Hello everyone! I am a current sophomore and am looking to enroll in a competitive Computer Science program in college. As I am choosing my classes for Junior year, I would just like to know which classes I should be taking to improve my chances. Here are my current plans:
Math - AP Calc
Science - Undecided (below)
History - APUSH 2 (APUSH at school spans two years and we take the exam at the end of APUSH 2)
English - Undecided (below)
As for science, I am conflicted and my school offers AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, and AP Chemistry. In regard to English I do not know whether I should take AP Lang or refrain from taking four APs at once. I have all As in my classes but I tend to do especially well in STEM areas and English, but I also have interests in history. Thank you for your time.
None are actually required, except for calculus at a very small number of colleges that expect it to be taken in high school.
However, choosing a sufficiently rigorous high school schedule is generally helpful in college admissions.
For CS specifically, consider the following:
If you complete precalculus before 12th grade, take calculus.
AP CS principles can help you determine your interest in the CS major. Or take a look at http://cs10.org .
AP CS A may give you advanced placement in the CS major at colleges where a Java-based data structures courses is one of the early courses (but many colleges do not give any advanced placement for AP CS A).
AP physics C may give you advanced placement in physics for engineering-based CS degree programs. However, not all CS degree programs are engineering-based, and not all which are give advanced placement in physics for AP physics C.
AP chemistry or biology may fulfills a side requirement for a science elective in some CS degree programs.
AP English or other humanities and social studies may fulfill general education requirements.
If you really want to determine the utility of each AP course, you need to check the CS curriculum and AP credit charts of each college of interest.