessary. If she enjoys band, she should do that.

Are you from another country? Why are you or she worried about her figuring out what she wants to do? She doesn’t need to decide a major till spring of sophomore year of college, and in some schools fall of junior year.


No, we're Americans.