7 Myths About High School Physics
Physics will lower students’ GPAs and hurt their chances of getting into college.
FACT:
Colleges want to see that students have taken a challenging curriculum, and a B in physics is often better than an A in a less challenging course. One college admissions officer says:
“College admission is never just about the GPA. A transcript with physics is better than one without it”
Vikki Otero, Sr. Assistant Director, University of Colorado Admissions Office
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Myth #2:
Students won’t miss out on anything if they don’t take physics.
FACT:
Physics answers questions about the world that no other field can. Physics is the fundamental science; it is crucial to understanding chemistry and biology.
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Myth #3:
Only the most mathematically advanced students can handle physics.
FACT:
Physics can be taught at a variety of levels for students with different mathematical backgrounds. A course in physics can improve math scores on the CAHSEE, SAT, ACT, and other tests.
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Myth 4:
Physics is for men.
FACT:
Over 600,000 women take high school physics each year, nearly half of the nation’s enrollment.
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Myth 5:
Students don’t need to take physics in high school because they can just take it in college.
FACT:
Research shows that students who have taken high school physics do better in college physics courses. Students who take high school physics, on average, earn one letter grade higher than students who do not take high school physics. And a good grade in college physics is critical for many majors and career paths, including medicine, life sciences, chemistry, and engineering.
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Myth 6:
Physics knowledge has little relevance to most jobs.
FACT:
Physics is fundamental to every major technological innovation of the past century. Moreover, physics teaches critical thinking skills that are useful no matter what a student goes on to do.
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Myth 7:
The only careers you can have with a physics degree are to be a professor or teach high school.
FACT:
Physics opens doors to a wide variety of careers. Physics majors are among the best-employed and highest-paid of all college graduates.
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