If you are applying to a highly competitive college, plan on studying math or science in the future, or are confident in your math and science abilities, then you should take physics. It will look better on your transcript if you take physics, but most colleges don't require it unless you plan on majoring in math or science. Should You Take Physics Over Earth/Physical Science? The majority of high schools, however, follow the course sequence above and which we look at in more detail below.īiology is usually the first science high school students are taught because it has less of a focus on math than other science subjects do, giving freshmen time to hone their math skills before moving on to more math-focused sciences. Some schools teach earth science during freshman year and then move on to biology and chemistry, whereas others follow the "Physics First" curriculum in which students take physics as freshmen. The course sequence for science classes in most US high schools goes like this: These classes often include a laboratory component in which students must conduct hands-on experiments as part of the class. Most high schools require students to complete two to three years of science classes in order to graduate. What's the Standard High School Science Curriculum? Read this guide to learn about the standard science curriculum, what kinds of AP and IB science courses there are, college expectations, and how you can exceed colleges' expectations and use your high school science classes to ultimately strengthen your transcript.
Which science classes are you required to take in high school, and what will you learn in them? Which science subjects will colleges expect you to have studied, and how can you impress them by exceeding these expectations?