S is finalizing junior yr schedule and is conflicted on whether to take APUSH or AP CS A (could only take that if he took regular US history over the summer). Other classes would be multivariable calc, AP phys C (both parts), AP Spanish, English (no AP offered) and instrument. He could have taken APWH this year (sophomore) but chose not to (took AP calc BC & AP chem). School offers no AP Engl. or 12th grade AP history.
He is aiming for a top school. Would taking APUSH be better than taking the computer science class? On the flip side, would APUSH be too much with the other classes? He doesn’t know what he plans to major in, and doesn’t dislike US history, just wonders if he’d like compute science.
I’d have your son talk to his guidance counselor. If he is aiming for top tier colleges they will want to see the GC check the box saying he has taken the most rigorous courseload available at the HS. However that doesn’t mean your S needs to take every AP offered - there is generally some leeway. So he should ask the GC if his projected schedule without APUSH would put him in that category.
@havenoidea So if I’m reading this correctly, he’d be taking three AP courses next year plus multivariable calculus. Whether the third AP is APUSH or AP CS, either lineup sounds plenty rigorous to me. What does his guidance counselor say?
I have heard that APUSH is not necessarily difficult but can be very time consuming. CS might be less so.
You mentioned that CS during junior year would require taking US History over the summer. Are there also CS options offered during the summer? Either a course at his HS, or a coding camp, or a dual enrollment college course?
I amend what I said in reply #1 to include this point. I agree that taking whatever classes the GC says are needed to check off the common app “most rigorous” box is probably the main consideration.
AP CS isn’t even universally rigorous. Lots of kids think it offers some advantage and I personally disagree. In contrast, it seems he’d only have one or two years of social science, none AP? Not enough for a tippy top, unless he does get recruited. Agree to look into some CS in summer. Consider dropping AP CS. Make sure you understand what those targets look for. It’s more than just “Most Demanding” if, overall, it doesn’t make sense or is missing something the competition will be showing.
My gut feeling is that a kid aiming for competitive schools, who is in Multivariate and both AP Physics C’s as a junior, should show some balance and rigor in Social Sciences.
Adding an easy STEM AP like CS A doesn’t say anything new.
There is no “AP Computer Science” - there is AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles. The first course, which is the one from the OP, is accepted by most schools as equivalent to an introductory course in programming. AP Computer Science Principles is newer, and widely regarded as a fluff course that doesn’t teach much of anything.
@Hamurtle He’s in Spanish III and will take AP Spanish Lang next year, and probably AP Spanish Lit senior year.
@mamaedefamilia There are no school credit CS classes offered over the summer, though he could always do something online on his own or at a cc (his school doesn’t do DE).
@VickiSoCal He can’t take CS in senior year unless he drops his instrument, which he doesn’t want to do. He’s been playing for years and has to play in school to be in All State. He only gets 1 elective.
@lookingforward He would have 4yrs of history (he’s taking regular history now, but wishes he’d taken AP World in retrospect because his workload isn’t heavy), but none will be AP if he takes regular history over the summer. 12th grade’s history is a class called humanities (it’s mainly philosophy).
To everyone who suggested asking his GC if it will be the most rigorous either way, good idea, thank you!