Anonymous
Post 01/27/2023 11:44     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Honestly, if it were me I'd have my kid stick with band rather than double up with AP Physics, as there are still two more years after that to take APs in physics, chemistry, and/or bio. That's a decently heavy courseload as is, and I feel strongly that having one class period a day that's in the arts is so good for kids' mental health as a brain reset, not to mention the camaraderie of playing together. This is especially true for kids with ADHD IME.

She really doesn't need to implicitly "declare a major" in HS in order to pursue science in college. She's on track to get a really solid science grounding in HS and be competitive for solid applications to colleges/universities for a science or engineering track.

If it were my kid, I'd advise her to stay in band this year, and then consider dropping the foreign language either for junior or definitely for senior year to make more room for science classes (especially because AP chem and bio are two-period classes). She's already got four years after next year and that is great.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2023 18:36     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.




Colleges like to see students commit to something they love over a period of time, especially if they start to take on leadership roles in that area. Keeping band on the schedule (if you student really likes it) would be one way to show a commitment. Your student could eventually look for SSL opportunities that builds on the band skills.

Is there a reason to take AP Physics now and not in junior year? You may want to plan out a possible junior and senior year schedule just to see if it is important to take the class now to make room for something else later. It could be that it fits nicely in junior year.

Good luck.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2023 13:36     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your child will do well. My child took AP Physics 1 and Honors Alg 2 in 9th grade. It was a lot of work but he told me that the kids that finished Alg 2 found the class a lot easier. Your child can focus on the conceptual concepts, which is the most difficult and not have to also learn the math.


Did you DC do Hon Bio as well as AP Physics 1? Is s/he at a magnet?


No, kid is not in a magnet. Didn’t take Honor Bio— will take AP Bio next year.


OP, forgot to add that my kid finds Honors Chem very easy. Complains that many kids slow down the class because they don’t understand the math.


That's interesting to know. I always thought Chemistry was harder than Bio when I was in HS.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2023 08:03     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your child will do well. My child took AP Physics 1 and Honors Alg 2 in 9th grade. It was a lot of work but he told me that the kids that finished Alg 2 found the class a lot easier. Your child can focus on the conceptual concepts, which is the most difficult and not have to also learn the math.


Did you DC do Hon Bio as well as AP Physics 1? Is s/he at a magnet?


No, kid is not in a magnet. Didn’t take Honor Bio— will take AP Bio next year.

Biology is a prerequisite for AP Biology.


Not at my kid’s school for kids that took AP Physics 1 in 9th and Honors Chem in 10th.


That sounds like Blair
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2023 02:59     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your child will do well. My child took AP Physics 1 and Honors Alg 2 in 9th grade. It was a lot of work but he told me that the kids that finished Alg 2 found the class a lot easier. Your child can focus on the conceptual concepts, which is the most difficult and not have to also learn the math.


Did you DC do Hon Bio as well as AP Physics 1? Is s/he at a magnet?


No, kid is not in a magnet. Didn’t take Honor Bio— will take AP Bio next year.

Biology is a prerequisite for AP Biology.


Not at my kid’s school for kids that took AP Physics 1 in 9th and Honors Chem in 10th.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 22:40     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your child will do well. My child took AP Physics 1 and Honors Alg 2 in 9th grade. It was a lot of work but he told me that the kids that finished Alg 2 found the class a lot easier. Your child can focus on the conceptual concepts, which is the most difficult and not have to also learn the math.


Did you DC do Hon Bio as well as AP Physics 1? Is s/he at a magnet?


No, kid is not in a magnet. Didn’t take Honor Bio— will take AP Bio next year.

Biology is a prerequisite for AP Biology.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 21:01     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your child will do well. My child took AP Physics 1 and Honors Alg 2 in 9th grade. It was a lot of work but he told me that the kids that finished Alg 2 found the class a lot easier. Your child can focus on the conceptual concepts, which is the most difficult and not have to also learn the math.


Did you DC do Hon Bio as well as AP Physics 1? Is s/he at a magnet?


No, kid is not in a magnet. Didn’t take Honor Bio— will take AP Bio next year.


OP, forgot to add that my kid finds Honors Chem very easy. Complains that many kids slow down the class because they don’t understand the math.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 20:58     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your child will do well. My child took AP Physics 1 and Honors Alg 2 in 9th grade. It was a lot of work but he told me that the kids that finished Alg 2 found the class a lot easier. Your child can focus on the conceptual concepts, which is the most difficult and not have to also learn the math.


Did you DC do Hon Bio as well as AP Physics 1? Is s/he at a magnet?


No, kid is not in a magnet. Didn’t take Honor Bio— will take AP Bio next year.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 19:22     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
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?


Not the OP but AP Comp Sci Java does not but AP Comp Foundations does. The later is a very easy AP that almost nobody will ever give you credit it for but it does cover the silly tech credit while the real AP Comp Sci will not.


Actually, it looks like AP Java now counts as TE credit.

A side question, do most kids take the actual AP test at the end of the AP Comp Sci Principle class since colleges won't bother giving credit for it?
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 17:38     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?


Not the OP but AP Comp Sci Java does not but AP Comp Foundations does. The later is a very easy AP that almost nobody will ever give you credit it for but it does cover the silly tech credit while the real AP Comp Sci will not.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 17:36     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.



Drop one of the sciences and take health.


Already have health (or part of it)
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 17:30     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
Anonymous wrote:
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.


This. My kid is a junior taking AP Physics 1 at a non W HS. He complains this is a hard class and only 1 kid has an A this quarter.
It is not an easy class
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2023 17:20     Subject: Taking AP Physics 1 with Hon Chemistry in 10th
I have a kid who did this but took Spanish 5 and AP Econ (had done comp sci over the summer). DC was completely fine. It depends on the kid…you know your child best.