High school tech requirement

[Anonymous]

Any reason not to take AP Comp Sci Principles instead of Foundations of Technology to meet the tech credit? Assume the AP class looks a little better on college apps and the buzz is that it’s not too hard. What do others think?

[Anonymous]

It's probably the easiest AP class. It also gives you a boost to the weighted GPA.

[Anonymous]

One reason I can think of is that your kid has to take the class in school, as AP Comp Sci principles is not offered in summer school. If you have a kid who is not particularly interested in computer science, they might do better to take the easier class in summer school and then take a class that is more of interest to them in regular school.

[Anonymous]

My kid ended up choosing Foundations of Engineering and Technology rather than AP Comp Sci Principles because they felt they'd already been exposed to basic computer science skills through a variety of opportunities but hadn't had a chance to sample engineering yet. They debated because they'd heard that comp sci principles was an easy AP, but the subject just wasn't as interesting to them. The engineering class isn't hard, but it has provided an intro to CAD and some engineering concepts and software, and I think my kid is glad they made that choice. It also should give a weighed GPA boost as an honors class -- or at least we think so based on the catalog and "honors" marking on the first quarter report card, but we can't verify until first semester grades are in.

Note that there is a "Foundations of Technology" class as well as the "Foundations of Engineering and Technology" one, and I'm not sure if all schools offer both. I think only the Engineering+Tech one is honors and is more in-depth. They both fulfil the tech credit requirement.

Engineering: https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseDetails/Index/TEC2016A
Non-engineering: https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseDetails/Index/TEC2000A

So my answer to yoru question is that if your kid has a preference about the subject matter, then the foundations of engineering/technology class might be a better choice.