<p>Hi , I am an international student. The truth is that I cannot afford 2 or 3 AP's simultaneously , So I'll be giving only one AP next May. I'm currently in 11th grade. Which AP should I give so that it can help me most college admissions . I'll be selecting CS as my major. So which should I take - Comp Sci A , Calculus AB or Phy C Mechanics????
Also , will only self studying one AP would give a bad impression on adcoms???</p>
<p>Why do you feel you need to take one at all? It isn’t expected for students overseas where AP’s aren’t offered. What are your classes like? Do you have IB program? Do you have calculus and physics already offered?</p>
<p>He have fixed classes and we can’t change them. No , I’m in India’s CBSE program , Calculus and Physics are main subjects. But which AP should I give?</p>
<p>Self studying and doing well (4 or 5) on any of these will boost an international applicant’s chances because APs are not common in that subset of applicants. Of the three, either Calc or Physics are probably more impressive than Comp Sci. As between Physics C and Calc AB, my thought is the physics is considered more rigorous.</p>
<p>But I want to major in Computer Science , will taking CS A more relevant or should I take Phy C mech?</p>
<p>Colleges do not require AP scores for admission. Majority of colleges won’t even consider AP scores for admission. Some, including most of your high ranks, will give them at least some consideration along with everything else. If you can only take one AP test and your intent is to apply for science or engineering (including CS), the best choice would actually be Calculus BC but any science would also be helpful.</p>
<p>But according to my syllabus I have solved only 30% of Cal BC , will giving any other AP like Cal BC help me , Or adcoms wiould think that he has been misleaded.</p>
<p>If you had to pick only one, AdComs like to see Physics-Mechanics. You get to demonstrate logic, problem solving, and math skills in an AP that is known to be pretty difficult. But it tends to be the class that demonstrates this best, not just the test. If you just want to take a test, the SAT IIs might be a better choice.</p>
<p>I agree with MrMom: try to take 3 subject tests (Math2, Physics, and English, for instance. English because so many Indian applicants take science tests that it’ll help you a little to show range.) If you can get high scores on all, it’ll have the same effect as that one AP.
Unless you already intend on taking both Subject Tests AND that AP?
However if you’re dead set on taking Ap’s and your current syllabus matches these 3, then I’d choose Physics C since it’s one of the most rigorous APs).</p>
<p>Physics C is calculus based. Do not take it if you haven’t already taken calculus, preferably at the BC level. You will likely not do as well in Physics if you have not yet had calculus, so if you are a junior, I would save it for next year.</p>
<p>In general, I, like some other posters, consider the Physics APs to be more worthwhile courses than the Comp Sci APs. I also believe this is a view held by some colleges; I attend a top US tech school, and while students can skip courses for high scores on the Physics or Calc AP exams, students receive nothing for having taken the Comp Sci AP. As such, I would recommend the following optimally:</p>
<p>If you are now a junior, this year take: Calc AB or (preferably) BC and Comp Sci
Next year take: Physics C: Mech and E&M
If you are now a senior, this year take: Calc AB or (preferably) BC and Physics B</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you for your amazing suggestions! You helped me a lot!
Thanks once again!
And yes I’ll be taking 4 SAT subject tests - Phy,Math2,Chem and one more.</p>
<p>Make the one more not a math or science one. As said above, showing a range of accomplishment across another discipline would be more valuable than another science.</p>