I’m a sophomore in HS. In college I want to study English/Creative Writing, and I’m highly geared towards humanities subjects. I took AP Computer Science and AP World History this year. The only reason why I took AP Comp Sci is we are required to take a computer science class at my school, and if I took regular computer science, my weighted GPA would be brought down. I made an A in the course, but because I have no interest in pursuing STEM in college, I am not signed up to take the exam. Instead, I am taking AP World History exam and the AP Human Geography exam (I bought a couple of test prep books and am studying for it independently). I hope to make high scores on both. Next year, I am taking AP US History, AP Language and Comp, and AP European History. I am not taking any AP STEM courses. Do you think if I score well on all of these (4+), colleges will still care about whether or not I took the AP Computer Science exam? I only had so much time to study, and between all the other things I’m doing, I decided it would be more worth my time to direct the effort I would have spent studying for AP CS into studying for AP WH. My top choice school is Columbia (CC- will apply ED), with Barnard, Yale, NYU, and Brown below that. Any answers are appreciated. Thank you so much!
I feel it would hurt you more not taking any AP science or math courses. The most rigorous courses would include at least some of those in high school.
AP scores will play little to no role in the admissions process for the vast majority of US colleges; they are primarily used for credit and/or placement. So the good news is that it won’t matter that you do not take the AP Comp Sci exam. The bad news is that you probably wasted for time and money planning for the APHG exam, as most top schools give no credit for that.
On another subject, I hope you have some match/safety schools on your list. Columbia, Brown, Barnard, etc. are a reach for everybody.
@rubberfall I am taking honors biology and honors pre-calc (hardest class in my school) next year. I am still taking honors level science/math courses. If I wanted to take an AP STEM class next year, I would have to take it as an elective, and I would rather spend my elective credit on AP European History (I like English/history subjects). Senior year I will take AP Biology and AP Calc BC.
@skieurope The main reason I am taking APHG is because I find it very interesting. And yes, I have several match schools and a safety school on my list of colleges. I was just asking for those particular schools, since they are my top choices.
@oxfordgirl123 that sounds more balanced than what I had previously thought you meant.
I don’t think that it will hurt your chances at all, but I think that it’s important for you to keep in mind that colleges do want you to challenge yourself and go beyond your “interests”. AP Comp Sci is not going to hurt you (you have an A) but will you be taking honors STEM Classes? I recommend at least one AP Stem Class in 11/12th grade. I am also not a STEM person but I took two AP stem classes… Good Luck!
@theprepkid I am taking two honors STEM classes next year (biology and pre-calc) and senior year I will be taking AP Biology and AP Calculus BC
@oxfordgirl123 oh yeah that’s great!
Also I don’t know if you’ve really looked into this but I loved Columbia before actually visiting and have decided to go for another school instead for early. Just make sure that you KNOW what you want and the school REALLY has it!
@theprepkid I visited Columbia over Spring Break and fell in love! I am still going to tour many other schools (I’ve also toured Brown, Princeton, and NYU), but as of right now, Columbia is my #1 choice. Plus, I’m from Hell’s Kitchen (Manhattan), so I am well accustomed with living in NYC.