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Is AP Physic really necessary for a job in the tech field?
Is AP physic important to take for a job inside the tech field?
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Gina’s Answer
The tech field encompasses a wide variety of subjects, and many will not require college-level physics or even a college degree. Taking AP classes in any subject is not strictly necessary for any career field; the main benefits of AP classes are college credit (if you pass the AP exam and the college accepts your score) and a more competitive college application. You can always take the course at college if necessary.
Instead of asking whether AP physics is necessary, I would first ask whether AP classes are beneficial for you. Are you going to college, or are you planning on going to a trade school, apprenticeship program, or boot camp? If you're going to college, are you planning on getting a bachelor's or associate's degree? What do you want your degree in?
If you have determined that AP classes are advantageous for you, determine which AP classes are available to you, how many AP classes you plan on taking (remember that they do require more time and effort than a non-AP class), and then rank your options based on what you want to do in the future. If you don't know what to do in the future, I would recommend taking a career quiz online and looking through degree options to see what grabs your attention. You don't have to know exactly what you want to do, but knowing the general field helps (e.g., engineering vs IT). From there, you can see what classes are required and prioritize subjects accordingly when reviewing AP classes.
If you have more required courses that match available AP classes than you are willing to take on during high school, prioritize STEM classes over liberal arts if you still plan on going into tech. I would probably recommend AP Calc if that's available since more STEM degrees will require advanced mathematics over physics or other sciences, and from there just take whatever subjects/teachers you like. Talking to a student counselor or advisor may also be good to consider as you can likely go over individual classes that your school offers.
Figure out what field you want to pursue
Figure out what type of training/school is required for your desired field
Figure out if AP classes generally are beneficial for you
If AP classes are beneficial for you, determine required college classes
If AP classes are beneficial for you, determine how many and what AP classes you want to take
Instead of asking whether AP physics is necessary, I would first ask whether AP classes are beneficial for you. Are you going to college, or are you planning on going to a trade school, apprenticeship program, or boot camp? If you're going to college, are you planning on getting a bachelor's or associate's degree? What do you want your degree in?
If you have determined that AP classes are advantageous for you, determine which AP classes are available to you, how many AP classes you plan on taking (remember that they do require more time and effort than a non-AP class), and then rank your options based on what you want to do in the future. If you don't know what to do in the future, I would recommend taking a career quiz online and looking through degree options to see what grabs your attention. You don't have to know exactly what you want to do, but knowing the general field helps (e.g., engineering vs IT). From there, you can see what classes are required and prioritize subjects accordingly when reviewing AP classes.
If you have more required courses that match available AP classes than you are willing to take on during high school, prioritize STEM classes over liberal arts if you still plan on going into tech. I would probably recommend AP Calc if that's available since more STEM degrees will require advanced mathematics over physics or other sciences, and from there just take whatever subjects/teachers you like. Talking to a student counselor or advisor may also be good to consider as you can likely go over individual classes that your school offers.
Gina recommends the following next steps:
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Eugene’s Answer
I would not say it directly necessary for a job in tech. However - Physics AP is a great class to challenge yourself in skills which are really useful for tech. Skills like: understanding how things work, problem solving, conceptualizing - are all examples which are useful for both a Physics class as well as Tech jobs. Tech is a wide open field, with lots of different opportunities. Physics class may help you narrow down what you do and do not like. Best of Luck!
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Tony’s Answer
this is really depending on which subjects you are talking about. Being in Tech field, you can be an engineer or demand planner like I do. I will say AP physics is not necessary but it is a plus no matter which subjects are entering. It helps you to train your brain, your logics for your work.
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Eric’s Answer
That is a great question. AP Physics is not necessary for a job in the technology field. There are a variety of jobs that you can get from system administration and network management to programming that don't require AP Physics.
Research the various technology jobs. Glassdoor is a good place to research the various jobs available.
Eric recommends the following next steps:
I agree with Eric, there are many options out there that land in the field of technology. I would say the more diverse subject areas you can be exposed to will allow you different experiences you may not have otherwise had. This will allow you to focus your track as you move into different levels and courses to help guide you along the way to focus on what you're passionate about and want to work on.
Adam Fisher