Do I need to take a physics class in HS in order to get into a good college?

You definitely don’t have to take physics (and your GPA will thank you, if you don’t). But you will need physics in college if you go pre-med, and it’ll come a lot easier if you’ve been exposed to it in high school.

Each college sets it’s own requirements. You need to look at the entrance requirements at the college you wish to enter.

What would it hurt?

You don’t need it, but I think it would be helpful for your career aspirations. The future is nanotechnology, and there’s a lot of physics involved in developing that, and the medical field will be the first ones using the technology.

my university you need 3— 6 credits of university physics to become a doctor

Welcome to Fluther. Don’t take the following as a personal attack, because it’s not, but…

I wish that students wouldn’t worry so much about “grades” and “coursework” and “getting into a good college” and all of that “status” bullshit. Because it is all bullshit.

You need physics (and all of the math, science and languages you can handle) to get a good education. How’s that for a response?

A good college is good, but you’ll need to have a good Mcat score for med school too. Why don’t you take physics now so you can gradually get better at it. I would reccomend taking a practice Mcat your junior year of college.

Physics is an important part of the Mcat.

Also, I strongly agree with what CyanoticWasp has to say , the system has lots of bullshit. you should educate yourself so you can make wise decisions about what medical field to choose and what research to get into in college. Or you might even realise that medical school is not for you, which is not a bad thing.

I never took Physics in high school and I got into a selective college. (I did take AP Bio instead of Physics my senior year.) But maybe things have changed since ‘94? But—since you plan on being pre-med in college, if would probably be a good idea for you to be exposed to physics in high school, since you are going to have to take it in college.

I would assume you are probably set for the minimum requirement for most colleges given your science experience so far. Keep in mind that many students are going to apply to college without declaring a major, so given that a school might even have to compare you with students who have less or even no science background, so in that you are likely in a better position. To answer your question directly, and from a colleges standpoint, no, since you already have proven you have the ability to tackle a science, and therefore would stand a good chance in most other sciences.

I might agree with other commentors although that the a well rounded education, including as many facets as possible would be more beneficial in the long run. Most high school classes will have nowhere near the depth of a college course.