Is there any benefit to having both AP CS A and AP CS Principles on your transcript?

Test Preparation AP Mathematics & Computer Science
1

Hello,

So last year I self-studied for AP CS after having a few years background with Python programming and exposure to other languages like Java. I ended up doing terribly and getting a 1, so I’m retaking it this year (haven’t started studying yet). HOPEFULLY, I’ll get a decent score on it. Anyway, my school this year added AP CS Principles and next year they will have it again. Should I take this course to show my interest in this subject area? Also, I’ll likely be taking this new semester course called Engineering & Robotics as well. I don’t KNOW if I’m gonna actually do well and be able to submit my AP CS A score. Also, CS probably isn’t going to be my intended major in college like I thought it was going to be, but it’s probably going to be something more like EE/CompE with maybe a minor in CS or something.

EDIT: Actually I wouldn’t have room for both AP CS Principles (1 year) and the Engineering and Robotics (1/2 year).

2

After further thought, it seems Principles is probably not as good as AP CS A. I’m fine just having AP CS A, and my extracurriculars will show my deeper interest, not AP CS Principles. Plus, this’ll make room for the Engineering and Robotics half credit, which will be a fun class and allow me to work on side projects. That’ll be great. It’ll also give me a study hall (first one in 2 years) for one semester. And that’ll be nice since my taking the bulk of my course load senior year. 3 APs senior year vs. 1 AP junior year + APCSA hopefully.