<p>Hi, I’m taking AP Java A this year, and I plan to take the AP exam. What review books do you recommend I buy? I was thinking of the getting the Princeton Review on and the McGraw-Hill 5 steps to a 5. </p>
<p>Also, if I get a 3 or 4 on the exam, how much will this affect my chances of getting into MIT?</p>
<p>The two books:
*5 Steps to a 5: AP Computer Science (Mcgraw-Hill 5 Steps to a 5)
*Cracking the AP Computer Science A & AB Exams, 2006-2007 Edition (College Test Prep)</p>
<p>If you take any AP course and do well, you will demonstrate that you are taking challenging classes and doing well in them. Getting a 3 or 4 on AP Java A will not have any special affect on your admissions chances one way or the other, it will be part of the picture of the opportunities you’ve had available and what you’ve done with them.</p>
<p>If you are accepted at MIT, earning a 5 on the Bio or both parts of the Phys C AP exams, or a 4 or 5 on the Calc BC exam, will place you out of the intro courses in those subjects. (And a 5 on either English exam will excuse you from having to take the Freshman Essay Evaluation (FEE) the summer before you matriculate.) Note that there is no credit granted for any AP Comp Sci exam or for AP Chemistry. You can read the current AP credit policy [url=<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/advanced_placement_international_exams/index.shtml]here[/url”>www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/advanced_placement_international_exams/index.shtml]here[/url</a>].</p>
<p>Thanks mootmom. By the way, I plan to be a computer science or engineering major. If I did so happen to get a 3 or 4, would this look bad on my app?</p>
<p>V12us</p>
<p>I don’t think your intended major affects your application. With that being said, a 3 or 4 on AP Java A should look the same as a 3 or 4 on AP Chemistry, or any other AP exam.</p>
<p>Anyone know if that sounds right?</p>
<p>Sounds good to me, panasonic. Intended major is not a factor in MIT admissions.</p>
<p>In response to the books-
I took AP Comp Sci AB last year and got a 5. I recommend Barrons. I don’t know about Princeton Review, but I used a 5 Steps to a 5 AP Bio book a couple years ago and found it a bit too general. The AB exam is pretty easy if you are well prepared, so I imagine A is easier. I had a textbook, but I opened it only a couple of times ever. The practice questions and review from Barrons are good, but the best practice IMO is actually coding the concepts on a computer, which I hope you are doing in class.</p>
<p>I read somewhere (I’m too tired to go look for it) that beginning next fall MIT will not allow students to place out of intro bio with a 5 on AP.</p>
<p>Okay, I couldn’t stand not looking it up. <a href=“http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/2010/subjects/ap.html#bio[/url]”>http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/2010/subjects/ap.html#bio</a>
“Please note that AP Biology policies indicated on this page apply only to the class entering in fall 2006, and will change for subsequent classes.”</p>
<p>And in The Tech here: <a href=“http://www-tech.mit.edu/V126/N40/40briefs.html[/url]”>http://www-tech.mit.edu/V126/N40/40briefs.html</a>
“This is the final year that the Biology Department will be accepting AP credit in place of 7.012 (Introductory Biology), which is one of the General Institute Requirements. In order to fulfill the graduation requirement, students starting from the Class of 2011, will either need to take 7.012 or pass the Biology Advanced Standing Exam, according to Janice D. Chang, biology educational administrator.”</p>
<p>And I know this has nothing to do with AP Computer Science, but I actually KNEW something for once (or at least knew where to find it).</p>
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<p>None at all. There are many MUCH more important factors they look for besides a 5 on an AP CS exam. If you really wanted to demonstrate passion for Computer Science, just about the worst way to do it is via a 5 on an AP exam. That only shows that you can study for a test. A much better way is to demonstrate how you’ve worked on hobby programming projects or done technical consulting or something … getting a 5 on any number of AP exams should never be your claim to fame.</p>