Hello everyone.
I am a current junior in high school and I am taking the course College CS: Data Structures and Algorithms (it has a grade point weighting). To be honest, so far, I have been struggling. I don’t understand anything that’s going on and feel kind of behind in class. I do intend on majoring in CS, so I am not sure what this struggle means for me… I am pretty sure that I won’t be able to get an A in that class and right now I am really worried about how this will affect my chances for colleges. I have taken APCSA before and this is just a course that is offered after for interested students.
So my question is, should I switch out of Data Structures and Algorithms and into another AP course or should I stay? Would getting lower than an A lower my chances at colleges?
Thank you so much everyone.
You should switch out. There is no point in taking a course that you are not ready for.
I don’t think you should read too much into your struggles with the course. Data Structures and Algorithms is usually taken 2nd or 3rd year in college, and it is one of the hard CS courses.
If you think you will earn anything less than a “B” in the course then yes, switch out immediately before that course makes your transcript look bad. And getting any grade lower than an “A” does NOT lower your chances at attending a college/university.
What’s your schedule like?
It may be too late into the school year for you to switch into another AP class, unless your school year started last week.
It is okay not to take sophmore/junior college courses you are not prepared for as a junior in HS. Talk to your GC asap and transfer to something you are prepared for.