3 answers
John
Student
Dalton, Massachusetts
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Senior year class?
Should I take an AP Bio class in high school to prepare for a Physical Therapy degree?
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3 answers
Vianne Phan
Youth Development Teacher
62
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Vianne’s Answer
If you're thinking about a career in physical therapy, taking AP Biology in your senior year is a great idea. It helps you build a good base in cell biology, genetics, physiology, and evolution. This can make your first year of college science classes feel less scary. Plus, it shows colleges that you can handle tough classes, which is helpful if you want to join a PT program later on.
However, if your school offers Anatomy & Physiology, that might be even more beneficial for PT. Physical therapy focuses on how the body moves, how muscles and joints work together, and how injuries affect movement. Anatomy & Physiology is very hands-on and helps you learn about the human body in a way that sticks better than the broader topics in AP Bio. If you can take both classes, that would be ideal. But if you have to choose one, think about whether you want a broad foundation (AP Bio) or a class that’s more directly related to physical therapy (A&P).
Also, consider your schedule and stress levels. Senior year can be busy with AP classes, college applications, and extracurricular activities, so choose a class that challenges you without overwhelming you. Either way, taking a science class that helps you understand the body will prepare you well for your future PT studies and give you a sneak peek at what you'll learn in college.
However, if your school offers Anatomy & Physiology, that might be even more beneficial for PT. Physical therapy focuses on how the body moves, how muscles and joints work together, and how injuries affect movement. Anatomy & Physiology is very hands-on and helps you learn about the human body in a way that sticks better than the broader topics in AP Bio. If you can take both classes, that would be ideal. But if you have to choose one, think about whether you want a broad foundation (AP Bio) or a class that’s more directly related to physical therapy (A&P).
Also, consider your schedule and stress levels. Senior year can be busy with AP classes, college applications, and extracurricular activities, so choose a class that challenges you without overwhelming you. Either way, taking a science class that helps you understand the body will prepare you well for your future PT studies and give you a sneak peek at what you'll learn in college.
Rebecca Kollmorgen
physical therapy
19
Answers
North Hampton, New Hampshire
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
I agree with the previous answers. If you can handle the workload of an AP class, it will definitely help with your college courseload and general understanding of the material that will come your way as a PT major.
Jessica Smasal
Engineering Budget Planning
4
Answers
Mankato, Minnesota
Updated
Jessica’s Answer
I think that would be a good option. Biology degree is often a path towards a Physical Therapy. Even if you end up not testing high enough on the AP test in high school to gain college credit for yourself, it would help you if you then have to take Biology in college, since you would already have seen the material. Of course if you do test out of it, all the better! Additionally, colleges don't just look at your GPA they look at rigor of courses, so doing the AP Bio class is beneficial in that way as well.