Programs How Can I Best Prepare for a Physics Degree in High School?

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As a high school sophomore aspiring to study physics, it's crucial to build a strong foundation in math, particularly in trigonometry and vectors, as these will be essential for future coursework. Taking AP Physics 1, AP Chemistry, and PreAP PreCal will prepare you for a degree in astrophysics and other branches of physics. Familiarizing yourself with calculus concepts, even if not covered extensively in high school, will also be beneficial. Resources like ZapperZ's essay "So You Want to be a Physicist" can provide valuable insights into the field. Preparing early and focusing on math skills will enhance your success in physics studies.
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As a sophomore in high school, I'm starting to reach that point where I need to think about on my future beyond graduation. I'm currently aspiring for a degree in physics, since math and science are the only subjects I've consistently enjoyed and I'm pretty good at both. Next year I'll be taking AP Physics 1, AP Chemistry and PreAP PreCal in preparation for astrophysics, although I am aware there are other branches.

Anyways, I was simply curious if there was anything I could do to prepare myself for a degree in physics, and what I should expect along the way. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Choppy said:
If you haven't already read it, ZapperZ's essay: So You Want to be a Physicist is a great place to start.
No I had not seen that, thank you for directing me there
 
Make sure you are strong on math. The better you are with math the easier a time you'll have in your classes. You probably haven't (and probably won't) cover calculus in high school, at least not much, but everything taught there will be an important foundation for later. Become especially familiar with trigonometry and vectors. That should leave you in a good spot for your first year.
 
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