Q: (Initially posted March 26, 2005) FROM STUDENT MEMBER FRANCISCA L. IN CA
I'm a junior in high school right now and I am part of the IB program at my school. I want to go full diploma but since I barely started the program this year my schedule for next year leaves little room for flexibility because I have to take certain classes in Higher Level and Standard Level. The problem is that next year my science class has to be Biology but since i want to be an engineer I wanted to take Physics since I know that will help me in college and it will be good to take the SAT subject test in. I already took physics in ninth grade but I know that was not the level enough I need to know. I can take Physics next year but it will twice as hard since I will have to study on my own during the end of the school year to take the test for IB and I don't think I will know enough Physics to take the Sat subject test. Can someone just give me some advice is it worth it to take Physics over Economics. How important is taking the Physics subject test for college? Will it matter?

A: FROM MENTOR BRENDA WOLFE IN CO
Dear Francisca -
I am not a Physics person, but it is my opinion that unless you have had two years of Calculous - it is a waste of time to pursue more Physics in High School. No matter how you do on the IB test - you will need to take Physics in college where it is taught using Calculous as the base.
I am surprised that you were allowed to take Physics as a Freshman. I'm not sure when you plan to take the IB test - but I would wait to take more Physics until closer to that time- so that everything is fresher in your mind.
I would suggest that instead of the Biology - you should take Chemistry. All engineers still have to take a few courses in Chemistry.
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A: FROM MENTOR JOAN LUSK IN RI
No insult intended to the field of economics, but for a prospective
engineer physics is definitely more important. In addition to the obvious
relevance of the subject matter, colleges often have two introductory
physics courses, one for the well-prepared science/engineering major, and
you'd get a leg up by having a better background. Furthermore, physics
will use your math, and using it will strengthen it like any
muscle! Advanced economics is highly mathematical too, but I don't think a
course in high school is likely to be; and colleges don't expect incoming
students to already have taken math as much as they expecting incoming
science/engineering majors to have taken physics.

I think it's less important to take any one particular subject test for
entry to college; you can only take a few, not hit _all_ your bases. If
you're applying to colleges that use an AP physics test or the SAT subject
test for placement into a better physics course, then it might matter.

Good luck whatever you decide to do! There is still time to learn lots in
college that isn't even offered at your high school.