ClassOf2009
Sun, 27 May 2007 15:14:42 +0000

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

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).

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

**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.

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

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.

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.

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??






Since the same teacher teaches both classes, I will basically need to self study these on my own. Which do you think is easier to do that? Based on the pros/cons that I have written which do you think I should choose for my junior year. I will eventually take both! And no, not having taken either one of these classes will not prevent me from taking other courses. I’m pretty much equally interested in the courses now. Also, if any of you are willing to help me out even further, please PM me. I’ll send you the syllabus/assignment sheet for both of these classes. You’ll probably get a sense of the difficulty of each classes (for those of you who’ve taken these courses before). Thanks a lot guys! =]