Should I take AP US history?
I took AP history my junior year and it was hell! Unless you want to be reading like 50 pages a night and taking quizzes all the time then you shouldn't take it. I have never really like history but I took a lot of other AP classes so i thought it wouldn't be too bad. I absolutely hated it and it was a LOT of work compared to the regular class. My teacher was really boring, so maybe that was the problem. Good luck!
Is AP Calc AB, AP Physics 1, and AP Computer Science A a good idea to take for junior year? I am currently debating whether to take AP Physics or APUSH. (Intended major is computer science)
I took most of the classes you consider, and I’m a current Computer Science major. I took Physics AP and APUSH in Junior year, and Calculus and Computer Science in Senior year.I took Calculus AB, where I learned techniques not only revisited in my first college Calculus class but my second, so it prepares you for a lot. Your teacher should provide some information about whether or not you should get college credit for that class as the college courses differ. But for success, I advise taking Calculus before or while doing Physics.My chemistry teacher suggested I take Physics 1 AP, and it almost messed me up. I hadn’t taken Calculus yet so I didn’t know the importance about integrals or differentiation and how they were related to Physics. I spent most of my homework time doing my Physics homework and little else, but I could’ve got it done sooner had I done Calculus. I still got a B, but I strongly advise taking Calculus before/during Physics!I’m not sure I exactly took Computer Science A but I took an AP Java class. I did quite well on the projects though the quizzes are much more challenging. Projects allow you to work at school (or at home) and do trial-and-error compiling while you have to be the computer during a quiz. I didn’t take Java Ap in Junior year but I did do Computer Science Principles (a lot of noisy seniors but basic knowledge).I received some college credit for APUSH so I don’t have to take one of my core classes (not all universities have them) and I took the exam. You can use it to develop your thinking skills to prepare for success.
Is taking AP Physics & AP Computer science & AP Calc Bc manageable? (I am a strong Stem student with good skills with prior ap classes).
I'm a current engineering major and I agree with Tom Stagliano that you'll be taking a similar course load in university anyway.Here are my thoughts on the courses, which I took two at the same time (along with AP government). BC was the odd one out.AP Calculus BC - You're clearly good at math if you got A's in both algebra 2 and precalculus. BC will be harder, but I found it manageable enough when I took it junior year after easily getting through the prior math courses. No need for AB before it at all. That being said, don't underestimate it, especially in the beginning where you're learning the foundational stuff.AP Computer Science - Took this senior year, and this is an odd one. Programming seems to be a thing you either pick up really easily or not like that at all, less in between than other classes. I personally found it a relaxing period whenever we were coding our projects(we never had to do work at home, at least if we were good at it). Then again, there were other days I would want to scream at my code because it just didn't want to work, only to find I made a stupid mistake somewhere. Learn print debugging, it's one of your best friends! A good teacher will walk you through your code when you're stuck, which probably makes it a better way to learn programming than a comparable university course. Learning to understand code and basic OOP will be critical for the AP exam.AP Physics - which one? Honors physics at my high school was roughly equivalent to AP physics 1, so that's not a worry. AP physics 2, which I took senior year, is a lot harder than high school level mechanics, with some fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, special relativity, and waves and optics. You never go far in any individual topic, but it's a lot to cover so not that easy. The advantage is that it's a good primer on physics in general, but the disadvantage is that you likely won't get any credit for it as an engineering major. AP physics C: mechanics is not too easy, if it's anything like my engineering calculus based mechanics class.I imagine this is perfectly manageable
Does it matter if I take AP history classes if I want to major in Computer Science? I'm currently in AP World but I'm not sure if I want to take APUSH as I'm already going to take AP Computer Science and AP Statistics.
Regardless of what program you’re going into in college, you’re still going to need to take general ed requirements when you’re there. APUSH, assuming you score a 3 or higher, will cover one of your social studies classes you’ll need to take. AP World will most likely too but from what I’ve seen most 4-year schools want students to take at least 2 SS classes as part of their gen ed curriculum. It wont hurt you to take the course. Plus it’ll look good on your transcript when you apply to your colleges of choice.
Should I take APUSH my Junior year?
Don't listen to Day Luis, he's an idiot and he thinks he knows everything. I'm so tired of having him comment on my questions. APUSH is a lot of work, my friends who took it in 10th grade all got a C and 1-2's on the AP exam, and they were smart A+ students. Don't just read this and shrug it off, LISTEN. I'm taking it now and I'm barely holding a B, 95+ in all other classes (Eng IV H, Physics H, AP Chem, PreCal H). I'm in 11th grade. AP classes help show who the REAL smart students in the grade are. Up until this point it has been nothing but memorizing something and being tested on it. Now it's memorizing, applying, and using your own knowledge to solve a problem you've never faced. I typically go to bed around 11 or 12, but keep in mind I come home around 3 and just study until 10, then I shower and go to bed. APUSH is VERY TIME CONSUMING, I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH!!! You typically read every other night, assuming you're on a schedule that rotates everyday, if you have it everyday then have fun reading a chapter every night of 30+ pages. Algebra II wasn't hard for me, but a lot of kids faltered. APUSH has seriously mixed up our top 10, the valedictorian scores 70's. And just wait until you start writing, that has killed people. A full blown essay in 30-45 minutes. FRQs and a DBQ. Honestly I wouldn't take APUSH ever again, the Honor kids who chose to take regular USH (we don't have an honors USH) all have very high A's. But if you have a passion for history, don't mind doing a lot of work, and can write killer essays then take it. I say it has no effect on your application. Think about it, what's best? Having a 99 in CP or having an 88 in APUSH? Pick whichever you know will get you the higher grade, AP classes only make you stand out a tiny bit, but if you have a high A in CP colleges aren't going to be like "Oh, he should've taken APUSH". AP classes are typically taken to boost rank and get college credit.
Do I need to take honors/AP English or history to get into a prestigious college? Right now, I'm taking honors/AP math, science, and computer science.
Why do you need to get into a prestigious college? It guarantees you nothing but more student loan debt. Millions of people have enormously satisfying lives without attending a prestigious college.If you pursue a prestigious college, probably everybody will have piles of AP and honors courses. Check out the acceptance/rejection ratios. the prestigious schools love rejecting students; they practically invite people they know won’t get in to apply so they’re “more selective.”Why not take real college courses one a real college campus with real college students and a real college professor? Dual enrollment is a far better way to go.
Will taking AP comp sci principles, stats, and US history all in one year be that difficult? Keep in mind I'm taking only electives besides the AP classes cause I've got English and physics covered already.
Yes, it will be difficult. Stats, APUSH & Comp Sci all have lots of reading and pretty heavy homework. Many people will tell you that “homework” for a college course takes about 2 hours out of class for each hour you spend in class. What does that add up to for you? Remember AP courses are college (level) courses.I know some students will need less time than that to get good grades, but almost everyone who wants to show they can earn A’s (and hopefully get 5’s on the exams,) is going to give each class that much time… especially Comp Sci.When I was in college, I never could date anyone when I was in a class that required coding. The main reason was that every Friday night and Saturday (all day and evening) was spent writing code and debugging it. Java (really any computer language) is that time consuming.
AP US History or AP English Language and Composition?
Im a junior, and I'm taking AP Psychology and AP English Language. I suggest you take those. Oh and help from the internet may not be the best choice, since I dont know what your school and teachers are like. Talk to your counselor about this, but for now, i'll tell you how it is for me. AP Psychology is a class I find very interesting, but I do a lot of reading/notes from the textbook. It's challenging but fun also. AP English really depends on what teacher you have in my school. One teacher is really challenging and the other is a little less challenging. In this class, you read books basically and analyze them through writing. You learn how to write better with in-depth perspectives. I wouldn't take AP US History, cause i heard it's kinda hard and not as worthwhile as the other classes. Well, you should take it if you plan to major in a History or Social Studies category in college.