<p>I have to take a career course next year if I want to graduate, and I only have a few options. One of them is AP Computer Science. I'm curious what previous students without substantial Java experience think about the course.<br>
If I take CompSci, I'll end up with 5 AP courses (English Lit, Calc BC, Physics C, CompSci, and Econ/Gov). I know I'm capable of this load (I took 4 APs last year and did fine), but I still don't want to take a course that will be <em>too</em> hard, because if I'm struggling each night with an elective, I'll have less time and energy to devote to my other difficult, and more important core classes. Having said that, my other options don't sound very interesting (speech, auto-tech, etc), so I would kind of like to have this work out. It's <em>possible</em> that I might decide to not take Physics C, in which case I would take Computer Science for sure.<br>
On CC I've seen some people say that Computer Science course is ridiculously easy, and I've seen the exact opposite as well. What was your experience with the course? What did you do in class and for homework? Did the pace feel too fast for you? At the end of the year, did you feel confident in your ability to program? Please note if you have prior experience, btw. The few people I know who took the course could already program so they of course found the course simple.</p>
<p>Well when I took APCS I knew very basic java, just the stuff you would learn in chapter 1 and 2 in the class. Stuff that someone could easily teach themselves in a week or two. I took it two years ago as a freshman. It was my first AP course so I put some time into it. I probably spend 30 minutes-1 hour a night working for that class. Even though it is an elective at your school it is still a full on AP class. It isn’t a breeze but it isn’t impossible. If you have minimal experience with coding and problem solving and proficient with a computer you can handle it. I ended up getting a 5 on the exam it wasn’t really bad. I think you should definitely take it. Take it!</p>