Need Help on Course Selections for Rising Junior Interested in Applying to Engineering/Computer Science Programs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t CS oversubscribed already?
There is a glut of CS majors

Can you back this up?

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.

I have heard that if you are the bottom of your CS class, you may find it hard to find jobs. This is because companies have a rigorous interview process and as part of your interview, they give you programming challenges that you have to be able to solve. Also, they expect some experience through internships, research paper etc. and it is important to have those on your resume too.

Just getting into CS and passing is not enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Congratulations! Which AP history classes in 10-12 did he take?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t CS oversubscribed already?
There is a glut of CS majors

Can you back this up?

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.

They must not have been looking very hard. My company is still having trouble finding candidates. My freshman CS major has gotten a couple interviews (school ranked around 60) for the summer without looking that hard (still in interview process for these positions).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Congratulations! Which AP history classes in 10-12 did he take?

10-AP world
11-APUSH
12- AP Govt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

At my kid's school this would not be allowed. You have to make a B in Calc BC and score 4 or 5 on AP exam to qualify for MV/LA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

At a minimum he would need Calc BC in many selective engineering programs. Another advantage of taking higher level STEM electives is that he will be somewhat familiar with the difficult content when he sees these at college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

At a minimum he would need Calc BC in many selective engineering programs. Another advantage of taking higher level STEM electives is that he will be somewhat familiar with the difficult content when he sees these at college.

THIS. First year student is really benefitting from this.

[Anonymous]

I'd look hard at foreign language and social studies. Many engineering schools don't really care about 4 years of language or 4 years of social studies. Look at their Common Data Sets.

I'd definitely prioritize math, physics, chemistry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd look hard at foreign language and social studies. Many engineering schools don't really care about 4 years of language or 4 years of social studies. Look at their Common Data Sets.

I'd definitely prioritize math, physics, chemistry.

+1

This is the case for any of the schools my child is likely to get in. I'm not referring to the schools which are essentially lotteries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t CS oversubscribed already?
There is a glut of CS majors

Can you back this up?

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.

That’s anecdotal

[Anonymous]

I'd recommend as many CS courses as possible.

With two kids, one interested in engineering, I've gone to a ton of zoom info sessions/"meet the students" sessions, etc.

I recall a 'meet the students' session at UCLA (specifically, a session targeting minority students) where a CS student said that the profs know that not all schools offer a lot of CS courses and will meet you where you are. She said she worked her butt off but by end of sophomore year, felt she'd caught up with peers. (I took this to say that it's possible to get admission with few CS courses, but it's a hard road, and perhaps this admission is targeted at low income schools and not schools where several CS courses are an option.)

I also saw a comment from a UMD admissions person for CS who said they explicitly look at whether the applicant took a lot of CS courses, joined CS/engineering related clubs, etc when doing admissions decisions.

For most majors, they don't expect kids to really start down the road for their major as early as HS. But CS admissions is really competitive right now. So if a serious interest, then do your best to learn as much CS as possible in HS-- both for admissions, and to succeed once there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd recommend as many CS courses as possible.

With two kids, one interested in engineering, I've gone to a ton of zoom info sessions/"meet the students" sessions, etc.

I recall a 'meet the students' session at UCLA (specifically, a session targeting minority students) where a CS student said that the profs know that not all schools offer a lot of CS courses and will meet you where you are. She said she worked her butt off but by end of sophomore year, felt she'd caught up with peers. (I took this to say that it's possible to get admission with few CS courses, but it's a hard road, and perhaps this admission is targeted at low income schools and not schools where several CS courses are an option.)

I also saw a comment from a UMD admissions person for CS who said they explicitly look at whether the applicant took a lot of CS courses, joined CS/engineering related clubs, etc when doing admissions decisions.

For most majors, they don't expect kids to really start down the road for their major as early as HS. But CS admissions is really competitive right now. So if a serious interest, then do your best to learn as much CS as possible in HS-- both for admissions, and to succeed once there.

Good idea, but do a lot of schools offer many CS classes? My kid's HS has a challenging science/math track, but the only CS courses are principles of CS (which he has deemed a waste of time?) and the one with java programming (which he's taking now).

I've often wondered how colleges would view it if my kid were to take fewer classes senior year in HS, say MV Calc, AP Eng Lit, AP Physics and the required P.E., and also take programming course and CS-relevant math courses online through CC or some other college.

Anyone know if this is possible and how it would go over from a college admissions standpoint?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd recommend as many CS courses as possible.

With two kids, one interested in engineering, I've gone to a ton of zoom info sessions/"meet the students" sessions, etc.

I recall a 'meet the students' session at UCLA (specifically, a session targeting minority students) where a CS student said that the profs know that not all schools offer a lot of CS courses and will meet you where you are. She said she worked her butt off but by end of sophomore year, felt she'd caught up with peers. (I took this to say that it's possible to get admission with few CS courses, but it's a hard road, and perhaps this admission is targeted at low income schools and not schools where several CS courses are an option.)

I also saw a comment from a UMD admissions person for CS who said they explicitly look at whether the applicant took a lot of CS courses, joined CS/engineering related clubs, etc when doing admissions decisions.

For most majors, they don't expect kids to really start down the road for their major as early as HS. But CS admissions is really competitive right now. So if a serious interest, then do your best to learn as much CS as possible in HS-- both for admissions, and to succeed once there.

Good idea, but do a lot of schools offer many CS classes? My kid's HS has a challenging science/math track, but the only CS courses are principles of CS (which he has deemed a waste of time?) and the one with java programming (which he's taking now).

I've often wondered how colleges would view it if my kid were to take fewer classes senior year in HS, say MV Calc, AP Eng Lit, AP Physics and the required P.E., and also take programming course and CS-relevant math courses online through CC or some other college.

Anyone know if this is possible and how it would go over from a college admissions standpoint?

Our APS school offers Intro CS, AP principles, IB HL (2 year course) and AP CS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd recommend as many CS courses as possible.

With two kids, one interested in engineering, I've gone to a ton of zoom info sessions/"meet the students" sessions, etc.

I recall a 'meet the students' session at UCLA (specifically, a session targeting minority students) where a CS student said that the profs know that not all schools offer a lot of CS courses and will meet you where you are. She said she worked her butt off but by end of sophomore year, felt she'd caught up with peers. (I took this to say that it's possible to get admission with few CS courses, but it's a hard road, and perhaps this admission is targeted at low income schools and not schools where several CS courses are an option.)

I also saw a comment from a UMD admissions person for CS who said they explicitly look at whether the applicant took a lot of CS courses, joined CS/engineering related clubs, etc when doing admissions decisions.

For most majors, they don't expect kids to really start down the road for their major as early as HS. But CS admissions is really competitive right now. So if a serious interest, then do your best to learn as much CS as possible in HS-- both for admissions, and to succeed once there.

Good idea, but do a lot of schools offer many CS classes? My kid's HS has a challenging science/math track, but the only CS courses are principles of CS (which he has deemed a waste of time?) and the one with java programming (which he's taking now).

I've often wondered how colleges would view it if my kid were to take fewer classes senior year in HS, say MV Calc, AP Eng Lit, AP Physics and the required P.E., and also take programming course and CS-relevant math courses online through CC or some other college.

Anyone know if this is possible and how it would go over from a college admissions standpoint?

Not knowing the school district, I would defer to your guidance counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t CS oversubscribed already?
There is a glut of CS majors

Colleges are limiting the number of majors to prevent a glut.