<p>First off you can see one of my other threads for some of my information.
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1168811-chance-me-top-engineering-schools.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1168811-chance-me-top-engineering-schools.html</a></p>
<p>I have had to change up my upcoming senior year. I decided to change it all to dual enrollment at a local community college (besides my online class). </p>
<p>Here was previously what I wanted to do:
12th
- AP U.S. History
- AP Computer Programming online class
- D.E. English 1
- D.E. Chemistry
- Physics Honors
- D.E. Calculus 2 and D.E. Calculus 3 (or AP Calculus BC online class)
- Drafting 2</p>
<p>But those classes really do not fit together at my school, so here is what I am doing now.
12th
First Semester:
-D.E. English 1
-D.E. Physics w/calc
-D.E. Intro to software dev.
-D.E. Calculus 2
-AP Computer programming FLVS</p>
<p>Second Semester:
-D.E. Differential Equations
-D.E. Intro to Chemistry
-D.E. Calculus 3
-D.E. Visual basic .net programming
-Ap Computer programming FLVS</p>
<p>I guess my question has to do with D.E. in general. My counselor was really stressing that I take some more AP classes for schools like Stanford, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, etc.. My school has about 3 that I have not taken and that is mostly because they just will not fit with my senior year schedule.</p>
<p>My point was that surely this schedule above looks better and makes more sense for someone wanting to major in computer science or electrical engineering. Would missing out on AP US History, AP Human Geography, or AP lit really matter that much? AP US History conflicted with my math class. Surely calc 2 and calc 3 are more important than AP US History. The schools I apply to won't know the conflict I had, but I still see this as the better option. I probably can't change anything now, but I would just like to hear some opinions.</p>
<p>An actual college course looks as good or better than an AP course.</p>
<p>Be aware that at semester schools, differential equations is often combined with linear algebra. So if you take one of the two courses in dual enrollment or community college, you may end up having to retake it at university because they combine the two into one course. So you may want to add linear algebra to your schedule to avoid this problem.</p>
<p>Make sure that the “Physics with Calculus” course is the one for physics and engineering majors, not biology majors.</p>
<p>Note that top universities’ CS curricula differ enough that all of those CS courses in AP, dual enrollment, or community college (especially the Visual BASIC course) might not be accepted for subject credit at the universities. But math, physics, chemistry, and English should be more easily accepted, though if you go to a school other than an in-state public university with a pre-arranged articulation agreement with the community college, you may have to request individual evaluation of the courses.</p>
<p>For US history, have you had “regular” US history and sufficient other history and/or social studies courses in high school for universities’ admission requirements or recommendations? If that is a concern, you may want to replace the Visual BASIC course with a dual enrollment or community college US history course.</p>
<p>I am not looking to earn college credit for these classes. My decisions are limited and therefore kind of easy. They do not teach linear algebra at my community college. The physics with calculus class is the only physics class besides the algebra based one which doesn’t fit in my schedule. I have had regular US History and the other social studies classes that are required.</p>
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<p>For math, you probably will get subject credit (other than the half course issue with linear algebra and differential equations). English often gives you subject credit for English writing requirements. Chemistry and physics (for physics and engineering majors) usually also gives subject credit. Generally, this is a good thing – you will effectively get more elective space later to take more courses that you are interested in (whether in or out of your major area). Or if money becomes a problem, you may have the option of graduating early.</p>
<p>Your schedule with actual college courses looks fine as far as rigorousness compared to one with regular and AP high school courses.</p>
<p>As far as the three AP courses you are not taking:</p>
<p>AP English Literature: potential for English writing course credit with a 4 or 5 on the AP test. But you are taking a college English course which probably counts against such requirements. (Make sure it really is a freshman English writing course of this type. Also, if you are uncertain about the college English course’s acceptance for English writing course credit, you can try the AP test as well.)</p>
<p>AP Human Geography: any AP credit would be elective humanities or social studies credit at best in university.</p>
<p>AP US History: for an engineering major, any AP credit would be elective humanities or social studies credit at best in university. (And if you really feel adventurous, you can try to take the AP test anyway using your previous US history knowledge.)</p>
<p>The actual college courses in math, physics, and chemistry would likely be much more useful than the latter two AP courses, and the actual college course in English replaces AP English Literature in terms of what it can be used for.</p>
<p>One other question: is second semester English writing offered at your community college? If so, that may well be worth taking (instead of Visual BASIC if you need to drop a course to make room for it). Most universities require a year of English writing courses.</p>
<p>If you want to preview an introductory computer science course at a university, you can check out Berkeley CS 61A here (note that the textbooks and language interpreters are free):</p>
<p>Spring 2011 (using Scheme): [CS</a> 61A Home Page](<a href=“http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/sp11/]CS”>CS 61A Home Page)
Fall 2011 (using Python): [CS</a> 61A: The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs](<a href=“http://61a-fa11.appspot.com/]CS”>http://61a-fa11.appspot.com/)</p>