Which high school classes for student planning to major in computer science

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Discrete Math and/or Logic if they are offered

They will take that in college for CS. Not reason whatsoever to take that in HS.

[Anonymous]

Is working in computer science always heavily math based? Do you absolutely need to have a love of math to do well with CS as a profession? My kid loves video games but is not a strong math student and wondering if it might be an option anyway.

[Anonymous]

plenty kids i know have gotten into CS programs without even taking Calculus 1 in high school but took coding classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:plenty kids i know have gotten into CS programs without even taking Calculus 1 in high school but took coding classes.

I only know a couple that are classmates of my son. How do you know "plenty" of CS majors? Let alone those that didnt take calc. Current student? Educator? In the field? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, solid foundation in Algebra
then most rigorous calculus offered
statistics
graphing classes
AP CS Principles
+ most rigorous CS courses offered

If your high school doesn't offer these, then consider taking summer classes in same at a community college or as a non-degree student at a four-year college.

OP here. This is helpful. Our school system (not local) is on the "Block System" so the students take a year long class in a semester. According to all the suggestions, I came up with this for math, science and electives. Thoughts?

Math:
Geometry w/Data Analysis (honors - follows his current accelerated math track)
Algebra II w/Statistics (honors - follows his current math track)
AP Precalculus
AP Calculus (AB? BC?)
Applications of Finite Mathematics

Science:
Honors Biology
Honors Physics
AP Physics (different options are offered)

Electives that count as math and/or science:
AP Computer Science Principles (offered 10th-12th)
AP Computer Science A (offered 10th-12th)

Electives:
Exploring Computer Science
Foundations of Engineering and Technology
Computer Engineering and Technology
Basic Programming for Engineers
Robotic Systems (maybe)
Spanish (?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is working in computer science always heavily math based? Do you absolutely need to have a love of math to do well with CS as a profession? My kid loves video games but is not a strong math student and wondering if it might be an option anyway.

No, but: a) most schools require 1-2 years of math for CS, and b) computer graphics is one of the fields in industry that IS math intensive. If he likes coding but hates math, better to do a MIS degree and work on business apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How hard is AP Computer Science A for a student with zero coding experience?

My kid is in Com Sci A right now. He has coding experience and finds it to be pretty easy. However, his classmates/friends that have not coded before need my son's help to get through it. If you don't have coding experience, you should definitely take ComSci A (if you are considering CS as a career). It will not be a cake walk... but you need to start somewhere! That said, it's also not going to be as hard as AP Physics C or Calc BC.

How well did your kid do in Geometry? This is a prereq for Com Sci A in our district. The reason is b/c Geometry requires you to do proofs --- which require STEP by STEP thinking. That's what coding is.... step by step logic. If your kid did o.k. in Geometry proofs, s/he will do o.k. in ComSci A.

[Anonymous]

17:00 here.

AP Com Sci Principals is pretty much a waste of time. If you really have no background in coding/computers, then maybe this would be advisable. But, for anyone who has been playing around with coding, ComSci Principals should be skipped.

Also, for any "computer" courses that are part of the technical education path (not the math path), you should ask a lot of questions before signing up for them. Maybe in your district they are really good. In FCPS, they are generally a big waste of time. Very little teaching. Very little accomplished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is working in computer science always heavily math based? Do you absolutely need to have a love of math to do well with CS as a profession? My kid loves video games but is not a strong math student and wondering if it might be an option anyway.

WORKING in computers is NOT usually math based.

GETTING A COM SCI degree does require STRONG math skills.

There are other degrees (like IT) that require less math, but still involve computers. There are also community college type degrees in networking or others that are more practical applications and less math-y.

Some CS degree programs only require Calc I and Calc II. Most require Calc III.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, here. He doesn’t know what schools he wants to attend. . Glad to hear it’s mathematical thinking and based in logic. He enjoys both. Together, we have looked at the classes his HS offers and thinks he should take (before he graduates):

*AP Calculus (AB and BC)
*AP Computer Science Principles
*AP Computer Science
*AP Physics

And maybe foreign language (2 years) and Application of Finite Mathematics?

(He requested “Exploring Computer Science Principles” as his elective for 9th grade.)

Students often go straight to AP Calc BC and AP CS, and skip the easier AP versions of those subjects, which leaves room for other classes such as post AP math and CS, depending on the school. AP physics also comes in different levels of difficulty too.

Is it redundant to take AP Exploring Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science?

Not redundant b/c CS Principals is mainly fluff. AP Com Sci A is actually CODING.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:00 here.

AP Com Sci Principals is pretty much a waste of time. If you really have no background in coding/computers, then maybe this would be advisable. But, for anyone who has been playing around with coding, ComSci Principals should be skipped.

Also, for any "computer" courses that are part of the technical education path (not the math path), you should ask a lot of questions before signing up for them. Maybe in your district they are really good. In FCPS, they are generally a big waste of time. Very little teaching. Very little accomplished.

Do you consider it a waste of time if it would be an easy A for a student with experience in coding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:plenty kids i know have gotten into CS programs without even taking Calculus 1 in high school but took coding classes.

What kind of coding classes did they take? Was it at their high school?

[Anonymous]

So, my dc took:

Math up to regular Calculus
Chem
Physics
Bio
Earth Science
AP Comp Sci A
and a few coding electives

Was accepted at a few T50 schools - did not apply to the TT engineering schools (MIT, CalTech, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is working in computer science always heavily math based? Do you absolutely need to have a love of math to do well with CS as a profession? My kid loves video games but is not a strong math student and wondering if it might be an option anyway.

Our DS is CS major and the minimum number of required college math courses for the degree is seven, plus some of the CS courses sound like math to my English Lit brain.

If your kid loves video games, while most jobs in the industry will be looking for CS, there are many fields other than CS that are needed to create a game -- creative writing, music and sound, art, and all the associated managment and business elements. Think of it more like wanting to enter the movie industry but not being an actor, though at least a CS minor still would be useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:00 here.

AP Com Sci Principals is pretty much a waste of time. If you really have no background in coding/computers, then maybe this would be advisable. But, for anyone who has been playing around with coding, ComSci Principals should be skipped.

Also, for any "computer" courses that are part of the technical education path (not the math path), you should ask a lot of questions before signing up for them. Maybe in your district they are really good. In FCPS, they are generally a big waste of time. Very little teaching. Very little accomplished.

Do you consider it a waste of time if it would be an easy A for a student with experience in coding?

Yes. If you have experience in coding, it would be a waste of time to take AP Com Sci Principals.