Computer science major and AP English
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Anonymous
| DS is a potential Computer Science major in FCPS. Interested in UVA, W&M and Richmond. Maybe Rochester, Lehigh and Case. Can he get away with NOT taking AP English (Honors only) for admittance. AP classes in other core subjects in addition to CS and ECON. |
Anonymous
| Why would they care about AP English? |
Anonymous
.Because colleges want to see that you have exhausted the high school curriculum, taking the most rigorous courses possible. Also four years of foreign language |
Anonymous
| Don’t take it if it will be a bad grade, but AP English senior year says, I’m a well rounded student, who’s ready for college work, and isn’t phoning it in. It’s also a way to stand out slightly from the pack of applicants with nothing but math/science accomplishments. |
Anonymous
|
These schools don’t offer direct admits to majors, so yes they will care.
However! Every kid makes choices, so it really depends on what is taken instead. |
Anonymous
| Could he do AP Lang senior year? He may be ready for it then. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
|
While it's a safer bet to take an AP English course, no, I don't think not taking an AP in one core subject is a deal breaker for the level of schools you list.
Possible reason to take it: check the colleges' AP credit policies and core requirements to see whether a sufficient AP exam score would satisfy the college's core requirement. I agree with the PP that if the high school would allow it for seniors, AP English Lang would be the more straightforward choice rather than Lit. (My own kid is a freshman at a similarly-ranked college, in the 30s national universities. She was vehemently opposed to taking any AP English in high school. Ironically, she loved her freshman writing class last semester and laughs at her previous position on the subject. She had a total of 7 APs, two AP physics courses, AP calc BC, APUSH, AP macro, AP Latin, AP studio art.) |
Anonymous
| For UVA and W&M you want your high school counselor to check the box indicating that your child has taken "the most rigorous courses" that the high school offers. So check with high school counselor first. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks everyone for the feedback. |
Anonymous
That sounds like me. I went off to college intending to be a math and computer science double major, and ended up falling in love with philosophy. Still kept computer science as a second major, and was in the really early days of AI-- these two subjects go together better than some people assume. |
Anonymous
| I see it the same as an English major not wanting to take Calculus. Sure, it’s possible if the student really shines in one area, but many colleges will want to see demonstrated ability in all core subjects |
Anonymous
| Just checked with counselor. Can't check most rigorous box without AP english. And the expected GPA at end of junior year of 4.2 puts him about 30% for class. Good bye UVA. |
Anonymous
| Above is a fairfac county kid. |
Anonymous
| Tons of other places to take CS. Don't worry about missing out on UVA. |