Anyone that has taken AP chemistry in high school, can you give me some insight?

[youngsterat16]

I’m thinking about taking it next year and I just want to know what you think of it frm those who’ve had it. I know experience will be different for everyone but I do not know anyone at my schooll who has taken it. I expect that the teachers will be good. I don’t have much difficulty in school period.

I’m wavering between this and APphysics1. I enjoyed chemistry more than physics I believe. But both have been relatively easy for me. I looked a little online. I’m just curious if anyone on here took it and what they thought in general. OR if you have taken AP phyics or both that would be helpful too, Although I know some people in AP physics.

I just wanted to see any of your opinions is all. Not that anywill completely waver me one way or another. but it’ll help me get a better idea

 

[Allegra]

My honors chemistry class almost killed me.

 

[redbetta]

I took the AP chemistry exam in 2015. It was much better than AP Calculus AB. I got an A in the class, but, what really messed us up that year is that the teacher said that weaved covered about 95% of the material and the other 5% are things they have not really stressed in the past. Well, they decided to make about half of the exam about that 5% and I did not see a lot of problems about the things that we’ve covered thoroughly. I was mad, but, at least I was still allowed to finish my inorganic chemistry requirement a quarter early.

I’ve never taken AP physics, so I cannot say anything about it. My friends who took it hated it, but, the teacher was new and not a very good instructor.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

A question from an old guy. Are you taking the class to learn better (or to be better able to learn), or are you taking it because it will look better on your transcripts?

People who work hard to make great looking transcripts tend to work hard to make great looking resumes. It often leads people to feeling that “satisfaction”, meaning the better school, better company, better position is just out of reach, or once attained is not as fulfilling as it was thought to have been. This results in a lot of pretty accomplished middle age people who realize they’ve been chasing a dream others set for them. (Our education system sets this dream to further the education system. Just as many industries do).

People who live lives they find fulfilling are those who follow their passion and live for what drives them. (With a bit of practicality mixed in. You don’t want to be $100,000 in debt with a degree you can’t use). So, if you are passionate about AP Chemistry take that, AP Physics do the same. Passionate about neither, then take neither and use the extra time you would have spent studying to investigate what drives you.

Good luck!

 

[10gr8kids]

A question from an old guy. Are you taking the class to learn better (or to be better able to learn), or are you taking it because it will look better on your transcripts?

People who work hard to make great looking transcripts tend to work hard to make great looking resumes. It often leads people to feeling that “satisfaction”, meaning the better school, better company, better position is just out of reach, or once attained is not as fulfilling as it was thought to have been. This results in a lot of pretty accomplished middle age people who realize they’ve been chasing a dream others set for them. (Our education system sets this dream to further the education system. Just as many industries do).

People who live lives they find fulfilling are those who follow their passion and live for what drives them. (With a bit of practicality mixed in. You don’t want to be $100,000 in debt with a degree you can’t use). So, if you are passionate about AP Chemistry take that, AP Physics do the same. Passionate about neither, then take neither and use the extra time you would have spent studying to investigate what drives you.

Good luck!

Excellent advice! Put another way… Listen to God’s calling, not the worlds.

 

[EasterJoy]

A question from an old guy. Are you taking the class to learn better (or to be better able to learn), or are you taking it because it will look better on your transcripts?

People who work hard to make great looking transcripts tend to work hard to make great looking resumes. It often leads people to feeling that “satisfaction”, meaning the better school, better company, better position is just out of reach, or once attained is not as fulfilling as it was thought to have been. This results in a lot of pretty accomplished middle age people who realize they’ve been chasing a dream others set for them. (Our education system sets this dream to further the education system. Just as many industries do).

People who live lives they find fulfilling are those who follow their passion and live for what drives them. (With a bit of practicality mixed in. You don’t want to be $100,000 in debt with a degree you can’t use). So, if you are passionate about AP Chemistry take that, AP Physics do the same. Passionate about neither, then take neither and use the extra time you would have spent studying to investigate what drives you.

Good luck!

Of all the degrees that lead in academic directions that do not represent paying jobs, the hard sciences are rather low on the list. Besides, you may not have kept up on how the most competitive students think. Somebody mostly worried about the look of their transcripts would be trying to figure out how to take both or would be asking the question in a different way.

Even when colleges do not give college credit for AP courses, they do sometimes elect to use them for their intended purpose: advanced placement. Advanced placement means skipping freshmen classes covering skills and topics you’ve already mastered in high school. That leaves more time for other coursework which means finishing requirements more quickly which saves both money and time (which in the world of work is money, too). That’s why even a very passion-filled student will also ask pertinent questions about what to expect he or she will get from one course vs. another.

You are very right, however, to point out that aptitude and passion are not the same thing. Even the top graduate schools regularly get students with more than enough aptitude to be scientists but without the interest. That is a very bad combination. The OP, however, seems to be more concerned about which AP science class is the most profitable in his or her development as a student, so I wouldn’t be too concerned about that.

 

[EasterJoy]

I took the AP chemistry exam in 2015. It was much better than AP Calculus AB. I got an A in the class, but, what really messed us up that year is that the teacher said that weaved covered about 95% of the material and the other 5% are things they have not really stressed in the past. Well, they decided to make about half of the exam about that 5% and I did not see a lot of problems about the things that we’ve covered thoroughly. I was mad, but, at least I was still allowed to finish my inorganic chemistry requirement a quarter early.

I’ve never taken AP physics, so I cannot say anything about it. My friends who took it hated it, but, the teacher was new and not a very good instructor.

I’ve been a SAHM for a long time, but I’ve also taught some chemistry. I’m honestly curious to know what general chemistry topic could be calculated to represent 5% of the curriculum but takes up half of the AP exam.

 

[kwitz]

I’ve been a SAHM for a long time, but I’ve also taught some chemistry. I’m honestly curious to know what general chemistry topic could be calculated to represent 5% of the curriculum but takes up half of the AP exam.

When they did a rewrite of the chemistry AP curriculum (in 2014 I think), they made some strange emphases. Subtle things like there is a difference between being asked to justify versus defend . There is actually a running thread on the AP chemistry teacher’s forum called "say this, not this " on the free response question answers. Some of it is rather silly and you won’t believe the things that will not get you credit. I am not a fan and only teach the dual enrollment, advanced college credit version. Biology is actually worse and the college we work with will not even allow you to teach AP bio and their college course simultaneously.

On the other hand, I teach AP stats and love the program. It is well designed and really works hard to make sure students understand stats versus just doing tons of calculations.

Kris

 

[youngsterat16]

I’m not really interested in science period, but I know i should take a science class every year. My other options are astronomy, ap biology, ap environment, and others. I thought about astronomy but don’t especially care for it much moe than others. and I think I would rather take the class in college anyways since I’ll more tha likely have to anyways. It’s just a toss up between physics and chemistry. But I did enjoy chemistry more than physics. both relatively simple for me but physics I find somewhat boring.

 

[EasterJoy]

I’m not really interested in science period, but I know i should take a science class every year. My other options are astronomy, ap biology, ap environment, and others. I thought about astronomy but don’t especially care for it much moe than others. and I think I would rather take the class in college anyways since I’ll more tha likely have to anyways. It’s just a toss up between physics and chemistry. But I did enjoy chemistry more than physics. both relatively simple for me but physics I find somewhat boring.

OK, that helps. College courses are time-consuming and science courses can be very time-consuming. If you get a liberal arts degree, however, you are of course expected to take at least some courses in the broad areas outside your major. A fine arts major has to get a certain number of credits in science courses.

If you go to college and force yourself to take the courses intended for “non-majors,” the ones with little or no mathematics, you will probably be bored out of your mind. If you take the courses intended for majors, though, you might not like the time commitment involved.

I’d suggest taking the science courses available to you in high school that offer college credit that will be accepted by the universities you intend to apply to rather than advanced placement. That way, you can dedicate your limited amount of time and credit hours while in college to coursework that is more applicable to your goals without sacrificing the breadth of your education.

Although my degree is in chemistry, I’d say that most non-science types will find the fundamental concepts learned in high school physics to be a little more obviously applicable to daily life of a non-scientist than the concepts learned in chemistry. It’s not that the concepts don’t apply, but without a bit more chemistry, many people won’t see the connection. For instance, it is more likely that a layperson is going to connect the dots and use their knowledge of electrical circuits or torque in their projects around the house rather than their knowledge of chemical equilibria or vapor pressures or weak acids and bases. (An exception I can think of would include artists such as painters, who might do well to take a non-major’s course in organic chemistry while in college. The major’s course is for people who may do original organic syntheses or chemical analyses some day. The non-majors course is for people who want to understand how organic compounds act more than how they are synthesized or identified. It is a very real science course, though, not a gee-whiz tourist course for people afraid of math.)

I’d suggest you talk to your counselor and look for ways to satisfy your science requirements before you get to college. You’re not looking for “advanced placement” into higher-level courses that you will find both boring and a load of work, unless you’re hoping to place into a non-major’s course in organic chemistry (which is possible) or, who knows, optics or something like that. You’re looking for college credit that will free you to study things you enjoy and will find more applicable to the thinking necessary for your chosen profession or career direction.

I hope that helps.

 

[AClaire11]

I really enjoyed chemistry. Definitely more than biology and physics. The AP class was challenging, but well worth it. And I got a 5 on the test.

 

[redbetta]

I’m not really interested in science period, but I know i should take a science class every year. My other options are astronomy, ap biology, ap environment, and others. I thought about astronomy but don’t especially care for it much moe than others. and I think I would rather take the class in college anyways since I’ll more tha likely have to anyways. It’s just a toss up between physics and chemistry. But I did enjoy chemistry more than physics. both relatively simple for me but physics I find somewhat boring.

Out of AP Physics, Chemistry, and Physics, I would say that AP Biology is the easiest of the three. But, that is just me. Also, as I recall, there are different AP physics and that might be more of a risk because some colleges might accept one AP physics to substitute their physics requirement and not the others. Then again, you might not be majoring in something with a physics requirement.

 

[redbetta]

I’ve been a SAHM for a long time, but I’ve also taught some chemistry. I’m honestly curious to know what general chemistry topic could be calculated to represent 5% of the curriculum but takes up half of the AP exam.

The exam I took had quite a few problems with solubility rules, which we did not get to and our teacher thought was not going to be stressed. Even in my college inorganic chemistry sequence, we did not cover that at all and this school has an intense chemistry program, not even accepting chemistry credit from Harvard. There were some other things, but, I forgot.

 

[youngsterat16]

OK, that helps. College courses are time-consuming and science courses can be very time-consuming. If you get a liberal arts degree, however, you are of course expected to take at least some courses in the broad areas outside your major. A fine arts major has to get a certain number of credits in science courses.

If you go to college and force yourself to take the courses intended for “non-majors,” the ones with little or no mathematics, you will probably be bored out of your mind. If you take the courses intended for majors, though, you might not like the time commitment involved.

I’d suggest taking the science courses available to you in high school that offer college credit that will be accepted by the universities you intend to apply to rather than advanced placement. That way, you can dedicate your limited amount of time and credit hours while in college to coursework that is more applicable to your goals without sacrificing the breadth of your education.

Although my degree is in chemistry, I’d say that most non-science types will find the fundamental concepts learned in high school physics to be a little more obviously applicable to daily life of a non-scientist than the concepts learned in chemistry. It’s not that the concepts don’t apply, but without a bit more chemistry, many people won’t see the connection. For instance, it is more likely that a layperson is going to connect the dots and use their knowledge of electrical circuits or torque in their projects around the house rather than their knowledge of chemical equilibria or vapor pressures or weak acids and bases. (An exception I can think of would include artists such as painters, who might do well to take a non-major’s course in organic chemistry while in college. The major’s course is for people who may do original organic syntheses or chemical analyses some day. The non-majors course is for people who want to understand how organic compounds act more than how they are synthesized or identified. It is a very real science course, though, not a gee-whiz tourist course for people afraid of math.)

I’d suggest you talk to your counselor and look for ways to satisfy your science requirements before you get to college. You’re not looking for “advanced placement” into higher-level courses that you will find both boring and a load of work, unless you’re hoping to place into a non-major’s course in organic chemistry (which is possible) or, who knows, optics or something like that. You’re looking for college credit that will free you to study things you enjoy and will find more applicable to the thinking necessary for your chosen profession or career direction.

I hope that helps.

I believe the AP courses go towards college credit for many of the universities close to where I am. The one I am looking on going to I know for sure takes it as credit. MY sisters have been able to skip some classes. While I am looking at other schools too my top one is the one close to home. It offers a bachelor’s degree in ASL which I am currently looking at majoring in. It’s much cheaper than going elsewhere I would be looking at, and none of the other universities in-state offer it. And I’ll be saving money by living at home as well.

I know there’s no 100% guarantee of acceptance but they have a pretty high acceptance rate. OF course I will apply elsewhere and for scholarships, but that’s my major gameplan. And if i decide to pursue that career still and want to advance to master’s, I’m looking at some universities that offer it. (my top choice being Gallaudet in D.C.)

this advice is very helpful, I just thought mentioning this would be clearer. My school doesn’t offer other classes other than ap for college credit. There is a sister school that has IB courses. but not us.

 

[Richard_White]

I took AP Chemistry 2013-2014 and it was a great class. My teacher was so very knowledgeable and had great strategies for doing the problems and understanding the concepts. However, if you are not interested in pursuing the sciences in the future, it wouldn’t be worth it. In addition, be prepared to work hard to get an A and then a 4 or 5 on the exam. I got a 4 on the exam (although I am still salty because my year they had just changed it and did not give us enough time for the free response section. The next year they added 15 minutes to it, which would have probably gotten me the 5, but I digress).

Physics I simply do not like. I took the non-calculus-based AP class (AP Physics 1 it had become by the time I took it, 2014-2015). The class was fine in and of itself, and I got an A, but the exam was so hard and theoretical, and physics is not my number one, and so I only got a 2.

Anyway, AP Chem is a great class if you like that kind of thing and extremely helpful to prepare you if you plan on taking chemistry in college. In other words, save all of your notes!

 

[EasterJoy]

The exam I took had quite a few problems with solubility rules, which we did not get to and our teacher thought was not going to be stressed. Even in my college inorganic chemistry sequence, we did not cover that at all and this school has an intense chemistry program, not even accepting chemistry credit from Harvard. There were some other things, but, I forgot.

I gather that means generating net ionic equations from your ability to get around in the solubility rules, predicting whether a reaction will take place or not, and so on. (Since obviously if you, for instance, mix aqueous sodium chloride with aqueous potassium nitrate, anyone familiar with solubility rules at all will be able to predict there is no reaction.)

Even if the solubility rules are provided information, those do take some time if you’re not familiar with that kind of problem. It wouldn’t have to be anything like half of the exam to feel as if it were.

There are different schools of thought on whether or not students gain something by having some of the solubility rules on the top of their heads. As for being able to use them, though, well…as the saying goes, “If You’re Not Part of the Solution, You’re Part of the Precipitate.”

 

[Allegra]

I’m not really interested in science period, but I know i should take a science class every year. My other options are astronomy, ap biology, ap environment, and others. I thought about astronomy but don’t especially care for it much moe than others. and I think I would rather take the class in college anyways since I’ll more tha likely have to anyways. It’s just a toss up between physics and chemistry. But I did enjoy chemistry more than physics. both relatively simple for me but physics I find somewhat boring.

Can you take physics? I think that’s the most interesting.

 

[youngsterat16]

Yes, I believe I can take really any AP science class. I just am not sure which I’d rather take because AP is different from the regular. Physics I’d probably remember the math better ad such. I plan on Physics 1 if I do physics because I don’t plan on doing any career in science anyways so why take AP physics 2 with new concepts and such when I already will know much of the stuff I’d learn in AP 1.

Chemistry I remember a lot too. I found it easy, but I’m sure it’s difficult as an AP course. I have friends in a different school who say how hard stuff is. but their teacher doesn’t seem to help them out very much and I have confidence in most of the teachers at m y school. So far, I have never had a teacher incredibly mean/grouchy etc just bad at teaching whatever subject I am in.

I don’t know, I decided physics when I met with my teacher last week but I hadn’t even thought about doing AP Chemistry. My sister mentioned it and I was like “oh yeah, I did like that class”. maybe I could talk to my physics teacher about this.

Although taking physics 1 vs 2 may get boring too since Some of it i will have already done. Really any class I think I could do fine in.

Can those of you who took chemistry tell me a little on the specifics that you did? in terms of tests or anything? I got a slight Idea on the AP exam which helps. I remember doing Qual in regular chemistry, does AP do that too? where you have to figure out the unknown substances through tests and experiments?

thanks everyone for the advice too. Some of you probably discussed on my other posts on other various school stuff. I’llbe done with it soon though. thanks for the help