Anonymous
04/08/2025 09:53
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
So if you take Foundations of CS as a summer school class as a rising 9th grader (after finishing grade 8), it counts on your GPA for high school? Or for middle school.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:56
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It's one of the easiest A's for an AP class. The exam score is besides the point, since most colleges don't give credit for it anyway.
The independently assessed exam score is the only thing that matters if your kid is trying to use it as evidence that they deserve to be at a good college. No one cares if they have an A in a class from MCPS Grade Inflation-Landia.
Kids are trying to use it to fulfill the tech credit for graduation.
You don't need to take an AP class to fulfill the tech credit. There are non-AP options available.
Yes but why not take the AP option? It's something many ninth graders do as a first AP.
Why would you take the AP option unless you 1) thought you could get college credit for it (which some posters are saying isn't likely), or 2) use it to signal that you're a strong applicant for college because you get a 4 or a 5. If it's just a "requirement" to be fulfilled, there are easier ways to do it than an AP class.
Some students prefer being in a more challenging class.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:52
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It's one of the easiest A's for an AP class. The exam score is besides the point, since most colleges don't give credit for it anyway.
The independently assessed exam score is the only thing that matters if your kid is trying to use it as evidence that they deserve to be at a good college. No one cares if they have an A in a class from MCPS Grade Inflation-Landia.
Kids are trying to use it to fulfill the tech credit for graduation.
You don't need to take an AP class to fulfill the tech credit. There are non-AP options available.
Yes but why not take the AP option? It's something many ninth graders do as a first AP.
Why would you take the AP option unless you 1) thought you could get college credit for it (which some posters are saying isn't likely), or 2) use it to signal that you're a strong applicant for college because you get a 4 or a 5. If it's just a "requirement" to be fulfilled, there are easier ways to do it than an AP class.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:49
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It's one of the easiest A's for an AP class. The exam score is besides the point, since most colleges don't give credit for it anyway.
The independently assessed exam score is the only thing that matters if your kid is trying to use it as evidence that they deserve to be at a good college. No one cares if they have an A in a class from MCPS Grade Inflation-Landia.
Kids are trying to use it to fulfill the tech credit for graduation.
You don't need to take an AP class to fulfill the tech credit. There are non-AP options available.
Yes but why not take the AP option? It's something many ninth graders do as a first AP.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:46
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It's one of the easiest A's for an AP class. The exam score is besides the point, since most colleges don't give credit for it anyway.
The independently assessed exam score is the only thing that matters if your kid is trying to use it as evidence that they deserve to be at a good college. No one cares if they have an A in a class from MCPS Grade Inflation-Landia.
Kids are trying to use it to fulfill the tech credit for graduation.
You don't need to take an AP class to fulfill the tech credit. There are non-AP options available.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:41
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It's one of the easiest A's for an AP class. The exam score is besides the point, since most colleges don't give credit for it anyway.
The independently assessed exam score is the only thing that matters if your kid is trying to use it as evidence that they deserve to be at a good college. No one cares if they have an A in a class from MCPS Grade Inflation-Landia.
Kids are trying to use it to fulfill the tech credit for graduation.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:27
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It's one of the easiest A's for an AP class. The exam score is besides the point, since most colleges don't give credit for it anyway.
No, its not.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:27
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It’s a lot of homework too.
Neither of my kids had a lot of homework.
Its probably teacher specific, mine has homework 3-5 day a week.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:26
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It's one of the easiest A's for an AP class. The exam score is besides the point, since most colleges don't give credit for it anyway.
The independently assessed exam score is the only thing that matters if your kid is trying to use it as evidence that they deserve to be at a good college. No one cares if they have an A in a class from MCPS Grade Inflation-Landia.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:24
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It's one of the easiest A's for an AP class. The exam score is besides the point, since most colleges don't give credit for it anyway.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:19
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It’s a lot of homework too.
Neither of my kids had a lot of homework.
Did they magically get 5s without any effort?
Anonymous
04/07/2025 22:15
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It’s a lot of homework too.
Neither of my kids had a lot of homework.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 21:27
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
It’s a lot of homework too.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 21:23
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.
It’s not THAT easy. If you look at the AP score distribution for AP CS principles, only about 12 pct of kids get a 5 on the independently graded exam. Unless you want to argue that most of the kids in MCPS are getting 5s, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for most kid.
Anonymous
04/07/2025 19:48
Subject: Foundations of CS (FOCS)+AP CS Principles
Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to do fundamentals of computer science in summer school (rising 8th or 9th grade?) to free up time for another elective?
Yes but the benefit of taking it in middle school is that you won't have the unweighted grade in your GPA. Computer science principles is very easy as an AP course though. Definitely no reason to take both.