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

My DS thought it was easy, but his mind works that way. Also its the only CS class he took before college and he's got all As in CS classes.

Our school does not offer math beyond AP Calc BC. My son is admitted to 2 top 20's (he did get rejected from 4 others though) and he was accepted to his targets (2) and likely (1).
His courses:

9th: Alg 2, Pre-AP Cs, Spanish 2, some science class (I forgot - it was one of the environment/geology ones)
10: Pre-Calc, AP CS, Spanish 3, AP World History, Honors Bio
11: AP Calc AB, regular US History, regular English, Honors Chem (double block) and Integrated Physics (double block)
12: AP Calc BC, AP Gov, regular English, AP Physics 1, 2 and C:Mechanics (Yes, they take all 3 in one year double block at our backwards school)


So, not the strongest list compared to many other applicants but did check the physics and math through calculus boxes. I would recommend at least 3 yrs foreign language. He did get into a top 20 more liberal arts focused school so I think it is still possible for a STEM kid who avoided AP humanities like the plague. He does have VERY strong ECs that are related to CS and that he did entirely old his own because he loves it; he did not participate in any robotics activities. His GitHub is amazing and he codes and reads code like an English professor would read, analyze and write novels. His brain just "works" that way. He also had a PT job where he worked 15 hrs a week. No sports. I would say he was not your average maxed out on rigor and school based leadership/EC and he still came out OK but the competition for CS is BRUTAL and you have to stand out in some way.

take the most advanced CS classes available

Anonymous wrote:*not in the area*

DS will be in 9th grade in the fall and is likely to be a computer science major (or something similar) in college. He does not want to be an engineer and is interested in coding, AI (but not robotics), game development and cyber technology. Which classes should be take in high school to make him competitive when applying to colleges? (He is already on the highest math track).

Although four years away, but for comparison, my unhooked son was an OOS direct admit to UMD for CS plus honors college and some merit. His coursework which I believe is the must applicable:
9th: AP CS Principles and Alg 2
10th: AP CS A and Precalc
11th: post AP CS, Calc BC and AP Physics C-M
12th: AP Stats, Calc 3/Linear Algebra (semester courses) and Physics C-E&M

Discrete Math and/or Logic if they are offered

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.

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?

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

There are other paths if you aren’t too caught up on getting into the best programs
.. Many kids don’t decide until they’re in college. Our DK is at GMU in CS. Didn’t take many CS type classes in his hs. Doing fine. I think it’s very competitive especially if you take every HS class available because so many kids are doing that so it’s hard for schools to take everyone as a freshman.

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a vague idea what kind of schools kiddo might be interested in? I ask because 2 years of a foreign language might be considered insufficient for higher ranked liberal artsier colleges, even for a CS kid.

OP here. I don't think he is interested in a liberal artsy college. I think he would do well at a state school or a tech-focused school like Georgia Tech.

My kid took every CS class at a magnet, Calc in 10th grade, 2 years post Calc. Still locked out of everywhere except safeties and UMd for CS. It’s brutal out there.

Some high schools require AP Calc AB first before BC; others let the student choose. If you do BC in junior year, you can do linear algebra or multi variable as a senior, and also do AP Physics C. Again, some schools require AP Physics A first but not all. You do need to take AP Physics C either concurrently or after BC Physics though.

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a vague idea what kind of schools kiddo might be interested in? I ask because 2 years of a foreign language might be considered insufficient for higher ranked liberal artsier colleges, even for a CS kid.

Agreed. Just to compare two different types of schools, UMass Amherst requires two years of foreign language, while Amherst College suggests four.

Do you have a vague idea what kind of schools kiddo might be interested in? I ask because 2 years of a foreign language might be considered insufficient for higher ranked liberal artsier colleges, even for a CS kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised no one has mentioned statistics

Stats is useful for CS. AP Stats is something different than real stats though. Real stats is a calculus based course. The AP class is often taken instead of calc, which would be a mistake for someone gunning for CS. But it's a fine extra elective if you have room.

I think if the OP's kid goes straight to AP Calc BC and AP CS and skips the easier APs, he'll have more room for AP Stats and other math courses