Hello everyone. I recently started my junior year at high school, and am currently doing 6 AP classes as of now-
-Computer Science A,
-Physics 2,
-English Language,
-APUSH,
-Calc AB
Biology
My primary concern has been about Computer Science, because prior to starting the class, I had zero knowledge of any programming language. I am starting from scratch, and am having a very difficult time. I was wondering how it would look on my college applications if I decided to drop the class without replacing it with an honors or normal class. Also I am not taking a foreign language this year due to having already taken AP French last year, but without the exam. Will the lack of a foreign language in 11th grade negatively impact my college application?
It will look totally fine. Nobody will bat an eye on the difference of 1 AP course.
Since you’ve already reached AP level in World Language, you don’t need to take another one. Colleges want to see the level you got to (3+ for selective colleges)
What are you planning on majoring in in college? My daughter took AP CS on the advise of her calculus teacher because he thought she might encounter it again in college and she knew nothing. It was hard, she was one of two females and everyone in the class was really into coding, plus school was 100% virtual. She met online with her teacher daily, to the point where her calculus teacher needed to explain to her teacher that she’s a bright hardworking kid who was just out of her element (breezed through stat, ab and bc calc). My daughter got an A in the class and I think a 4 on the exam.
This has already been covered in other posts but that’s not accurate for highly selective schools that do care about the number of years, not just level. Though if the student’s school doesn’t offer anything beyond The level they took, that’s fine.
Im planning on doing economics in college. I was thinking that a knowledge of computer programming would be useful.
Most of my kids had HS class regrets in college, like business majors who only took calc AB (or even just pre-calc) to make sure the gpa remained high, or a science major who didn’t take AP chem or biology or physics in HS. It’s important to get in, but more important to be familiar with some of the classes. Unfortunately our guidance counselor’s let the students choose classes without much guidance, and I was hands off.
So, would you say its better to drop computer science if I have no foundations, or is it preferable to risk a bad grade?
That’s hard, my kids regretted courses they didn’t take, I think it’s best to take a possible harder AP senior year over junior, because they won’t be submitting a test grade with the application. Although my daughter’s guidance counselor wasn’t very helpful, one of her math teachers helped her choose courses, took physics as an elective freshman year, AP stat sophomore year as an elective, knowing she would probably have a math driven major in college, and she trusted his judgement. Can your child ask for teaches’ opinions?
How many classes is a normal schedule at your school? Dropping a 6th AP is ok, but lack of a full class schedule generally is not.
My kid took nutrition and entrepreneurship senior year. Both regular level.
If a class isn’t for you, get one that is.
Forget the college aspect. Anyway a D or F womt help.
You’ll be fine for college based on your first three years.
While CS is great, guess what - it’s not for everyone. So it’s ok to leave it and replace it with anything as long as you ensure you meet the graduation requirements.
If you’re applying to high end schools you have no assuredness even with a top schedule. Many colleges, on the other hand, don’t require a single AP.
Good luck.
Can you switch to CSP? 5 AP courses is plenty, but CSP would be another (less rigorous) AP course that would provide some foundation for CSA next year. This would be especially useful if interest in a CS or other STEM major.
I would second that^; take AP CS Principles first.
OR
Drop that AP CSA ; 6 APs is overkill and WILL look like overkill to colleges anyway. You could take AP CSA next year if you discover you would really need it.
AP Physics, AP Calc, AP English, APUSH (and AP Bio on top of it?) would be plenty already.
Take a fun class perhaps, Culinary Arts, Shop, Photography… That will stand out more than an Nth AP class.
What undergrad business classes require more than CalcAB ? Or any calc for that matter
My MBA didn’t require calc for anything of the acct/finance classes I took. Maybe if I wanted to go into more quant side / trading it might have required something higher level
Lots of colleges have a calculus for business majors course that is required for business majors. It may be a prerequisite for the business version of intermediate economics.
I typically have 6 periods in my school day. I was thinking to drop comp sci in favor of an honors class, however there are none available. I dont know what to do and I would appreciate any advice.
Talk to your counselor or an advisor and see how doable 6 APs has been for other students at your level. IF no one or almost no one has done it, then I don’t think you should. If 20 kids do something similar every year, then it makes sense to try(Assuming you had great grades last year and the teacher(s) support this load for you specifically).
In our school, kids were required to take AP CSP as a prerequisite to taking AP CS. I hope you can figure out a solution.
You have all your core courses covered and 4 APs a year is sufficient (as long as you also take 4 senior year). If you have 5, you’re already in the “un-necessary for admission” case, though taking both AP Physics and AP Bio may be helpful for your college coursework.
See what class of interest you can take: a regular intro to CS class, media studies, graphic design…
If you have 6 class periods and are supposed to take 6 classes, then you should do so. It’s ok to take an on-level class for an elective.