I am a sophmore and am taking Spanish 3 now along with AP Chem, AP Calc AB and AP Comp Sc. If I want to apply to the Top 20 and Ivy’s and am interested in Computer Engineering or CS, should I consider taking a 4th year of language next year or AP Spanish or can I take other advanced Math and Science APs instead?
Also I am confused if I should take AP Biology even if I am not really going to use that since I am going the CS route and not medicine or sciences.
Appreciate your insights and inputs. Thanks.
If the college suggests 4 years of foreign language, then you should take Spanish 4. If they don’t, then don’t. But I am unaware of any college that says “These are the courses we suggest in HS, unless you are planning on CS.” Few colleges are looking for specialists in HS.
There is no expectation that you need to take every AP Science. If there are other AP science courses available for you, then no need to take AP Bio.
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You can Google the common data set of colleges you are interested in and see what HS classes are recommended/required. Many top tier colleges do look for four years of foreign language.
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You should take Spanish 4 as a junior. Whether you continue with Spanish beyond Spanish 4 is up to you.
Have you taken Physics and Bio (honors or regular) in addition to Chemistry?
What math classes does your HS offer?
Since you’re taking Calc AB as a sophomore, Calc BC would as a junior would make the most sense, and Discrete Math/Linear Algebra as a Senior as a future CS major.
Thanks for responding. My school only offers upto AP Calc BC and many kids take AP Stats in senior year for Math. My plan is to take an online class for Multivariable Calc/Linear Algebra outside of school. Here is my course schedule plan please share your thoughts.
Freshmen: Honors Chem, Algebra 2, English, History, Biology and regular class Spanish 2, Orchestra
Sophomore: AP Chem, AP Comp Sc A, AP Calc AB, Eng 10 Honors, Orchestra, Contemporary World Problems (History), Spanish 3
Plan for Junior Year: AP Physics C, AP Calc BC, Spanish 4, Orchestra, AP Language, US History, AP Micro
Plan for Senior Year: AP Stats, AP Bio (not sure?), AP Literature, AP Gov, Orchestra, 2 electives (Eng. Design & Dev, Video Game Design or AP environmental science)
You need to keep difficult AP’s for senior year (AP stats, APES are considered “easy APs”.)
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Junior year: AP Physics 1, AP Lang, APUSH, AP Calc BC, Spanish 4, Orchestra (+ 1 non AP class)
Senior Year: AP Physics C, AP Gov, Linear Algebra/Discrete Math (post AP math), AP Lit, Orchestra, 2 electives
Thank you. Sadly our school only offers AP Physics C and no other physics class other than just a regular Physics class (no Honors).
Can you talk to the Physics C teacher? Does s/he include some basic Physics background or are you expected to take the “regular Physics” first as an introduction?
In any case you should keep Physics C for senior year, to show a progression in rigor. Going from Calc BC and Physics C to APES and Stats will be seen as poor planning and/or lack of rigor.
If you cannot take Physics 1 junior year, take AP Bio then unless Physics C expects you to take regular Physics first (you could even try to take AP Bio and regular Physics, doubling up in science junior year). Physics C is one of the most difficult AP’s, so it really needs to be senior year considering there’s not much else you can take (Linear Algebra/Discrete Math and AP Lit would also be considered among the most rigorous senior year classes you could take).
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I heard most of them take Physics C straight. Maybe in 11th I can take general physics class or need to decide AP Bio. Thanks for the idea maybe senior year will take AP Physics C.
Plan for Junior Year: AP Bio, AP Calc BC, Spanish 4, Orchestra, AP Language, US History, Physics (I am not a fan of history so didnt take APWH this year either so not sure of US History). Maybe I can take Physics as an online class and take AP Micro in school instead.
Senior Year: AP Physics C, AP Gov, AP Lit, Orchestra, 2 electives, AP Stats and online need to take Linear Algebra/Discrete Math (post AP math)
Dont go with “I heard”, go ask the Physics teacher and decide accordingly.
Also, AP stats would be an elective so you wouldn’t have 2 electives. (Ap stats is a good class for strong students who aren’t good at math, but for students enrolled in Calculus or higher it’s a simple elective. Math majors will take calculus-based stats in college not basic stats).
You don’t need to take physics online. It is a core, fundamental science and unless your HS eliminates physics, you should take the class offered at your HS. Substituting Micro for physics is not a good idea. Any college level econ you take will be much more rigorous than a HS class. And why taking linear algebra online? You should be planning to take what your HS offers- focusing on that- and doing well. Are you really going to have time senior year for an online course in addition to doing well in HS, maintaining your EC’s AND doing college Apps?
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Hi there,
Sadly my school only offers till AP Calc BC thats why many seniors only took AP Stats in senior year. The only prereq for AP Physics C is Calc and many kids take that class directly without regular Physics class.
So go through the math sequence through Calc BC (a perfectly fine math track for any STEM career) and then take AP Physics. What’s the issue? You don’t need to accelerate past what your HS offers (online classes, self study, etc.) since your HS seems to have a nice array of options.
Thanks but I already accelerated math during summer and in 10th grade am taking AP Calc AB since lot of my senior friends did AP Stats in 12th. Thanks for your suggestions will talk to Physics teacher and decide and see if there are other options with Math in 12th grade.
I don’t get the problem if you are already accelerated in math. At my kids HS you EITHER took AP Calc AB OR BC, not in sequence. You seem to be stumped trying to fit in extra/outside classes that you don’t need. Can’t you just take the “normal” track- four years of foreign language, the three lab sciences (bio, physics, chem), and whatever your state mandates for social studies, English, etc???
But how do they do in the class and on the AP exams? Not saying it’s impossible without an intro physics, but E&M especially will be challenging for most.
The sequence in our school is Algebra 2, Pre Calc, AP Calc AB and AP Calc BC. For kids who already finish BC in 11th grade they typically take AP Stats as next math option. Since I already have orchestra each year I miss taking an elective like most others during that period and hence was trying to ask for options and guidance here.