<p>So I've been really thinking about college this past year and I'm really thinking about going into computer science. I'm a junior in high school right now, I'm taking chemistry and pre-calc. I'm getting A's in all my classes except for english. The problem with this is this year's curriculum was complete bs, and I really shouldn't have an A in neither chemistry nor trig/pre-calc, probably a D or C. I don't understand half the things in class and I'm not even sure how I have A's right now.
Because I haven't had much guidance, I was wondering if it was possible to retake general chemistry and pre-calc in college. Is chemistry/trig a requirement to major in CS? I'm not necessarily saying I'm HORRIBLE at math/sci, I'm just saying I haven't had much "teaching" this year and forgot everything after a test. I want to retake the classes so I can do CS correctly instead of half assed.
And for this reason, I'm thinking about going to community college first, then transferring to a 4 year. <--- Do you think this is a good idea?</p>
<p>CS is a branch of math, albeit discrete math (look it up). Aptitude in algebra is necessary for CS too though.</p>
<p>bump need advice!</p>
<p>Course requirements will vary between universities depending most often on whether the CS program is part of the College of Engineering, College of Computing/Math, or Arts and Sciences. An engineering college might require a full year of physics, biology or chemistry plus a half year of another. The engineering physics and engineering level chemistry classes will be more involved than the general chemistry or general physics classes that other majors might take. So, if you went to a university where the CS degree wasn’t in the College of Engineering you might be able to take an “easier” version of the science classes.</p>
<p>Many CS programs require a a lot of higher level math courses. If you did very well in Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II then it’s quite possible that your struggles with Trig/Functions is just a product of your current class. After all, if you are getting an A you probably aren’t doing as poorly as you believe. I’m not sure I’d retake Trig. It might be better to take Calc AB, if offered, your Senior year. Then, make a decision whether to retake Calc I your freshman year in college based upon how well you understood Calc I.</p>
<p>BTW - I’m assuming you have the opportunity to take a CS class your Senior year in HS. It’s definitely worthwhile.</p>
<p>Why do you think you don’t know anything? Are you sure this isn’t just a case of Impostor Syndrome? <a href=“http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome[/url]”>http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome</a></p>
<p>In any case, there’s nothing preventing you from retaking classes in college if that’s what you want to do.</p>
<p>OP, I completed Differential Equations 30+ years ago and when I need algebra help I ask my 9th grader… I do software for a living and have done a trig function or two maybe ONCE in my career (this week is a challenge as I’m doing 3D coordinate transforms and it’s getting ugly - I’ll ask my 9th grader for help :)). Chemistry, useful to impress pre-med chicks 
but you won’t be seeing it in CS practice.</p>
<p>Now, that’s assuming you do a BA CS, with ‘math lite’. A lot of schools have added the entire Calc I-III and ODE and a year of lab science to CS…</p>
<p>Trig by itself is cool because of the way it’s taught with lots of proofs and deep thinking, not merely ‘simplify this’ or ‘solve that’. In Elbonia we had a year’s worth of trig and went in very deep… Good stuff.</p>
<p>Take the AP exams next year for those subjects.
AP are standardized enough to tell you whether or not you understand the material. If it was a class that didn’t prepare you well enough, they will show that.
If you want to retake classes in college, go right ahead. But you risk the chance of being screwed by circumstance. Whatever you can take care of in high school, you save time on in college. It’s definitely worth it.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies!</p>
<p>Or take the AP practice tests first. Before spending $ on the real tests…</p>
<p>
I feel like that goes without saying.
But yes. Take practice tests and buy a review book.</p>