<p>I'm going to be a junior this year and these are the classes I've already chosen.</p>
<p>AP English Language
AP Physics C
AP Calculus AB
APUSH
Spanish 3</p>
<p>For my sixth period I was thinking about taking AP Computer science but I'm not really sure about how difficult it would be. Another option would be one semester of a regular computer class and another semester of being a teacher aid. I would really appreciate any input you guys can give me. </p>
<p>You’re going to be a junior, so try to make your schedule is as rigorous as possible 
Try waiting on the regular computer class and teacher aid period until your senior year so you can relax more. If you haven’t had any previous programming experience, AP Computer Science could be hard. See if there are any other computer programming class prerequisites. If there are none, it’ll probably be easier.</p>
<p>Thank you. Anyone else?</p>
<p>You seem to be a strong math student considering you are taking calculus as a junior as well as AP Physics C, so I expect that computer science won’t be too bad for you even if you don’t have prior programming experience. Even if it might not be hard, you are already taking 4 AP classes so those will definitely take out a big chunk of your time. You don’t want to burn out.</p>
<p>Consider your course load last year and your personal working characteristics to help estimate the amount of time you’ll need to get everything done on a daily basis. If you’re already staying up to midnight, spending another hour finishing a program might not seem like a good idea.</p>
<p>On the other hand, being a teacher’s assistant isn’t ideal for a junior aiming for top colleges. If you feel like you can handle another AP, go for it. Looking back, I feel like I didn’t take enough APs as a junior.</p>
<p>What if i took a full year of a prep computer class instead of just a semester?</p>
<p>AP computer science is difficult. My experience with it is that you’re thought the basic principles very well (its college level really) however, you just learn to program. You have to be able to pick up the logic and learn to read the code yourself. </p>
<p>Really, give it your all and you’ll do fine, but your schedule is really rigorous so unless you have some prior programming experience, you’ll have to give it a lot of attention. </p>
<p>Is Ap compsci extremely difficult without a previous computer class or programming experience?</p>
<p>You could go on codecademy.com and try the Python or JavaScript tutorial and see how you like it. Coding feels fairly natural to some people and is a difficult transition in ways of thinking for others. Your 4 APs are ones where the homework is usually extensive, and AP CS is likely to also be a time sink. If the prep computer class is something like “Exploring Computer Science” where you create smartphone apps and the like, it could be good (and also fun). If it is about using word processors/spreadsheets, then it will look non-rigorous.</p>
<p>It could vary by school. Can you ask friends who have already taken it? And ideally look at their syllabus, find out what they had to do for programming projects.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input. I’ll look at some java tutorials and see how I feel about it</p>
<p>@Camilouisee
It took me years to understand fundamental logic behind programming. When going into Computer Sci, you can’t just blindly follow the instruction and memorize the information, you have to learn the syntax obviously, but you want to focus on the logic. Good that you’re looking into basic tutorials, but the class covers a decent amount of the language (atleast my class is, currently doing VS). </p>
<p>You’ll have to put a dedication but if you’re not comfortable with putting the time towards learning the logic and principles, I would take the basic year round computer class and then take AP Computer Sci. </p>