In planning my senior year classes, I’ve got two options offered to me:
I can take AP Computer Science Principles.
I can self study for Physics C E&M
My school expects students to self study for E&M exam if they’re interested. Since it’s a self study, there’s no school credit or GPA improvement offered. On the other hand, I can take AP CSP, which I’m confident I’ll get an A in. I’ve already taken AP CS A and got a 5 on that exam. Even though taking AP CSP will raise my GPA significantly, it will not give me any useful college credits. My GPA isn’t that bad (it’s top 10 in my class, but not 1st or 2nd). I could take AP CSP and make myself competitive or valedictorian or salutatorian. Or I could take a study hall and use that time to study for E&M. The E&M credit will be useful to me because I plan to study aerospace engineering or CS in college so that credit will help.
I can’t imagine one class will raise your GPA significantly this late in the game.
But class or self study is a no brainer. If you self study, you may get credit or not - and you may be in a huge hole when you take the next class in college and are woefully unprepared.
Class is what schools want to see…not an exam sans class.
Take the class. Just the exam won’t help your GPA and E&M is very hard even with a teacher. I don’t know if it would be possible to self study and do super well.
Definitely take a class instead of self-study for an exam. But maybe you have some other classes available in which you could learn something new and interesting?
You can check at the individual schools you are considering, but often the E&M exam credit isn’t actually worth anything towards an engineering degree. At my son’s university for example, he can use credit from the Mechanics exam, but not the E&M exam.
If you were my student, I would support you studying Physics C E&M (assuming you will take Physics C Mechanics class), mainly because it helps you in the long run. Many T20 universities accept the test score if it’s 5 (some even take 4). Even if a school does not accept it, or you don’t score 4 or 5, I believe the self-studying experience will help you grow in both knowledge and methods of studying.
I teach APCSA. After earning a 5, taking APCSA doesn’t make sense. I’m one of the teachers who don’t support chasing GPA.
Is there a community college in your area that offers an equivalent to Physics E&M? It can be advantageous to take a class with an instructor instead of self-studying. The downside is that college grades are forever; if you don’t do well in this class you will be required to submit the transcript showing the grade when applying to grad school even though you took the class while in HS. So find out the deadline for when you can withdraw from the class.
Taking CSP after already taking CSA with a 5 on the exam is a waste of time in my opinion and is also going to look less than impressive on a transcript. CSP is intended as a gentle introduction for absolute novices to the CS world – that does not appear to describe the OP at this point.
In addition to self-studying for Physics C E&M, OP could also consider a higher level CS course (data structures/algorithms, for example) online or at a local community college.
Yes. Sort of like taking Physics 1 after taking Physics C.
I think a class is better, but not that one. If OP has another Science on the schedule, they could take a non science even if they are STEM oriented. Colleges like to see students challenging and stretching themselves in areas outside their main focus.
Yeah, you’re right. The improvement in GPA won’t help my college chances but it will make me competitive for valedictorian or salutatorian at my school. My school does not release class rank until the end of 12th grade so it’s hard to tell.
Students from the school do well, but it’s usually the kids who study all day and don’t do anything else (kinda like me). It’s really become a question of GPA boost vs. college credit for me. My GPA is not bad but I’d like to be competitive for valedictorian or salutatorian.
I was considering doing CS50 from Harvard, that online course. Would this course be a good option for me? And what would be other sources of college credit for me? I could try local community colleges or my state’s school.
@TonyGrace@Momofthree24@2Devils My senior year schedule is:
Multivariable Calculus
AP Physics C Mechanics (2 period class at my school)
AP Economics
AP Language
AP French
Gym and 1/2 year elective
I have one free period, I’m deciding between AP CSP or self-studying for E&M.
I’ve already taken AP Bio and I’m taking AP Chem this year. The only other science AP my school offers is AP Environmental Science.
Wow, that is great! In that case, do E&M self study if you enjoy the subject and can use it to help you place out, OR do a different elective for fun . From others it seems the CompSci option is easier than the one you already took, so that is a waste IMO. You have all 5 corecourses and plenty of rigor, no concerns here.
It looks like you already have all the core course areas covered for senior year. My feeling is that neither AP CSP nor self studying for an exam is going to add meaningfully to your HS portfolio for college admission purposes. Have you thought about taking an arts class or some other elective?
My son ended up with a free period in senior year as well (long story) and ended up taking a couple of one unit classes at the local university to learn about other things he was interested in.
Are there no other fun electives? There is nothing wrong with a free block.
Keep the free period and write great college essays I would only self study if the credits would actually be useful. Many times they don’t transfer so check the colleges you are interested in. Self-studying will not impact your application.
ETA - AP Euro or AP Gov would be great additions to what you have if you have not taken one of them. AP Stats is always useful IMO (but I think the first too are better if you have a lot of STEM already). Again, nothing wrong with the free block.
I’m taking AP Stats, Calc BC, and AP Gov right now (11th grade).
My 1/2 year elective is Intro to Robotics. My only thing against taking electives is that they will lower my GPA since they’re counted as CP classes in GPA system.
I only want to take it if the GPA improvement will make me valedictorian or salutatorian. But I acknowledge that the AP credit from that class won’t help me in college.
@TonyGrace I’m planning to pursue aerospace engineering or computer science. Would having the E&M credit be beneficial for one of those majors?
Others can chime in. Most often, Physics credits for Engineering simply serves for higher placement (again, take a look at a few schools you have in mind for specific policies) and higher placement is not always the best choice. Having said that, familiarity with material can be helpful in college courses.
Often CS major is in Arts and Sciences and the AP credit is more likely to fulfill a distribution requirement. Again, research specific schools.
So if you get to Val/Sal and it’s a cool thing, but what will it get you in life? And it’s not a given.
I’ll tell you what I believe about college credit - in part from kids on the student panel at Colorado School of Mines.
They said - for engineering, if you come in with AP in math or physics, take them again in college. Anything core - AP is nothing like college.
My son had a 5 in Calc AB and had to withdraw from Calc 2. He should have listened.
Others disagree and some say to take the final exam and see how you do. But engineering is very math intensive - and you don’t want to fall behind, etc.
It sounds like you’re already beyond advanced - but college is a four year experience. Hopefully you take advantage of the four years.
No reason to rush.
Not sure the types of schools you’re looking at - but I wouldn’t force something just to force it - and it sounds like it’s what you’re doing.
I have read about Ga Tech - they like Vals and Sals - not sure if true - but even the term means different things to different High Schools.
You’re obviously well accomplished. And will do great things.
This is a big “it depends” for calc, but I can see as being valid for Mines. For physics, I totally agree, particularly for engineering and exponentially more for the self-study student. First, you may learn enough to ace the exam, but that doesn’t mean you have a strong foundation. Second, the intro E&M class for engineering usually requires MVC. Physics C is low-level compared to some intro classes.
I would only self study if the credits would actually be useful. Many times they don’t transfer so check the colleges you are interested in. Self-studying will not impact your application.