macOS AP computer science? Yes or No.

[ComicStix]

Hey forum,

a couple days ago at school they offered that I could do AP computer science. I want to do something that involves computers for my career but don't know if I should take it. None of my friends are taking it and I'm scared of AP exams. I'm only a freshman! I'm also taking AP American History next year. Would it be too much work? Is it a fun class where I learn a lot? Can I make my own games? Should I take it?

Thanks,
ComicStix

 

[miles01110]

The scope and difficulty of AP classes vary greatly from school to school, so nobody will have any idea if it will be "too much work". Unless your school has some rule about taking the test, you aren't forced to take it (however if you don't you wont get any potential college credit).

AP Computer Science won't teach you how to make games.

 

[lee1210]

Take it jr or sr year, not now. Definitely take it, though. If you can do A and B, skip the a test, and just do the B one. B is easier after two classes than A is after one.

-Lee

 

[alust2013]

Take it, definitely. I took it as a sophomore, after a couple intro courses, and it really wasn't all that hard to be honest. It has already been a huge benefit to me, and I am not even going into a computer field.

As far as AP tests go, there are the A and AB tests, take AB. It will get you more credit, and if you have a decent instructor, it shouldn't be too hard. I wish I would have taken that vs. the A test, as the A test was too easy.

good luck!

 

[chrono1081]

I would have LOVED if my school offered that type of class.

Unfortunately my school sucked and even when computers were starting to get big (around 1995 - 2000) they didn't even have a computer lab for students : /

I'd say take it! Its better to find out now if you like it or not rather then get to college and find out you hate it.

As for making games it won't teach you how to make games, but depending on what they teach it will help you learn to make them on your own. A lot of computer science classes will start with programming and such. You will probably be making text based games or something.

 

[sanPietro98]

It does vary from school to school. But I'd say take it. I received 9 college credits for taking the A/B test.

It really made my first year of computer science much easier than going into it cold.

 

[iShater]

Anything you can take in school that would save you the time and $$ of taking an intro class in college is worth it.

 

[Arkbear]

Anything you can take in school that would save you the time and $$ of taking an intro class in college is worth it.

I'll second that. AP tests I took in high school saved me the equivalent of a semester and a half of college tuition. At today's rates, even in a public university, that's a pile of cash.

 

[dukebound85]

I'll second that. AP tests I took in high school saved me the equivalent of a semester and a half of college tuition. At today's rates, even in a public university, that's a pile of cash.

Whether or not those credits apply to your major or if your major accepts the AP score (some say will only take a 4 but not a 3 for example) is the question

Not to mention, if you get into a honors program, all those AP credits may not help you at all as you redo those credits with the honors curriculum

But then again, that was me and my experience with AP credits in college. If I would have known that, I would have not paid the 70 bucks per AP test and stressed out over taking them lol. Take the class (as it will help prepare you for a college workload) but research if you actually need the AP credit for whatever major you are going into is what I would reccomend

Just my bitter 2 cents

Edit: Keep in mind for most intro college level classes, you have the ability to test out of them is the class is too "elementary" in a sense

 

[nick1516]

I would take it, I'm going to take it next year, my senior year(first year they are offering it), and it's going to help me decide if computer science is something I would want to go into.

 

[LisaJAnderson]

It's pretty tough test..

Hey forum,

a couple days ago at school they offered that I could do AP computer science. I want to do something that involves computers for my career but don't know if I should take it. None of my friends are taking it and I'm scared of AP exams. I'm only a freshman! I'm also taking AP American History next year. Would it be too much work? Is it a fun class where I learn a lot? Can I make my own games? Should I take it?

Thanks,
ComicStix

It's a pretty tough test. About 40% of the students who take the easiest (and now the only one) fail it. You can see the statistics breakdown here:

 

[lee1210]

It's a pretty tough test. About 40% of the students who take the easiest (and now the only one) fail it. You can see the statistics breakdown here:

Too bad AB was cut. From the source of the data on that page, performance on AB was higher than on A as I remembered. I only took 1 semester in HS, and took the A test. It was pretty hard, but I felt like it was worth it (and i did ultimately get some credit for it, even though it was elective).

-Lee