I’m freshman and wondering …
in three years’ time, when I become a senior, whether I should be taking AP Calculus AB or AP Computer Science.
Your advice will be appreciated.
It’s required for an engineering major to take Calculus.
It’s NOT required to be taken in high school.
Thanks. I still haven’t nailed down exactly what kind of engineering, but I enjoy math and science and also interested in programming … um, to make video games.
Let’s say I was aiming for super selective schools or somewhat selective schools that takes 25% of applicants.
Do these schools frown if I take AP Computer Science instead of AP Calculus in my senior year?
Unless you are applying to Harvey Mudd, Caltech or a few other colleges you don’t have to have calc in high school.
However, I would recommend AP Calc over AP Computer Science.
Why is that, NotCreativ?
Also do I have to go to each college’s admission pages to find out which schools/majors require calc? (;´・`)>
All engineering disciplines, computer science, math, and hard science degrees at almost every college require calc, along with other fields such as business. AP CS is not considered a math class (its an elective), so I suggest you take calc your senior year, otherwise, you won’t have a math class.
In general, most schools won’t have a “calculus required” listing, since most teach it to their incoming freshmen, anyhow.
Personally, I would choose AP Calc over AP computer science, since there is a greater chance of being granted units for taking the AP exam. In many places, or so I hear, the AP Comp. Sci. curriculum doesn’t match with what the university would have wanted, so you have to start from scratch, either way.
Another point is that Calc would be more useful, since pretty much every engineering major would smile upon it. On the other hand, AP Comp. Sci would be a bit more limited in scope for applications toward your major. You never know if you change your mind later and, if you do, more likely than not, your AP Calc class will have helped you prepare better than an AP Comp. Sci class.
Just my two cents, anyhow.
Some prestigious universities, such as Caltech and MIT, require all undergraduates to take or have taken calculus (up to multi-variable), not just math/engineering/CS majors.