<p>OK, I am currently enrolled in AP Computer Science A as a junior. I have thought about it and it seems extremely unreasonable for me to take the exam in May.</p>
<p>First, my teacher is really horrible. There are no lectures, no programs. Just reading and "exercises". I will have to self-study for the exam.</p>
<p>Second, even if I do well on the exam, none of the colleges I am applying to will accept the credit.</p>
<p>Third, its 95 bucks.</p>
<p>But I keep telling me I should take this exam. Should I? After all, AP exams are meant for college credit, and none of the colleges I'm applying to really recognize it!</p>
<p>It depends how sure you are that none of the schools you will be applying to won't take the credit. I took 4 AP's in h.s., and I ended up not getting or not using the credit in college, so that was a waste of $300 for me. Then again, some of the universities I was looking at did grant credit, so there was a chance I could've skipped some courses had I gone to those.</p>
<p>Depends. If you feel comfortable with the material and think you can do well, then you should take it, 'cause it's something to put on a college app (many colleges ask you to put "unofficial" scores, etc.) + it looks good that you took it. If you don't think you can do well, then don't take it.</p>
<p>Are you taking AP CS next year so you can take the AB exam? My school does it so you can take AP CSA after programming 2 and AP CSAB after programming 3, so most kids dont take the A exam, but take the AB exam after programming 3. The only people who take the A exam are seniors whose colleges accept the credit.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that I do not want to take the AP world exam. My college gives credit if I get a 5, but it goes towards free electives, so it doesnt help me graduate. Also, the work to get a 5 does not equal the $82 to take the test nor the time to study.</p>
<p>Yeah, I guess the only reason I would take it is if it looks poorly on my application if I don't. Otherwise, taking the exam wouldn't make me learn more or anything...and it would be a pretty big waste of money. 95 bucks is a big chunk of change :)</p>
<p>So would it look bad if I do not take the exam? Esp at schools like Yale, Princeton, or Columbia?</p>
<p>a) You might change your college list between now and senior year
b) It's still nice to know where you stack up against the rest of the AP Comp Sci people. That way you can see if you know more than you think.</p>
<p>i would take it, just because the schools might start accepting it/you might change schools/APs might help in admissions....
its a waste to do a full year of AP class to not even try on the exam...plus, if your school adds GPA points, why not take it just for those? i knew i was going to suck at AP Physics, but the .5 to my GPA was going to help (i got a 2 btw)</p>
<p>but, i would take it just because things can change, regardless of the GPA boost or not</p>
<p>Some schools let you register for classes at a specific time period based on how many credits you have, even elective credits, which is a plus (better chance of getting popular or hard to get courses)
But if you are positive you would not get any credit at the colleges you have chosen to apply to, then no, don't take it.</p>
<p>Well, do you want to be assigned to the introductory or beginning Computer Science courses when you attend college? For me, I take the exam because:</p>
<ol>
<li>I like to get passed all the introductions of the subject in college and hit the real meat :)</li>
<li>It's the "gun and guillotine" for me to study and excel in my AP classes</li>
<li>It's free here (at least right now, the board's thinking of evoking this luxury), required, and if you don't take the exam, then you have to pay. The cost of these exams never would've influenced my decision as reasons 1 and 2 does.</li>
</ol>
<p>what i meant was that because you are taking the course, its a waste to not take the test, especially since you're only a junior and things might and probably will change</p>
<p>I'm in a similar position, except we're "expected" to take the AB exam after a single year course (taught by an incompetent teacher). However, I'm a senior, already accepted to college, at a place that would not accept that credit except for placement purposes. Since I really don't think I could get more than a 3 on it, I'm probably not going to take it. What's the point?</p>
<p>Anyways, I don't think NOT taking the exam will necessarily look bad, since reporting AP scores is optional anyways. If you think you can get a 4 or a 5, go for it, since that will look excellent. But if not, I don't think it will harm you.</p>