For senior year, I have to choose whether to take AP Calc AB/BC or AP calc AB with AP computer science principles(different from AP comp science A) . My schedule won’t allow me to take AB/BC with comp science principles. Would taking comp science with calc AB look better on my application than taking calc AB/BC (I’m thinking about applying to selective colleges). Does comp science principles enhance my application( more so than calc AB/BC) if I’m thinking about majoring in Comp Science? What shall I choose…calc AB/BC or comp science principles?
If you plan on majoring in computer science, I recommend Option 2 (taking AP Calc AB with AP Computer Science Principles). While BC Calc is nice for colleges to see, AB is what’s necessary, and Principles will look good enough alongside AP Calc AB, especially if you’re heading towards the computer science field.
I’m answering this not for what “enhances your application” but for what might help you in college. Have you taken Comp Sci A? My opinion, after teaching AP Comp Sci Principles last year, is that you should take Calc AB/BC next year to get a firm foundation in the many calculus classes you’ll need as a CS major. AP CSP was created to help get under-represented students interested in pursuing computer science. If you are already thinking about majoring in CS, then a lot of the material might be too easy if you’ve had any exposure to basic computer programming and concepts. If you’re not sure, get a code.org account (currently the most popular, but not only, curriculum in use for the course) and take a look at the AP Computer Science Principles coursework and modules and see what you think. If it looks like a good use of your time and might help you make a decision on your major, then sign up for that with Calc A/B. I think the topics covered in AP CSP are something you could progress through pretty rapidly this summer on your own.
Wasn’t sure the best answer until I saw this: “I’m thinking about majoring in Comp Science”. That to me makes AP CS Principles the better choice. You can demonstrate your abilities in something that would be your major.
Note: If AP Computer Science A was offered, that could be better. I’m a parent, so I don’t have firsthand knowledge in this case. But some points made in this thread say AP CS A is better for the CS major than Principles:
@azmomof3@aaronw101 Anything that enhances an application, in my opinion, helps you in college, but I still think that AP Comp Sci Principles and AP Calc AB would be more useful for a computer science major than doing both AB and BC Calc even if you’re not doing it to enhance your application, even if you have taken AP Comp Sci A. I think getting as much Comp Sci knowledge as possible will help you in the future.
Another option, if you are motivated, is to go through http://cs10.org on your own if you are unable to take AP CS principles. This is the kind of college course that was a model for AP CS principles.
In terms of the two AP CS courses:
AP CS principles gives a broader overview of CS, and is suitable for non-CS majors as well as prospective or possible CS majors.
AP CS A may give advanced placement for CS majors at some colleges where programming and data structures are taught using Java or a similar language.
Having calculus is what matters so you’re good either way wrt college admissions. Don’t think about it as ‘what do adcoms want’ but rather ‘what do I find more interesting?’
If you’re interested in cs and have never taken a class in it, it seems that calc AB+ CSP would match your interests best unless you really like math.