Need Help on Course Selections for Rising Junior Interested in Applying to Engineering/Computer Science Programs!
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Anonymous
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I have a child who is interested in applying to engineering and computer science programs. He is struggling with his course selections for his junior and senior year. His is currently planning to take a balanced schedule with all five core classes all four years (i.e., history, English, FL, math, science, and social studies) with any remaining elective classes in the computer science/stem area. All classes, including electives, are AP/IB level classes.
He has a number of very bright friends who are interested in computer science/engineering/pre-med who are NOT taking this approach and are instead replacing certain core humanities classes with additional stem classes. For example, stopping foreign language after sophomore year, taking a regular US history class over the summer (instead of taking APUSH, etc.) and replacing those slots with additional rigorous math/science courses. He is now questioning whether he will be competitive for engineering/computer science programs because others will have taken more STEM classes. Thoughts? He does not like foreign language at all and would happily drop those his junior and senior year to make room for additional STEM classes if it would not hurt him in college admissions, and in fact, could make him more desirable for computer science programs. |
Anonymous
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Isn’t CS oversubscribed already?
There is a glut of CS majors |
Anonymous
| My two cents as a parent of 23 FCPS grad, i would recommend obtaining at least the highest MATH level possible for the traditional strong engineering schools (Purdue, VT, UMD, UIUC, etc). However a school like UVA has their checklist and seem particularly focused on checking the max rigor box in all core subject areas. Schools like MIT, CMU, Stanford etc., if not a recruited athlete, you need to be EXCEPTIONAL in something to at least get you a segment on the local news along with the obvious academic achievements. |
Anonymous
Can you back this up? |
Anonymous
Would AP Calc BC suffice for the traditional strong engineering schools (Purdue, VT, UMD, UIUC) or does he need something higher? |
Anonymous
| If higher than BC is offered, I would do it. Not sure if every school offers. My DS took Multi and Linear at Oakton through GMU DE and got into 3 of those schools. |
Anonymous
I'm PP at 20:48 and like yours, my student also took Multi and Linear and is attending one of the previously mentioned engineering schools. |
Anonymous
DP. I agree there is currently an oversupply. several of kid’s friends delayed graduation in ‘23 because they couldn’t find jobs. And this is at a t10 cs school. |
Anonymous
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Agree to max out on math courses offered at your HS. For U of I you need physics - I'd take the highest one possible.
As to whether or not to follow path of his friends/cohort, i.e., concentrate more on STEM courses at the expense of taking APUSH, foreign language etc. - I'd probably let my kid decide. I understand why he'd want to follow the same path as his friends/cohorts. My rising junior picked next year's schedule based on a mixture of what friends are doing and what he's interested in. For example, he will not do early PE just for the sake of cramming in another AP that he doesn't care about, like Psychology or US Gov. He would rather sleep! But he is taking 2 math courses so that he will max out on math offered at his HS by senior year. Maybe ask his counselor what he/she thinks as well based on past years' outcomes. |
Anonymous
All depends on the tier of colleges your so will be applying to. Top schools, it's a crapshoot regardless of what you do. Once you get below T30ish, it gets more reasonable. Here's what I'd recommend: - Language - Keep it through Junior year (or level 4). Don't bother with AP. - Math - Ending with Calc BC is fine. - Focus on rigor without compromising breadth - Focus on scoring as high as possible on the SAT - Same goes for PSAT; Try to qualify as NMSF. While this won't matter for T30, it's a big deal for the second tier schools. - Ask DC to start a programming project on their own. Build a product; a website or an App that can be used by the public. For example, if he plays a sport, maybe a site that aggregates information about that sport, scores over the years, etc. Make it fun and interesting. Maybe use ChatGPT to build apps. Or write articles on a regular basis on creative ways to use ChatGPT. This EC would be far more valuable than taking computer classes in HS. |
Anonymous
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My DS applied as engineering major this year…has been accepted at GaTech, VT, NC State, RPI, Pitt and took all honors English classes, all AP history classes (10-12), all AP math class through BC & DE multi variable and DE linear; AP physics 1, AP physics C, AP Chem; AP comp science principles ; AP stats; and 5 years of Latin (including AP Latin)
fCPS school Not sure what schools require- but giving you an idea of what might get him In. |
Anonymous
| PP, some really good suggestions on this thread. |
Anonymous
| Anyone get in just getting through AP Calc BC for math? I don't think he will have the time to get through multivariable unless he takes both AP Calc BC and multivariable senior year at the same time. Can kids even take those at the same time? |
Anonymous
My DC only took up to BC. Also stopped FL after sophomore year to take more STEM electives. Got into Michigan engineering, GA Tech engineering and UMD engineering honors |
Anonymous
What school district? |