I am a sophomore and I have taken the most rigorous courses available to me so far. However, for course selections next year, I am torn between 2 different classes. One option would be a class offered at my school called Adv. Computer Science AB, which models the old AP Computer Science AB. If I go this route, I could take another class called Computer Systems in senior year. Both give a 1.0 GPA boost (ik that colleges dont really care about weighted but still). It could also show continuity as I plan to major in computer science in college.
I could also take more APs in its place (like AP Econ junior year, and AP stat senior year). They also provide GPA boosts (+1.0). This would also stack up the number of AP exams I will have taken in highschool from 12 to 15.
In theory, those CS courses could teach you a considerable amount of the frosh/soph level CS curriculum. However, it is unlikely that colleges will give you advanced placement for high school courses that are not AP/IB/A-level, and even if they do, CS curricula vary enough in the frosh/soph course organization that advanced placement would not be assured anyway.
AP statistics may give you a taste of what statistics is like, but is unlikely to give advanced placement for a CS major, since calculus-based statistics is likely required. AP economics may give you advanced placement out of an introductory economics course.
Running up the count of AP exams from 12 to 15 is unlikely to be helpful, especially if they are among the less difficult elective ones.
What other courses in English, math, science, foreign language, history, social studies, and arts will you complete?
There’s no difference for colleges between 12 and 15 APs (or between 10 and 12).
Two rigorous CS classes in a subject you want to major in would both show more rigor and prepare you better than one of the easiest APs (stats) and Econ.
@ucbalumnus I will complete 4 years of math, science, english, foreign language, and history, as well as the most rigorous courses available to me in all 4 of those categories (i.e. apush, calc BC, ap lang, ap spanish, basically all the good stuff).
AP Stats and both of the Economics courses are usually seen as easier APs, so if you’re going to take them to try and make your schedule seem more rigorous, it’s probably not going to work, and may actually do the opposite, since from what you’re saying, the two comp sci courses look like they’re more rigorous, since they’re past the AP level, and they’re in the subject you want to major in.