So currently as of right now, I only take AP Computer Science A as of right now because of the mandatory health course we need to take at our school. However next year (which is my senior year) I have space open for two classes, AP Computer Principles and College Engineering. Since I want to go into a STEM field when I get older, I feel like it would be beneficial to me.
However, as I am here now, there is a problem.
In sophomore year, I took regular chemistry (really easy, got a A+) and I realize that if I want to be competitive for a STEM field, I need to take a hard chemistry course. However, I can only then take AP Chemistry because it takes 1 1/2 periods in a day at our school.
So what should I do? Take AP Computer Science Principles and College Engineering or take AP Chemistry?
(I am also taking AP Physics I right now and taking AP Physics C next year if that’s important to factor in)
If you’re already taking AP CSA, then AP CSP would be a waste of your time. I’m not sure what College Engineering is, but AP Chemistry would be beneficial. You don’t have to take AP Chemistry to be a STEM major, but it could potentially get you out of the freshman college chemistry class if you score high enough on the exam (providing your college offers AP credit). Even if you don’t score high enough on the exam for credit, having taken the class will make the freshman year chemistry class easier for you.
another vote for AP Chem. My DS is a CS major and didn’t get any AP credit or really any thing useful out of Comp Sci Principles but AP Chem kocked out one of his science required core courses and he actually learned a lot in the class.
High school engineering courses would be mostly useful for determining how interested you are in engineering, rather than getting any credit toward an engineering degree.
AP chemistry could get you would it a chemistry requirement in college (depending on the college), particularly if your engineering major is not chemical or biomedical which require chemistry courses more advanced than general chemistry.
AP CS principles is not useful for credit, but could give an overview of CS to help you determine your interest (though such value may be less for you if you already had AP CS A).
You should take Bio, Chem, Physics and then an AP Science.
So you have an AP Physic C as a senior level Science…giving you 4 years of science.
If you took Chem, that would help with freshman college chem (or let you place out).
What is the engineering course like? That may help you explore engineering.
There is a Chemical and Molecular Engineering 101 (2 credits) and a Mechanical Engineering 101 (3 credits).
Assuming the latter (described at https://me.stonybrook.edu/undergraduate/_docs/syllabus_fall2018/MEC%20101_Fall%202018.pdf ), it would be a good way of exploring and checking your interest in mechanical engineering, although it may not transfer with useful subject credit (as opposed to generic elective credit) if you later attend a different college or study something other than mechanical engineering.
It’s not about college credit if you don’t get admitted. What college targets? That matters.
These advanced CS or engn courses don’t replace max rigor in hs lab sci. For competitive colleges, you want to show the solid basis in core stem, the material as well as the thinking and problem solving.