I’m currently helping my son put together an academic plan for his last three years of high school. He is a current freshman and quite strong in math and science. He really enjoys math and computer science. We have all of the essentials slotted in already (AP Calc A/B, B/C, MVC, AP Physics I, AP Physics C, AP Chem, AP English Lang, Lit, 4yrs Foreign Lang, 3 yrs History, etc).
He has a couple open spots left over and has expressed interest in both AP Comp Sci A and AP Stats. I think these fall clearly in the elective category, but they align well with his interests and help add some additional rigor to his schedule. Can anyone comment on these classes? Is AP Comp Sci expected for STEM majors? Is AP Stats valuable?
If he’s interested in computer science, taking AP Comp Sci A would be a good way to try it out.
Re: AP Stats - a lot of science, social science, and business majors at colleges require some sort of stats class. But if your kid is interested in computer science, if he was my kid, I’d tell him to take that over AP Stats if you had to pick just 1 of the 2.
He can fit both AP Stats and AP Comp Sci. He could replace AP Stats with Robotics or a Game Design (coding) class. I think it will really just come down to what he is interested in when he gets to his senior year.
Purdue Engineering lists both as “nice to haves” but not “must-haves” on their site.
“Students interested in applying for technical programs (engineering, science, health-related majors, technology, and agriculture, etc.) should take as much advanced coursework as possible in math and science (pre-calculus, AP/IB Calculus, AP/IB Biology, AP/IB Chemistry, and AP/IB Physics).
In CA high schools, these 2 APs can count as Math (c) rather than Elective (g) in the a-g coursework requirement on the UC or CSU application. I’m not sure if there are CA high schools where they don’t count as Math, and out-of-state high schools may be judged differently. But I bring this up to show that there are circumstances where they are not electives.
Generally speaking, I would say if these courses are of interest to him, he should take them.
AP CS courses could help confirm (or not) interest in CS:
AP CS A is a programming and data structures course mostly for intended CS majors. Possible subject credit in college for a CS major.
AP CS principles is a general overview suitable for maybe-CS majors and non-CS majors who want to get an general idea of what CS is about. Not likely to give subject credit in college.
AP statistics could help confirm (or not) interest in statistics, but since it is non-calculus-based course similar to general education statistics for humanities majors, it should not be expected to give subject credit for any math-heavy major which would require calculus-based statistics if it requires statistics. If calculus-based statistics is available at a local college, then that may be a more worthwhile course than AP statistics for a student who completes calculus beforehand.
Thanks for this. We are in Colorado. I used the word elective in the loosest sense. I really meant “nice to have”. He’ll have plenty of math credits already so my question was really more aimed at whether top schools would expect him to take these classes if available.
Good question. AP Bio is offered but he is taking Honors Bio now and does not really enjoy the subject so he opted not take AP Bio. Looking at his 4 year plan, he’ll have 14 APs and 3 Dual Credits so we feel there is plenty of rigor without AP Bio. Do others see lack of AP Bio as a significant weakness?
No, not with a full load of APs. What’s important is all three core lab sciences (bio, chemistry and physics) are represented on the transcript. I don think anyone would be expected to take two levels of all three in a four-year HS career.
Big fan of AP Stats. Even tho its Alg-based, its a good introduction to critical thinking skills. Top kids at our HS double with AP Stats along with Pre-Calc/Trig leaving CS for the following year.
If the couple spots are Junior and Senior year, you still have time as his interests develop.
You don’t need either in HS for pretty much any major - but if someone thinks they want computer science, it makes sense to try it out to see, etc. or another possibility if it ends up not working out from a scheduling POV is a summer session b4 Senior year - to sample / try what he thinks he wants to study in college. It’s a great way to validate.
Very strong in math, but his high school does Calc AB and Calc BC as levels so he really can’t skip Calc AB. I had the same question with Physics but they treat AP Physics I as a pre-req for AP Physics C.
Good point. He has one spot sophomore year and the other senior year. He is currently slotted for AP Comp Sci A sophomore year and AP Stats senior year. He also has a free period (study hall) each of those years so there is room to add an additional class or two if he wants to add something else.