AP Physics vs AP biology

[Halfpint]

For senior year i am kinda left picking one or the other and i am not sure which one to go with. At my high school freshman year they had us take biology honors, sophomore year was chemistry honors and this year is AP chemistry. I'm leaning towards physics for next year.

Also, should i take AP psych or does it really matter what i take for social studies?

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[austinblnd]

Going into the medical field you should take bio instead of physic. Psych would help if you wanna save $ but it depends on the school you want to go to.

 

[Power of One]

AP Bio will prove to better in the long run. Not to mention, it is much easier than AP physics.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Physics is surprisingly applicable to human physiology and understanding its principles is as useful in medical school as biology; nevertheless this shouldn't influence your decision.

If you have no Physics background, it is probably more useful to get this than to take another year of Bio. I think the optimum premed strategy is to take the easiest introductory physics, chemistry, and biology courses regardless of AP credit to maximize your GPA (if your college allows), and you'll get the most bang for your buck if you have some background in all three.

Take psych if you have an interest but I don't think it makes much of a difference.

 

[the duck]

Nothing you take really makes much of a difference. I would take AP physics because you will have to take a year in college, and you'll be at a disadvantage having never taken it, since most people take it senior year.

 

[boaz]

I;d go with bio, for 2 reasons:
1) You can then go to upper level bio in college. That will get you ahead in general, especially for the MCAT.
2) It's generally easier.

 

[cbtk18]

Nothing you take really makes much of a difference. I would take AP physics because you will have to take a year in college, and you'll be at a disadvantage having never taken it, since most people take it senior year.

PHYSICS


case closed

 

[the duck]

I;d go with bio, for 2 reasons:
1) You can then go to upper level bio in college. That will get you ahead in general, especially for the MCAT.
2) It's generally easier.

Using AP credit to satisfy prereqs is a mistake. Some schools downright won't accept them, and others will view them on par with courses taken at a CC.
The MCAT focuses on material taught in the prereq classes, not upper division biology, the OP will be at a disadvantage not having taken bio at the university level.

 

[The Z]

"If you have no Physics background, it is probably more useful to get this than to take another year of Bio."

I concur. I am so glad I did not opt out of taking physics this year. I really don't like it, but it certainly has shown me what I will have to face latter on.

 

[DoctorS_]

Not to hijack the OP's thread, but I am also stuck with making this decision. The only difference in my situation is that I have taken Bio 1, Chem 1, Physics 1, and I am currently taking AP Chem. What would you all choose if you have taken introductory physics and bio? I do plan on entering a health care field (probably medicine), so I have the feeling that most of you will say to go with bio.

 

[boaz]

Using AP credit to satisfy prereqs is a mistake. Some schools downright won't accept them, and others will view them on par with courses taken at a CC.
The MCAT focuses on material taught in the prereq classes, not upper division biology, the OP will be at a disadvantage not having taken bio at the university level.

Schools that don't accept AP credit for prereqs will definitely accept (quite gladly) upper level courses. In the case of chemistry, if you take AP chem and then you take two semesters of P-chem you're very competitive. In biology, if you take AP bio and then take a few upper level bio courses at the university level (as long as the courses are "general" enough, such as molec bio etc.), you are also very competitive.
True, the MCAT does not test content above the basic prereqs. However, contrary to what many believe, taking upper level science classes DOES tend to give an advantage. I can say this from my own experience (with chemistry) as well as friends'. Lately the trend of the MCAT tests has been towards more sophistication in the molecular biology/genetics area. Those who've taken such upper level classes are usually very glad once they get to the MCAT.


(Taking AP physics doesn't really help much unless you intend to be a physics major.)

 

[chicdianne]

probably choose Bio leading to nursing/doctorate .. Much easier in general. Goodluck in choosing the right course.

 

[mintleif]

For senior year i am kinda left picking one or the other and i am not sure which one to go with. At my high school freshman year they had us take biology honors, sophomore year was chemistry honors and this year is AP chemistry. I'm leaning towards physics for next year.

Also, should i take AP psych or does it really matter what i take for social studies?

is there no way you can take both? i'd take both just to be sure.

 

[niblet]

I'd take Physics. You'll thank yourself later.

 

[lazercats]

I'd rather get at least some background in physics before going into college IMO

 

[BexBonafide]

It might help prepare you for some of the biology in college if you take AP Bio. Plus one of my teachers told me that physics is different in college than it is in high school [but then again i dont take ap]. Youd probably be more prepared taking AP bio

 

[Vicviper]

Haha, I had that same setup at my school in CA with the H Bio in 9th and such. Anyways, I'd say take AP Bio. Even though my 4 on the test did nothing for my credit-wise other than 6 units of elective credit, the incredibly solid foundation it will give you for all of your other lower and upper division classes is invaluable. A good AP Bio class will use Campbell, the Bio BIBLE, and will more or less cover the basics of everything you'll ever see again in bio. Physics you'll only be taking for a year, but if you're a bio major, you'll be taking far more of that. I don't know how many times my amazing AP Bio class saved me when I had to deal with horrible professors in undergrad who didn't know how to teach - if I didn't have that foundation, I don't know how I would have gotten through some classes, ha.

 

[APTeacher]

I'm a science department chair at a college prep school. There's no real easy answer for you, sad to say. A few things to consider:

1) Do the colleges you are looking at accept AP Bio credit? If they don't, you'll likely be repeating your AP Bio course again once you get to college. On the other hand, if they do, it's a good way to earn college credit you're going to need.

2) Do you want to take Physics for the first time at the college level? In general, college professors/grad students (who often teach the lower level classes) aren't necessarily good teachers. Some are, yes, but for every good one there's at least one bad one and a bunch of mediocre ones. Even with a good teacher, you might get stuck in a big lecture hall with 100 other students if you go to a larger college, so that's something to consider as well.

At the high school level teachers have more time for individual students and are generally at the very least decent at teaching, and most are fairly good if you want to learn. I teach both introductory Physics and AP Physics at my school. In my intro physics course, we probably cover about 50% of the physics material you'll see on the MCAT down the line. As for AP- by the end of the year students in my AP course could take the physics MCAT and pass it without having to work too terribly hard at it. (not that any of them are going into med school, of course)

I strongly recommend that students majoring in any science should have at least one solid year of bio, chem, and physics before graduating high school. If you were choosing between AP Bio and AP Physics, I'd say go for AP Bio. However, if you have to choose between AP Bio and introductory physics, I'd advise getting some physics background before heading to college.

 

[Vicviper]

Yeah, you really don't want to enter college as a pre-health student having taken zero physics, even if it's just the basics, because very often just wrapping your mind around the big concepts is the hardest part, and the math that goes along with it can come easily if you get the big picture.

 

[88pich14]

I would go with AP physics. Many schools (at least most of the ones I applied to this year) will take AP physics credit so you won't have to go through college physics and lab. However, very few will take AP bio credit, and even if they do you need to take upper level bio courses to be competitive.

 

[Suenya]

If there is any chance you wish to be a non-bio (or similar, neuroscience, etc) major, I recommend you take AP Physics without a doubt. I would recommend it even if you do wish to be a bio major as well, because the intro bio courses are often easier, and since they are required they are not viewed negatively, so they make it easier to increase your science GPA.


AP Physics is accepted by many many many medical schools in lieu of the course. The same is not true for AP Bio, which almost none take. If you are going to major in Bio, it might save you a few courses and should be considered.

Even many of the schools that say that they do not take AP Physics, do in fact take it in many cases. Harvard, for example, does not admit to taking it, but if you get an interview there they'll tell you it's most likely they'll accept it as your credit if you get in.

 

[indya]

AP PHYSICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should do both, but if you can only take one, you know my suggestion. Biology is a lot of memorization which you will get enough of in college. Physics is the opposite. A ton of conceptual stuff that will make you prepared for true college physics. Also, AP Physics is much harder, but more worthwhile.

 

[Ramo711]

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