Uhhh, what? It is web dev. “Reactive frontend”, “Web services”, “Programming in JavaScript”. These are all almost completely endemic to web dev stacks (and maybe mobile dev stacks, which is arguably part of web dev, especially if you are using a cross platform framework). This is my point. Web dev is the most prolific kind of software engineering. Most applications are web apps. I am a Machine Learning Engineer, but guess what - when we package our models into SaaS products, they are served as web apps. It’s everywhere.
@1NJParent : It is obvious that Michigan EECS 485 and MIT 6.171 are or were real courses at those universities.
@yikesyikesyikes : However, it is less likely that the course that the OP is considering is similar to an advanced course (with technical prerequisites) like Michigan EECS 485 or MIT 6.171 than it is to something like De Anza CIS 89A ( Course Outline ), which does not have any technical prerequisites.
Yup, in total agreement with ya.
That ML models can benefit from running in a distributed environment doesn’t mean an intro web development course, which is more likely to be teaching scripting languages and such, has anything to do with it.
That’s not what I said. ML models can be trained and used in non-web distributed environments - I know that. I said, when we package those models and serve them as products, that involves web dev. For something to be usable by many people, customizable, shippable, it needs to be in the form of an application. The most common way to make an application, by far, is with a web stack (front-end being served on a web page, using a RESTful API, etc.).
I wasn’t saying learning to build web apps isn’t useful. I only said that such skills can be learned by students on their own.
I think we are going in circles with the “learn on your own” thing, but I don’t think that’s material to the OP.
I gave my reasons why the OP should consider taking AP Stats + the Web dev course instead of what I believe is a marginal or non-existent benefit in perceived rigor with Physics C.
Between us, my comments were in response to your pretty absurd generalization that web dev is a trivial skillset, when it is far from it. Most software engineering is web dev. Most applications are web applications, and almost every non-web application still relies on web-stack paradigms and components. If we hold that opinion, then we would need to believe most software development and software is trivial. You can hold that opinion, but it is an absurd one, in my view, and the market and technical state-of-affairs doesn’t support it.
This is a good callout. Dual enrollment in a calc-based stats course in a CC could be a great option too.
Lots of these suggestions are super helpful! Here’s my situation when it comes to Math/CS: I’m taking BC Calculus this year and planning to take Multivariable Calc and Linear Algebra next year. I’m also taking a Machine Learning class next year, for which calculus is a prerequisite. There were actually no other math electives available for me to take which didn’t require multivariable calculus as a prerequisite, which is why I opted for AP Statistics. (Again Web Development and AP Statistics are both semester courses at my school so, together, they only take up one spot)
It looks like you are assuming that the OP is considering a course like Michigan EECS 485 or MIT 6.171, rather than a course like De Anza CIS 89A that is more likely to be on offer to the OP. It does not look like there is much beyond static HTML and CSS in that type of course, which has no technical prerequisites and is probably aimed more at technical writers and artists who present documentation and such on the web, rather that software people programming the stuff behind the scenes of a web site.
I’d be surprised if the OP’s course only had static HTML and CSS and was branded as a “Web Dev” course, but they can clarify for us if they’d like. I know it is unlikely to be as rigorous in content or execution like an EECS 485, but I’d still expect learning stuff like RESTful APIs, some front-end JS (or full-stack JS), and the like.
I assume you’re from TJ. An AO isn’t going to be impressed by AP Stats + some intro web development course, when you have a lot of other options at a HS like TJ.
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Some questions that may help others help you:
- Is the web development course similar to De Anza CIS 89A, or is it heavily technical like Michigan EECS 485 or MIT 6.171? (course descriptions linked in previous posts)
- Do you have an option of discrete math and/or calculus-based statistics?
Dang, your HS has a ML class? Sounds like one of the top boarding schools or public magnets. Off-topic, but I hope at least intro CS becomes an option for everyone in HS.
LOL, that’s the thing, I don’t actually have any Math/CS courses available to take other than what I’ve said. The remaining electives in math that are open for next year all require Multivariable Calc as a prerequisite which I (like most but not all juniors at my school) don’t have. So, again, my only options are Web Development (semester), Mobile Development (semester, and tbh I’m not really interested in this), AP Physics C (year-long), and AP Statistics (semester). I asked for the course contents for the Web Dev course and here’s what I got back for what is covered: “JavaScript, Node, React, SQL, CSS, HTML, the DOM, HTTP, APIs, etc.” Not entirely specific, but it is better than just “Web Development”. I also thought it’d be good to list what I’ve taken so far and will definitely be taking: AP Calculus BC, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Multivar Calc, and Linear Algebra. All of these are weighted as APs. 
That would be so awesome, it’s been amazing seeing how so many people are going into CS!
Well, content-wise, seems like a legit web dev class from that.
Note: Edited by yikesyikesyikes to avoid doxxing the OP.
That’s from 2016, the list I got quite recently is from one of the web development teachers at my school
Wow. I was about to drop this topic, but I see so many new posts.
I can’t speak for what will impress an admissions officer. As far as I’m concerned, applications to top universities might as well be training for the olympics. Good luck to them. My son’s not in that category. I might have been a little closer, some 40 years ago, but not really. I got a great education at a state university (you get what you put into it, as they say) and went on to to a PhD. I can’t imagine having such a structured life that one bad choice blows it for me.
That said, the curriculum described here (which I posted earlier) might not impress an AO, but if I were hiring a junior developer, I’d be pretty impressed if they had put together a Ruby on Rails web application full stack as a high school student. It would of course depend on whether the course is really as-advertised and how much hand-holding they got from the instructor.
“Web development” today is basically “software development” because the majority of software is delivered as cloud-based web applications. No, it’s not physics. It’s not calculus. I like both of those too and have a physics minor from way back. But it’s certainly nothing to turn your nose up at.
If 1NJParent hadn’t said “Yuck!” I wouldn’t even be in this conversation. I am not pretending that writing some software is identical in rigor to learning calculus-based physics. I just don’t think anyone should express contempt or disgust at a course that may be more inspiring and a better fit independent of a student’s comfort with mathematics.
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