So, I’m taking intro to computer science next year, which is a prerequisite for both AP computer science courses. I still have no idea which one I should take, A or principles. I know that A is more focused on Java and Principles is more broader, I guess, and that they’re complimentary courses so they’re pretty similar. I just don’t know which one would be most useful to me for my college applications and my career. Just for a frame of reference, I want to study medicine and become an anesthesiologist.
A is way more useful and looks much better on college apps. Principles is very easy (if that’s what your looking for) while A is much more technical and hard. In my opinion definitely take AP CS A!
I’d take Principles because it’s broader and focused on applications rather than purely technical knowledge. It thus applies to many fields. If you plan on majoring in cs then yes CS A is more useful.
TL;DR
I have taken both AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles, and I would strongly recommend AP Computer Science A over Principles.
Unfortunately, there are many schools who do not give you college credits for APCSP – and even if they do, they are very basic CS course credit (like elective credits). APCSA is lot more useful for computer science (in terms of programming, solely). If you are planning to major in computer science, APCSA will be a must-do as you will be taking a similar course in college to graduate. Most of the times, you will be starting in college with programming, and APCSA teaches exactly that. APCSP on the other hand teaches more of a basic “computer science” materials (including internet, encryption, coding, etc.) than computer programming materials. I personally didn’t like APCSA because it was comparatively easier than APCSA and non-challenging at all for an AP class. As far as programming language goes, there is a chance that you may night use Java (which is now a formal programming language for APCSA, and also the most common language used today) when programming in APCSP.
If you truly want to get ready for computer science, take APCSA. But I’ll warn you that it is a tough class. If you want a GPA booster class, then take APCSP, as it is very easy for an AP class. I took both in the same year, and I could still manage it easily as I was a big fan of computer science, but I’m not sure if you will feel the same b/c I don’t know much about you.
Since you aren’t majoring in CS, Principles all the way. While I would recommend a potential CS major take both, it seems that Principles is more representative of the field, while AP CS A is more or less and introduction to coding.
Source: Took AP CS A, CS major. They didn’t offer Principles at the time, but despite how easy it may be, it will be much more useful. There are better ways to learn how to program than CS A.
this is kind of a similar question, but which economics class should I take (AP Macro or AP Micro?)
@futurecollege00 I took both this past year and found macro to be more enjoyable. Micro is a lot of graphs that you need to be able to interpret and draw while macro is less graphs but more difficult concepts. The Micro test is far easier to most students including myself. Colleges will view both courses as the same (they don’t prefer one over the other). I would judge it based on your interest. Are you more interested in the economy as a whole, more general (macro) or smaller picture, individual firms (micro). If I personally had to choose one I’d choose macro but it all depends on your interest and how easy you want the course to be.
Micro and macro together make one class, so ideally you’d take both.
Macro is more Economics as it applies to policy and society, Micro is more quantitative.
Well, I’m going to be self-studying because my school does not have it, and I can probably only fit in one or the other.
Self studying won’t help you with much. If you’re aiming for top schools, the time you devote to self study would be better spent on making a positive impact upon your community. If you’re passionate about Economics there may be a community college that offers intro to economics - you’d learn way more and in addition it’d actually count for college admissions.
Ok, Thanks! I’m thinking about self-studying for like ~10 others over the course of the next 3 years. Should I reconsider those, too?
Yes. Self studying takes up time and doesn’t add to your college application. If your high school doesn’t offer AP, in, nor dual enrollment or virtual school, then self study for an ap or two may be an idea, but colleges want you in class, interacting, participating, taking tests. So, if you can take AP classes, dual enroll, etc, do it.
All in all, top colleges expect 4-8 AP s. After that, diminishing returns kicks in and you’re better off making a positive impact in your community.
ok, my Planned self-study APs are WH (already bought books, so no going back :/), chem (online program tho), enviro sci, psych, US gov’t, comp sci A, econ (obviously), and art history, if it doesn’t, get approved for a duel enrollment. I’d have 4 total otherwise, so which ones do you recommend I cut out?
Which APs will you take in school? What AP’s does your school offer? What dual enrollment classes are you targeting?
Beside Chem (it’s online so it counts) and WH cut all others.
Apes and psych bring nothing to your application - take intro to psych through dual enrollment.
the APs at my school are USH, Eng. Lit, Bio. There is also Calc AB, but I wanna take BC so I’m gonna do that as a duel enrollment senior yr. Most of the other SS’s are online, too on EDX.
My school has intro to sociology, public speaking, stats, Spanish 4&5, physics, intro to enviro studies, career and financial mgmt, and possibly art history like I said, as dual enrollment and I’m going to take all of them.
The combination of dual enrollment and AP s would be PLENTY ! No need to self study anything. 
So 12 DE’s and 3 AP’s will be good? But I kind wanna take comp sci regardless b/c it’s very useful in today’s society.
It’s incredibly demanding, yes.
You can start with Edx/coursera/MIT ocw for computer science, not to mention hour of code. Cs principles is very goodbin that it exposes you to many aspects of CS. CS programming can be done throughout the years with various online classes.
What matters with coding is practice and application.
Just want to second all the advice here by @MYOS1634
Another good option for a light introduction to coding is codeacademy, which I would recommend Python to start with. You can even just do that when you have down time.
https://www.codecademy.com/learn/python
Self-studying CS A would not really be beneficial IMO - a teacher can add a lot of value there. CS Principles is the much better broad overview as mentioned, and if you aren’t taking it in person, there are much better ways to learn to code, as mentioned above.
Ok. Great advice. Would a DE be more productive?