Do I really have to retake physics?

[deleted1001544]

I took AP Physics C in high school. I got a 5 on Mechanics and a 4 in E&M. I understand everyone says that you have to retake Physics in college and med schools don't like it when you use APs and it's good for the MCAT and all that. For a bit I was ok with that, then I started hearing stories from friends taking the physics for bio majors here. The classes are graded on a strict curve, resulting in several of my friends who got like 96s and 97s in the class (a high A by regular school standards) getting a B+ for the class. I really don't want to deal with that. In addition, they said the classes didn't really add that much value over the AP courses. Thoughts?

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[bluepeony]

I took AP Physics C in high school. I got a 5 on Mechanics and a 4 in E&M. I understand everyone says that you have to retake Physics in college and med schools don't like it when you use APs and it's good for the MCAT and all that. For a bit I was ok with that, then I started hearing stories from friends taking the physics for bio majors here. The classes are graded on a strict curve, resulting in several of my friends who got like 96s and 97s in the class (a high A by regular school standards) getting a B+ for the class. I really don't want to deal with that. In addition, they said the classes didn't really add that much value over the AP courses. Thoughts?

Take upper level physics courses.

 

[deleted1001544]

Take upper level physics courses.

Have been toying around with the idea. Any that you would suggest?

 

[Isoval]

You’re fine.

 

[Cornfed101]

Have been toying around with the idea. Any that you would suggest?

I took an "upper level" physics class that was basically a class for people wanting to teach high school physics. We just did fun experiments the whole time like making water bottle rockets and mousetrap cars and stuff.

I also took a more serious upper-level class that was more focused on electricity and magnetism, but that obviously wasn't as fun.

See what your options are at your school.

 

[kfcchikin]

I got a 4 in only mechanics, which my college accepts, but I took intro phys 1 & 2 and they were a breeze. We have a 63% average and I ended up with over 100% both sems and I completely attribute it to having been exposed in high school. I think the hard part of physics is how new the application is for most students, which you have covered. I wouldn't take upper level phys, they're a lot harder than you'd expect. My best friend was an astrophysics major and that sh&t looked painful. Just retake it and enjoy the A's

 

[Kamill]

But try not to take something like E&M for physics majors. That class was a ****show for me.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Same boat as you for other classes though. If that is really the case for the curve grading (which is some serious BS), don't mess with it, that could potentially really sink your GPA. Sounds like a better idea to take 2 upper-lvl courses with lab to satisfy the req (also, make sure the schools you even want to apply to require it at all, check on MSAR if you've got the subscription) Cheers!

 

[proudofmykids]

You should find this information helpful to understand any limitations of your use of AP credits or upper level decision.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/521f48a4e4b05f88e0403588/t/53d00fbae4b0c47638e35c36/1406144442803/Medical+School+Requirements.xlsx

 

[DNAJB6]

I took AP Physics C in high school. I got a 5 on Mechanics and a 4 in E&M. I understand everyone says that you have to retake Physics in college and med schools don't like it when you use APs and it's good for the MCAT and all that. For a bit I was ok with that, then I started hearing stories from friends taking the physics for bio majors here. The classes are graded on a strict curve, resulting in several of my friends who got like 96s and 97s in the class (a high A by regular school standards) getting a B+ for the class. I really don't want to deal with that. In addition, they said the classes didn't really add that much value over the AP courses. Thoughts?

Take it [the course] somewhere else.

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Take it somewhere else.

ignore him OP, this is where you should ask these questions

 

[Cornfed101]

ignore him OP, this is where you should ask these questions

haha I think he means take the class somewhere else

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Take it somewhere else.

haha I think he means take the class somewhere else

Lol sorry if that was your intention, otherwise, refer to above.

 

[DNAJB6]

Lol sorry if that was your intention, otherwise, refer to above.

I definitely meant that he should take the course somewhere else and not his home institution. Making a mid to high 90s score equal to a B+ is an insane curve. I would never be rude to a poster and tell him to take his questions elsewhere. 😛 That's what SDN is for.

@swatttt007

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

lol sorry, there are just too many people who would say that kinda **** on here

 

[chemphysicsinstructor]

I took AP Physics C in high school. I got a 5 on Mechanics and a 4 in E&M. I understand everyone says that you have to retake Physics in college and med schools don't like it when you use APs and it's good for the MCAT and all that. For a bit I was ok with that, then I started hearing stories from friends taking the physics for bio majors here. The classes are graded on a strict curve, resulting in several of my friends who got like 96s and 97s in the class (a high A by regular school standards) getting a B+ for the class. I really don't want to deal with that. In addition, they said the classes didn't really add that much value over the AP courses. Thoughts?

Please be aware that the AP curriculum does not perfectly overlap with the topics you need to know for the MCAT. For example, you need to know about geometric optics (think how the eye and microscopes work), but this is not included in the AP Physics C curriculum.

I recommend taking physics as a second time through the course will allow you to harvest (or glean) more.

 

[paimei42]

You could look into taking the physics for physics/engineers if you want to abandon that physics for bio ship too. I'm not sure if your school will let you if you've already taken the AP credit though.

Physics is usually the most linient of prereqs that schools will accept AP credit for though. Taking upper level physics is also another option.

 

[DNAJB6]

You could look into taking the physics for physics/engineers if you want to abandon that physics for bio ship too. I'm not sure if your school will let you if you've already taken the AP credit though.

Physics is usually the most linient of prereqs that schools will accept AP credit for though. Taking upper level physics is also another option.

Wouldn't these all be calculus based? I thought the AP version was the non-calculus version.

 

[paimei42]

Wouldn't these all be calculus based? I thought the AP version was the non-calculus version.

AP physics B is not calculus based but AP physics C is the calc based one.

 

[chemphysicsinstructor]

AP physics B is not calculus based but AP physics C is the calc based one.

But please note that the range of topics covered in the B series vs. the C series is different. The B series tends to cover more of the MCAT topics as compared to the C series.