So for my senior scheduling, I was wondering if taking taking AP Computer Principles would be more beneficial than taking AP English Literature. Because of scheduling conflicts, I cannot take both. It would be either taking AP Computer Principles, regular English, and no free periods or taking AP English Literature and a free period.
I took AP Computer Science A last year and got a 5 on the exam. I also took AP English Language last year and got a 4 on the exam.
I want to do engineering, so would it be better if I took AP Computer Principles? Or should I take AP English Literature to finish off four years of advanced English?
AP in a core subject is more important than an AP in an elective. But part also depends on what the rest of your schedule looks like and what colleges you are targeting.
Additionally, I personally view CSP as a step back from CSA. It’s one of those classes, IMO, that’s fine if you can work it in, but is really not going to be a major benefit to you,
Take the English class. As Ski said, the cores are more important. For sure the good ones are going to want to see four years of English.
In DD’s HS, AP CSP is a pre req to AP CSA. The College Board didn’t design the courses to be that way, but indeed colleges may see CSP as a step back from CSA.
CSP will in reality be more like 2 or 3 steps back for you.
AP Lit can be really helpful for some universities in letting you skip required English classes.
If you’re confident you can do well in either, you should take AP Lit. AP CSP is typically a 10-11th grade course in our school (and my D and few others took it in 9th) as a beginning course in the CS curriculum - 2 steps before AP CSA.
Can you not find another class to take in the free period that goes with AP Lit?
Imo, none of the high school CS courses are a tip. They’re taught unevenly across the country. They don’t especially impress, even if you want engineering. Better to make sure you have all the right rigor, stem and non-stem.
Look at what your college targets recommend, right on their web sites. None I know say CS classes. You can’t set tippy top goals without having researched what they want and look for. You have to be the sort who is on his game.