AP Computer Science A VS. Chemistry Honors

Applying to College
1

<p>AP Computer Science A VS. Chemistry Honors<– highest level chem course</p>

<p>Which class should I take Junior year? Which do you think will be the most beneficial for someone who is planning to apply to top UCs and Stanford (engineering/science major).</p>

<p>Here are the pros and cons that I think will help me/you decide:</p>

<p>**Both AP Comp Sci are taught by a teacher who doesn’t teach at all. His tests and pop quizzes are extremely hard. His class has frequent labs that are worth many points.</p>

<p>AP Comp Sci
Pros:
-looks more “advanced” with AP label , haha.
-I’m interested (is it interesting for you guys?) I just don’t want to read those BORING books.

  • I want to make programs (What can you make with C++/ Java, what projects have you guys made??)
    -SOME tests/quizzes are weighed. Most aren’t</p>

<p>Cons:

  • I should take the AP exam (I might get a 3 since the teacher doesn’t teach)
    -Will not taking Chem junior year affect my chances at high caliber schools?
  • People say the “language” is hard to learn and understand. Is this true?
    -I have no experience with Java or C++ ( I’ve had experience with HTML) and I don’t even know how they work.</p>

<p>Chemistry Honors:
Pros

  • I don’t have to take the AP exam if I don’t want to. If I do it will probably be to my benefit (i.e. I can cancel scores if I want, show if I want)
    -Do colleges prefer seeing this taken in your Junior year or does it not matter (just as long as you take it in your high school years right?)
  • I’ve studied SOME thermodynamics/formulas like PV=nRT, U=Q+W in AP Physics B this year. This knowledge will probably help a bit.</p>

<p>Cons:
-All tests and pop quizzes are NOT curved at all. Period.
-4 people have A’s out of 70 people, most have C’s. A lot fail. Even the top ranked people have gotten B’s in this class.
-Harder to “self-study” than AP Computer science??</p>

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2

<p>Anyone have any advice on what I should do?</p>

3

<p>AP Computer Science is better for engineering. Java is really an easy language to learn, hey if I can learn it you should be. But you will have to spend a lot of time programming, ie time consuming.
I would not recommend taking 2 science classes at the same time because it’s hard but it depends on the school.</p>

4

<p>a big downside to Comp Sci is that many colleges consider it a math elective, and not a lab science. Unless you have 3 years of lab science already, go with Chem.</p>

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<p>I have taken: AP Physics B, Biology and will be taking AP Bio, and APES. Should I still go with Chem or AP Computer science? Do colleges know from your school which classes are the most rigorous? Do the counselors send information about each class or something?</p>

6

<p>Bump, I would really love some advice! =]</p>

7

<p>They’re both good choices and since you already have your science reqs planned out, I’d just go with whatever I like better.</p>