AP Classes

cougar64

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I am a junior in high school right now and have to pick my classes for next year soon,

AP Calculus A/B vs. AP Statistics

and for science.....

AP Chemistry vs. AP Physics B




I know the academy weights science and math classes heavily so I was wondering which class would make my application more competitive... assuming I get in A in either choice.....
 
What other AP classes have you taken; or are these your first attempt at AP classes?
 
AP calc, IMO, would be the better choice. Stats at USAFA is not one of the killer courses, but Calc is.

Both physics and chem cause a lot of cadets problems. I would take whichever you are weaker/have less experience with.
 
Take AP Calc. If you haven't taken a core class of either physics or chem yet, take the one you haven't taken for AP so USAFA sees that you have some experience in it. But if you have experience in both, I would say take Chem since that is usually harder in college than physics.
 
Yeah, Stats is not one of the hard math classes (usually), I’m taking it now, its one of those things that people usually don’t have too hard a time with.

So I would say take Calc. If it’s normally hard in high school, it will be killer at the academy.

Basically agreeing with everybody else.
 
Definitely go with calc, I think with the other two go with the one you feel you have a better foundation in. I wish I had taken AP chem over AP physics.
 
I have already taken Calculus 2 as a senior at my highschool, would I be required to take the calculus 1 class at the academy, or can i jump right into a more advanced class. Probably taking the calc 1 class would be a big ease on stress though
 
As for science, take AP Chem unless your school also offers AP Physics C because many colleges (USAFA in particular) don't consider AP Physics B test scores for validation purposes.
 
thanks I will go for AP Calculus and AP Chemistry, and as far as other AP classes I am currently taking AP Psych, APUSH, an Ap English Language right now.


And planning on taking
Ap Gov
Ap English Comp
Ap Calculus
and Ap Chemistry next year.
 
2012Cadet makes a good point. AP Physics C would be something to consider if it is offered. My Junior year I took Calc AB and Physics C, I liked how they almost went hand-in-hand with some of the math we were doing. In Physics we got to apply the calc we were learning to our experiments and problems.

If it's not offered, then Calculus will prepare you for physics in the future, making it not a big concern for handling it in college. I probably should have taken AP Chem :yllol:
 
However, I am also in this predicament in a way because next year I will have a choice between taking AP Physics C and AP Chem. Here's the thing though: Right now I am currently taking AP Calculus BC and AP Physics B as a junior. These two are also my worst classes grade wise (I got Bs in both last semester...with ten points added!). I was wondering, based on this and my prospective next year schedule (below), which of the two sciences should I take?

next year schedule
Calc 2/3 (college credit) or AP Stat
AP Macroecon
AP English Lit
AP American Gov
MCJROTC LE 4
Gifted Directed (Independent) Study and Contemporary Issues

Based on this, do you think I should take AP Chem or Physics C?
 
If you've never taken a Chem course, I would definitely go that way. You've already dipped your toe into the Physics waters with Physics B, so Chem would look more well rounded in my opinion.
I took AP Physics C instead of AP Chem only because I did a semester of Chem honors my Freshman year. My school offers a semester of Chem followed by a semester of Biology for incoming AP students so we can take more of the science classes that we want to.

But also remember there are free virtual school options. I'm not sure about other states, but Florida Virtual School is free. You can even sign on for it as an out of state student. If you're unsure between two classes, see if virtual school offers the course. They may have the AP course too. A word from the experienced with Virtual School though, students tend to put those classes on the backburner since it's an "at your own pace" sort of thing, so do NOT overload yourself with online classes. I'd say no more than one at a time :shake:
 
I'll make a rule of thumb here.

ALWAYS take Chem over other sciences.
ALWAYS take Calc over Stats.
 
So what if i already took Calculus BC and got a 5 on the AP test?

Is it possible for me to not take A or B, but retake C? Since i'm thinking of an engineering major im sure calculus is key, so i'm trying to see what my options are.
 
So what if i already took Calculus BC and got a 5 on the AP test?

Is it possible for me to not take A or B, but retake C? Since i'm thinking of an engineering major im sure calculus is key, so i'm trying to see what my options are.

uh, then don't retake calc 3? I'd think that's intuitive.

Are you referring to Physics with A, B, and C?

Honestly, unless you failed, don't retake a course. Take another that will benefit you. Chemistry, Physics, and Biology are all useful. Take stats if you have the options and covered calculus already. Especially if you want to be an engineer, that will help you.
 
Strike Eagle, I think my Physics major son would disagree with you that Physics is easier than chemistry. haha He sailed through those pesky required Chem courses but Physics as a major is giving him a real challenge.

I agree with all the others...

One thing: don't assume because you've taken Calc 1, 2, or AB or BC or whatever you high school offers that you will automatically validate anything. You'll take a bunch of placement courses during BCT and that will determine what you'll take come August.
 
Strike Eagle, I think my Physics major son would disagree with you that Physics is easier than chemistry. haha He sailed through those pesky required Chem courses but Physics as a major is giving him a real challenge.

Aw, even that's a dirty statement (ya, im biased ;) ) Mainly because the core level courses in each major really don't represent the major well at all. I could quote the drop-out rate for chem majors (around 50% or more) but that wouldn't be fair since so many are there trying for med school, not for chem.

But, biases aside, they are both difficult courses/majors. While the AP classes help some, the real deal at USAFA is much more difficult. You made a good point, AP anything is no guarantee of validation or of doing well.
 
uh, then don't retake calc 3? I'd think that's intuitive.

Are you referring to Physics with A, B, and C?

Honestly, unless you failed, don't retake a course. Take another that will benefit you. Chemistry, Physics, and Biology are all useful. Take stats if you have the options and covered calculus already. Especially if you want to be an engineer, that will help you.

Actually what i meant was, I'm not very good at calc 3, but i still got a 5 on the BC ap test. But if im gonna do any physics at all, i dunno if i could retake it in order to learn the material better
 
Strike Eagle, I think my Physics major son would disagree with you that Physics is easier than chemistry. haha He sailed through those pesky required Chem courses but Physics as a major is giving him a real challenge.

Well I guess it is all up to the person. Physics has always been easy for me, but chem...:unhappy:
 
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