AP Environmental vs AP Euro vs Honors Programming

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
1

Hey guys,

I recently posted about a similar topic, but have resolved that issue. I am in the process of selecting my classes for sophomore year. My slated schedule looks like:

English 3 Honors STEM
AP Statistics
AP World History
Chemistry Honors STEM
Precalculus Honors
Spanish 3 Honors
Orchestra Masterclass
Computer Programming 1 Honors STEM OR AP Environmental Sciences OR AP European History.

My predicament:
Prog - prerequisite to AP Computer Science A & pertains more to my major of choice for college, Comp Sci
AP Euro - interested in taking the class, however workload seems like a lot when taking it concurrently with AP World
APES - easy AP class, GPA booster

I would just sign up for Prog however I am afraid that my already high class rank (ranked 9 of 526) will get trampled by the many people taking AP Bio and/or PLTW classes (AP weighted engineering classes) next year.

What are your thoughts? All help is appreciated.

2

If i were you I’d do what I like and choose java over env science. Class rank doesn’t matter much in the future unless your going for valedictorian.

3

@Decepters‌ Thanks for the quick reply. I am looking to stay in at least the top 5% of my class by the end of sophomore year. I have high As in Intro to Engineering (a PLTW class) and AP Human Geography this year, but I am not sure as to how much this would help.

4

It would be beneficial to you if you had some experience in java or whatever language your taking for your major. Im taking ap comp sci next year too.

5

You already have a really high rank in your class but if you want to get even further then thats your choice.

6

Take programming - as long as you’re top 10%, you’re fine. In addition, it’ll allow you to take AP CS the following year, and class rank only matters first semester senior year (if your school even releases rank)

7

I’d say do either AP Euro or Programming.
The AP history courses will help out with each other, whether you take them at the same time or take AP Euro as a senior (some of the units and material overlap)

You mentioned that you’d want to do APES as a GPA booster and that it’s easy - and the college admins know that, too. They know it’s a lite AP course and isn’t comparable to AP Bio / AP Chem / AP Physics.

8

AP Euro seems like the best if your looking for prestige. It doesn’t take skill, just time.