The Best AP Classes to Take to Prepare for Engineering
What’s Covered:
One of the main factors to consider when deciding which Advanced Placement (AP) classes to take in high school is how they will impact college admissions. For students hoping to enter the engineering fields, the goal of AP classes is to show STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) mastery and build foundational skills.
Of course, the classes that you choose to take significantly depend on which courses your school offers. Colleges are not expecting you to have taken an AP class that isn’t offered at your school, and it won’t harm your application.
Best AP Classes to Take For an Engineering Major
AP Calculus (AB or BC)
Calculus is a valuable skill for future engineers, and high schoolers interested in pursuing an engineering major should aim to complete AP Calculus AB. Those with their sights set on particularly competitive colleges are well served by also taking AP Calculus BC.
Engineering is grounded in mathematics, with calculus as its foundational language. AP Calculus helps students develop the skills needed for college-level math and engineering courses—a strong performance may even allow them to place out of introductory classes. Beyond academics, calculus strengthens problem-solving and logical thinking skills that are essential across all engineering disciplines.
If your school doesn’t offer AP Calculus, AP Precalculus is a good alternative. It shows your commitment to STEM and provides the chance to learn basic mathematical concepts and prepare for more challenging STEM classes.
AP Physics (1, 2, or C)
Future engineering students should plan to take at least one AP Physics class and ideally one of the Physics C courses if seeking admission to a top-tier school. Physics is central to numerous engineering fields, especially aerospace, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
With four AP Physics courses, it’s hard to decipher which is most valuable to future engineering students. The distinguishing factor between AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 from the two AP Physics C classes is the mathematics behind them. AP Physics 1 and 2 are algebra-based, while AP Physics C is calculus-based.
AP Chemistry
Chemistry doesn’t play as foundational a role in general engineering as coursework like calculus and physics. However, a strong understanding of chemistry is beneficial for students interested in fields such as biomedical, chemical, environmental, and material engineering.
Students who’ve completed AP Chemistry deepen their knowledge of scientific concepts, engage in lab work, develop their scientific reasoning, and bolster their toolbox of skills—like critical thinking—for tackling real-world challenges.
AP Computer Science (A or Principles)
There are two AP Computer Science classes: AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles.
- AP Computer Science A focuses on coding in JAVA and explores fundamental programming principles like algorithms and object-oriented programming.
- AP Computer Science Principles takes a big-picture view of the field, examining it from a wider perspective and not digging as deeply into coding.
AP Computer Science is particularly valuable to students interested in computer, electrical, and software engineering, as well as those interested in entering other technology-driven fields. In addition to gaining technical knowledge, students also build their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
AP Statistics
If you can choose, AP Calculus is preferable to AP Statistics. That said, if AP Calculus isn’t offered at your school, AP Statistics is a good replacement. Statistics helps students interpret data and is a valuable tool for problem-solving and decision-making.
Although less applicable to college coursework, statistics play a considerable role in engineering careers, for example, in:
- Designing experiments to test designs and processes
- Analyzing data
- Using statistical models for risk analysis
- Predictive modeling to forecast future outcomes
- Optimizing process efficiency by identifying and eliminating non-value-added activities
AP Environmental Science
For most potential engineering students. AP Environmental Science won’t make or break your college application. The obvious exception to this is students planning to study environmental engineering or a career related to sustainability, an increasingly important aspect in many engineering fields.
As mentioned above, not taking AP Environmental Science won’t hurt your application, but it can help you stand out from a crowded field of applicants by showcasing your dedication to STEM and interest in a wide variety of science and mathematical fields.
How to Calculate Your Odds of Acceptance
As you choose your classes, you may be wondering how well your coursework aligns with what your top choice schools are looking for. To answer that question, check out CollegeVine’s free chancing engine!
This tool takes into account just about every element of your application, including grades, course rigor, SAT/ACT scores (if you have them), and extracurriculars, to give you personalized odds of acceptance at all of your top choice schools. You’ll also get suggestions on how to improve your chances of acceptance, for example, by taking a particular AP class!
