<p>I would like to take this class next year, but my Guidance Counsler is denying my request because she says i would need some back round in programming to take the course. Is this true?</p>
<p>Nope, untrue… I’ve read a lot about this class and it seems the general consensus is that what they teach you in this class is veryyy basic java programing, and you can take the class without any prior experience. You’re counselor should know this, silly silly counselor 
haha</p>
<p>it would help to be familiar with the syntax, but most of what you learn will be brand new even to people who already know the language. plus syntax you’ll pick up in a week. I say take it.</p>
<p>well…background never hurts, but you should at least know some basic algorithms (e.g. sorting, loops)</p>
<p>thanks for the info good people of cc</p>
<p>Your GC is incorrect. Go to the official course description:</p>
<p><a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;
<p>On page 4, 2nd paragraph after “Introduction”,</p>
<p>“… There are no
computing prerequisites for the AP course. It is designed to serve as a first course in
computer science for students with no prior computing experience.”</p>
<p>Print it out and take it to your GC.</p>
<p>Wow that helps tremendously. Thank you so much</p>
<p>Seriously??</p>
<p>I had to teach myself Visual Basic over the summer in order to take this class next year… did I not have to do that?</p>
<p>UGH GC, WHY?</p>
<p>Especially seeing as the class is entirely in Java, yes, that was kinda useless. GCs who only think they know what they’re talking about suck.</p>
<p>thank god because i am also going into this course with no prior programming experience.</p>
<p>You can’t totally base this off of what the CB says. </p>
<p>For instance, I’m taking AP Comp Sci this year. However, last year, I took a one-semester intro to computer programming course that is required in order to take AP Comp Sci. I guess you can get into AP Comp Sci without the intro course, but prior programming knowledge is required, as we will be expected to know most of the language on the first day.</p>
<p>So don’t say that whatever the CB says goes. That’s totally incorrect.</p>
<p>Does an intro to programming help? Yes. Is it required? IMO no. AP Comp Sci is actually more about learning to program than programming itself. I went into the course with extremely limited programming experience [knew how to execute a few commands and that was it] and came out with a 4 while not studying very much. The whole thing is much more theoretical than applications.</p>
<p>You do not need a programming background.</p>
<p>What AP compsci class are you TAKING, cavsfan? If you know Java, then you know at LEAST half of the AP compsci A curriculum. And now that AB is no longer offered…</p>
<p>Whether or not you need to know programming really depends on your school. If everyone else in the class knows how to program, you also should.</p>
<p>amarkov, it used to be AP Comp Sci AB. The teacher claims he is still going to teach the AB topics even though only A is offered now.</p>
<p>But as Programmer said, if everyone else in the class already knows basic Java, then it might be beneficial to not come into the class with no knowledge at all. It depends on the school.</p>