Bs in AP classes, or As in regular classes?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

So my GPA has taken quite a drop (4.0 UW to 3.5 UW) and I’m wondering if I’m taking too much. I’m taking these classes with these grades:

AP Computer Science A: B
AP Physics 1: B
DE Government @ CC: A
Honors Precalculus: B
English 11: A
Chemistry: A
Intro to Computer Science: A
Advanced Engineering A
Spanish 3: B

As you can tell, most of my A’s are in regular classes. I’m taking 9 classes total. I know that seems like a lot, but my English, engineering, chemistry, and intro to computer science classes do not take up a lot of time. However, my courseload in APs and honors is quite challenging, and I’ve already pulled a few all nighters.

For precalc, I just make silly mistakes so I am not worried. With Spanish, my grade is a B because of group work. However, the class is hard for me. (And anyway, I cannot drop Spanish; otherwise I would have to push it to my senior year which I do not want, and I don’t think I will be taking Spanish 4 with my performance in the class right now.) So those two classes I will not drop.

However, AP computer science A is pretty challenging for me. I’ve been coding at the beginner level for a few years now, but this class is just a lot of work and I don’t get stuff as easily as other people. I am behind on labs a lot, even when I work at home. I have a B and I think I could put it up to an A-, but the tests are SO hard! Since I do poorly on them and the class is weighted, it brings my grade down a lot. I already dropped this class last year because it was hard for me (before it would show up on my transcript) so I really don’t want to drop the class again. I love CS, but it just doesn’t come that easy to me.

Last is AP Physics 1. I could have easily waited for AP Physics C. I thought that AP physics 1 would prepare me better for AP Physics C, so I took physics 1 instead of AP Statistics, which would have probably come a lot easier to me. I wouldn’t mind dropping this class for AP stats, but obviously I would have to take AP stats online and I don’t know if that’s the best idea.

I guess what I’m trying to get at: even though I am working hard, I am still not preforming at where I want to be. I ask questions, and I still don’t get it. Will a few B’s on my transcript break my chances at top colleges?

I already looked into Kahn Academy for physics 1 as well as YouTube and it isn’t that helpful. Same deal with precalc because the only thing tripping me up there is “applications” which Kahn doesn’t have because it only does basic concepts and not applied concepts.

Computer science A doesn’t have a lot of online resources. Advice, anyone? Or even particular advice for certain classes?

2

The real answer is As in APs, but clarify, is that 3.5 your GPA for the first quarter, your cumulative GPA hasn’t dropped from 4.0 to a 3.5?

3

This is first quarter, correct. @Sybylla

4

B in AP > A in regular (even if A in AP is better than B, obviously).

You were right, AP physics 1 is an intro physics course. Physics C is much, much more difficult than that, it requires a physics course beforehand, and if you have physics 1 you dont need C, you’re good as far as colleges go (they want to see one eaxh of biology, chemistry, and physics, plus one more science class at the AP level). So I’d keep physics and drop AP CS. AP CS is not a “core” class and you already take intro to CS (BTW taking both the intro and the advanced class at the same time wasn’t very wise as those are sequential classes). Dropping AP cs would allow you to have more time for your other core classes, especially precalculus honors and physics.
You can look at crash course physics for a clear refresher. Khan academy does have applied concepts look through the whole physics heading.

5

@MYOS1634 The issue is that I’m trying to decide between CSE, EE, physics, and math or math education for a major. That’s one of the reasons why I’m taking AP computer science a. I did take the intro course beforehand, I should clarify. The intro course I am taking now is for Python and not Java. I already took the intro to CS for Java cause.

What I’m trying to get at is that (with the programs I am choosing to study) I will likely not get credit for an algebra based physics course. APCS A, on the other hand, will give me credit for any of these majors. That’s why I am conflicted. I also enjoy AP CS, it is just hard for me.

I didn’t think about how physics 1 was algebra based and that it might not help me that much with calculus based physics.

6

I think you should look into dropping AP CS. It seems to be taking up a lot of your time, and though you love it, you may be better off taking some introductory CS course over summer as opposed to having it damage your transcript. I’m not sure which colleges you’re interested in, but if you want to go to a top 20, do not let go of that 4.0!!! There are plenty of resources to study for physics, but with AP CS not being a core AP (I also think it’s relatively new?). AP Physics 1 should be much more manageable once you have more time opened up and less stress. It’s a classic course you can easily find help/tutoring for. Ask older kids who’ve already taken the class for help, I can’t stress this enough. They know what the class is like and can give you the best advice. Buy the AP Prep book now (princeton review) and use that to help. Read your textbook but don’t worry too much if it’s confusing; they’re often college-level textbooks, and the concepts are more easily explained in the AP prep books and on CrashCourse or Khan Academy. Ultimately, AP Physics 1 is the course colleges want to see, and it’ll set you up for Physics C (which you shouldn’t take without Physics 1). You’ll have time to worry about exploring CS later. As for precalc, try to slow down those silly mistakes, because those can actually start adding up and be what hurts you most. Try to speed up your problem solving so that you’ll have enough time to go back and check (invest in a good calculator as well). For Spanish, try using a website or app like DuoLingo to give you more practice. Good luck!

7

You can take AP CS next year. You don’t need to take two CS classes at the same time. You DO need to take AP Physics 1, especially if you want to take AP Physics C (a physics class, preferably AP1 or Honors Physics, is a pre-req for AP Physics C.)
In order to take AP Physics C, you need a previous physics class. And even if you get credit for it, think long and hard before you “take the credit” for Physics C, because if your major requires many Physics classes, the General Physics 1 class is likely to be more in-depth than Physics C. The best way to see whether you can handle the upper level course is to ask for a retired final exam for General Physics at your college and see if you can pass with 85% or higher. If not, don’t take the credit and remember many (if not most depending on the college) classmates will be in the same boat as you are, taking the class after taking AP Physics…
(It’s fine to take the credit if you’re not going to take any other class in the subject, or if the subject is non sequential).

8

Ap physics 1 is algebra based. Ap physics II is also algebra based. Most colleges do not provide credit for physics for these two classes. AP physics C is the equivalent of two semesters of college calculus based physics. Not taking a physics class prior to physics c is a bad idea.