Computer Science

Ask Your Counselor About AP CSP

Computer science is everywhere, from our smartphones and video games to music, medicine, and much more.  AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) can help you understand how computing and technology influence the world around you. Learn how to creatively address real-world issues while using the same tools and processes that artists, writers, computer scientists, and engineers use to bring ideas to life.

Getting Real

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about what computer science is and isn’t. Let’s set the record straight:

  • Computer science isn’t posting pictures, sending email or searching the Internet. You can use it to pursue your interests, showcase your creativity, and even make a difference in your community.
  • It’s not about sitting in front of a computer alone, typing code all day (and night). It is about using one elaborate tool to solve real-world problems.
  • Teamwork is often essential to finding those solutions, and each team member’s contributions are valuable to the end goal.
  • You don’t have to be a math whiz to understand computer science.
  • Studying computer science doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be a programmer. It can lead to hundreds of career choices, from engineering and animation to medicine and music.

If you have big ideas and an interest in using technology and creativity to realize those ideas and solve problems, computer science is for you.

AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles

AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles are two different courses! We typically recommend that students take CSP before CSA, but we do make exceptions on a case-by-case basis. The differences between the two courses are illustrated below:

Contact Art Lopez or Sara Kazemi for more information.