Should I take AP Computer Science as a Junior ? (Look below for details)

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I NEED HELP !!!

I’m bouncing in between whether I should take AP Computer Science next year as a junior or as a senior. If i don’t do AP CS next year then I’ll do ceramics (required class) or senior year.The reason why I’m in dilemma is because in my senior year of HS I’ll have almost all my classes be AP courses. I don’t want to stress out but also senioritis is a thing…
NOTE:

  • at my school AP Computer Science is a self-study course so I would have to spend lots of time to do well on the exam
    My planned schedule below
    Junior Year
    AP Calc AB
    AP United States History
    AP Lang and composition
    AP Chemistry
    Spanish 3
    AP Computer Science or ceramics
    Senior Year
    AP Government
    AP Literature
    AP Calc BC
    AP Physics
    AP Spanish
    AP Computer Science or ceramics

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE !!!

2

I think it depends on how much programming and CS experience you’ve had previously. I’ve taken AP Computer Science Principles this year, and let me say that it was the easiest AP I have ever taken; anyone can take it and then pick up a C-style language with fair ease (my school used Harvard’s CS50 curriculum, which teaches C), which is convenient for learning Java: the language used in AP Comp Sci A. If you’ve already had personal experience with a C-style language or object-oriented programming in general, you won’t have any problem with the coding aspect of Comp Sci A. In fact, they practically give you a language specification in the actual AP exam in case you forget some valuable functions or methods.

In short, there is little reason not to AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A is hardly scary. However, given that your career will resolve around STEM, I would take Comp Sci A since Comp Sci Principles is geared towards non-STEM majors. Unless you’re jumping in CS cold turkey or if you’re seriously uncomfortable with CS concepts/programming, go ahead and take Comp Sci A. Otherwise, Principles is a good choice.

3

To be honest, Comp Sci A (which is what I believe you’re referring to) is easier than you might think, and it’s even easier if you have a beginner’s background in C-style programming and CS. I wouldn’t worry about self-studying in your junior year; coding is often fun, and you’re already taking a huge workload as a senior. Put in the work now, and relax later.

4

Both junior and senior year schedules look challenging enough without the AP Computer Science added. You might want to consider taking only one of the AP English classes and taking Computer Science with a regular English class. Or maybe you could do the self-study Computer Science over the summer. Perhaps you could borrow the Computer Science book to get an idea of how much time it would take.

5

Not sure if I should take the class. My career will revolve around STEM