<p>First off, I am interested in majoring in either Computer Programming, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering.</p>
<p>My school does not offer AP CS A, so my only option is to self-study, which I think I should do because it looks good on your resume.</p>
<p>Now my questions are: How should I go about self-studying? What books/websites should I use to self-study? When should I start studying?</p>
<p>List every link you have because I am going to do a lot of research before studying.</p>
<p>It would be hard if you don’t have any programming experience. It is so-so easy to get used to java if you have an experience in any programming language.</p>
<p>@webass I know, many people have told me that too, but I plan study CS in the future, so I am going to have to study it regardless.</p>
<p>I really need help and guidance.</p>
<p>I too am self-studying for APCS, I’m actually doing it by taking an online CC course on Intro to Java programming but its mostly self-guidance. </p>
<p>I also have little prior experience to programming, I say little because before I was using a program to operate a robot except back then I didn’t know how to write code for the robot (I was in a robotics team for a competition, I still am but now I’m doing much better). However, I find learning Java really easy and understandable because in general I really like computers, it’s like my passion. Despite that I still have a long way to go, the course I’m in doesn’t cover object-oriented programming but it is in the AP Exam, I’ll need to register for a 2nd semester Java course in my local CC.</p>
<p>My point is if you really like computers or as one of my teachers say “actively curious” then you should find APCS fairly easy. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>Yeah I am REALLY interested in CS, but I do not know how to start. What tools should I use to study? What websites? Books? Courses?</p>
<p>I feel like I can understand it well, I just do not know how to get started to be on the right path, as I am going to study CS in my future. Like I said before, I need guidance on how to study.</p>
<p>These are the ways I assume one can self study APCS: online resources, reading a book, or taking a course.</p>
<p>1) By online resources I mean online lectures and videos that are free, here are some links:</p>
<p>[Free</a> Online Course Materials | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/]Free”>Search | MIT OpenCourseWare | Free Online Course Materials)
[Computer</a> Science I: Programming Methodology | Stanford Video Course](<a href=“http://academicearth.org/courses/programming-methodology]Computer”>Online College Courses & Accredited Degree Programs - Academic Earth)
[Stanford</a> School of Engineering - Stanford Engineering Everywhere](<a href=“http://see.stanford.edu/see/courseinfo.aspx?coll=824a47e1-135f-4508-a5aa-866adcae1111]Stanford”>http://see.stanford.edu/see/courseinfo.aspx?coll=824a47e1-135f-4508-a5aa-866adcae1111)</p>
<p>Here are some other links to Java Tutorials:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>[Shlurrrpp…Java</a> learning Java : The Java tutorial for java programming](<a href=“http://www.vijaymukhi.com/vmis/java.html]Shlurrrpp......Java”>http://www.vijaymukhi.com/vmis/java.html)</p></li>
<li><p>[Java</a> Game Programming Tutorial](<a href=“scriptsearch.com”>scriptsearch.com)</p></li>
<li><p>[Java</a> Coffee Break - your free guide to the world of Java programming, packed full of free articles, tutorials, book reviews, and FAQs](<a href=“http://www.javacoffeebreak.com/]Java”>http://www.javacoffeebreak.com/)</p></li>
<li><p>[The</a> Java Tutorials](<a href=“http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/]The”>The Java™ Tutorials)</p></li>
<li><p>[Free</a> Java tutorials from the Java Coffee Break](<a href=“http://www.javacoffeebreak.com/tutorials/]Free”>Free Java tutorials from the Java Coffee Break)</p></li>
<li><p>[Java</a> Programming Resources – Java, Java, and more Java](<a href=“http://www.apl.jhu.edu/~hall/java/]Java”>http://www.apl.jhu.edu/~hall/java/)</p></li>
<li><p>[Freewarejava.com</a> Java Tutorials](<a href=“http://www.freewarejava.com/tutorials/index.shtml]Freewarejava.com”>Freewarejava.com Java Tutorials)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>2) You can also learn Java by reading a book. You can either buy a book, or borrow one from a library if possible. Here are some books:</p>
<p>Big Java
Java Concepts
Lawrenceville Press - A Guide to Programming in Java
Java Software Solutions: Foundations of Program Design
Starting Out with Java: From Control Structures through Objects</p>
<p>The last book is the book I have been using for my online course, it’s fairly easy to read but doesn’t have all the info you need. </p>
<p>3) Whether you are using online resources or a book you should combine it with the Barrons book for APCS, it will help you fill in the missing info you need because the Barrons book is designed specifically for the AP Exam. You may also want to find some AP Exams for practice, I have one that I can give to you if you PM me.</p>
<p>As for taking a course, I’m not sure how much a course can prepare anyone for the exam. Collegeboard assumes the exam is like a introductory first-semester course in Java Programming but in reality college courses don’t have a curriculum like AP courses. For example, the online CC course I’m taking isn’t enough for the AP Exam, I still have to do some self-studying.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! I will PM you…</p>