Can someone explain to me how AP classes work???

[tcufrog]

I used to be a college librarian and often was asked for advice by student regarding what classes to take and received feedback about classes and academics. Here's what I learned about AP classes:

1. At many universities it's becoming harder and harder to graduate within 4 years because the number of course hours required for some majors is difficult to complete within 4 years and/or because there aren't a sufficient number of slots for some required number of classes for everyone within that major to complete their required classes in 4 years.

Those who had came to school with AP course credits had greater scheduling flexibility, found it easier to graduate in 4 years, and/or had the flexibility to take fewer courses the semesters in which they had particularly difficult classes to take.

I was able to graduate in 4 years with a double major only because of the 12 AP credit hours I had already.

2. Those who had taken AP classes felt better prepared for the rigor of college classes. Some of them even thought that some of the intro classes they were taking were easier than their AP classes.

3. The students on the premed track who tested out of Intro to Biology were glad that they had taken the AP Biology class but regretted skipping Intro to Biology because they felt they missed out on important things such as getting into study groups and getting to know the professors and what they deemed important.

Obviously whether what I posted applies to your child will vary depending on what college he or she chooses to attend but I thought it would be food for thought.

 

[marcyinPA]

Not all AP classes are as rigorous as one would expect and not all AP instructors are equipped to teach the material.

So true!! My DS18 took one AP course his entire school career, and that was 11th grade World History. Everyone loves the teacher because he goes off on tangents--well, not so great when he doesn't get through even HALF of the course material. DS took the AP exam and knew NOTHING. He prepared some, but clearly he would have needed to teach himself everything he needed to know. He got a B in the class, which weighted was an A, but he got a 1 on the AP exam. Let's just say that this teacher is known for giving kids the questions and answers to his own tests, and if you study that way, you are going to do well in his class. In no way did it prepare my son for a college level course.

In our district, parents/students must pay for the AP exam if they are going to take it. If they do take the AP exam, they are exempt from taking the final in the class. However, the AP exam is not mandatory.

I also want to say that it is possible, very possible, to get into college- both public and private- and never take an honors or AP class. I understand that if you want to go Ivy League or competitive, you will probably have to take a more rigorous course load. But let's face it- not all college bound kids are Ivy League material, and will still get a great education and have the potential to go places even at a state school or a smaller private school. I say this because I know many parents who have pushed their HS kids into courses that they just can't handle academically, and the kids and the parents end up frustrated. Not all kids are cut out for higher level learning, and that is OK. They can still go to college and succeed!!! Mine did, and he is! Headed to a state university in the fall, and very excited about it! (he was accepted to every college he applied to, too! )

 

[Jestocost]

It's a nuance for sure, but always remember that the goal of an AP class is to prepare the student for success on the AP test. And while generally that objective is aligned with preparation for success at the next level, that's not always going to be the case. The AP Physics test, for example, is on algebra-based physics and that's what the AP physics class will teach. Most college physics classes are calculus based, however, so preparing for the exam doesn't really prepare you for the next level in that subject.

 

[mamacatnv]

I'll toss in something that has not been mentioned yet.
If your kid is considering a profession or a degree that will require an advanced degree, be aware that many of the Graduate programs will not accept the AP credit that the college your child attended did.

Example: My DS took AP Chem in high school, received a 5 on the test and his University gave him credit. He graduated from said University last week. Last fall he began applying to Doctorate of Physical Therapy programs and found that many of the programs he was applying too would not grant him the same credit. His last semester of his Sr. year of college found him taking Chem, again, to satisfy the requirement for the school that he was accepted too.

Not all AP programs are created equal, know that, do your research and make sure that its a good fit for your child. My DD heads to high school in the fall and the only value we are putting on AP is to keep her challenged, not for future credit but to keep her challenged and learning. If you approach AP with the attitude that it is purely to enhance your child's education, I feel you will be better prepared in the long run regardless of tests, scores and college credits granted or not.

 

[MrsDuck]

AP classes are absolutely wonderful if your child is able to handle them. AP classes are essentially college level classes. At the end of the year, they must take and pass the AP test. If they pass with a certain score, they get college credit.

My AP classes allowed me to finish an entire year of college before I graduated high school!

 

[Gina]

AP classes are absolutely wonderful if your child is able to handle them. AP classes are essentially college level classes. At the end of the year, they must take and pass the AP test. If they pass with a certain score, they get college credit.

My AP classes allowed me to finish an entire year of college before I graduated high school!

That might be the case at where you went to school, but not in most. Taking an AP class doesn't usually mean you have to take the AP test.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

At my daughter's school you were very strongly encouraged to take the exam if you took the class.

 

[mamacatnv]

That might be the case at where you went to school, but not in most. Taking an AP class doesn't usually mean you have to take the AP test.

My DS's high school required that in order to receive the AP designation on their transcripts I had to pay the fee and he HAD to take the test. Not negotiable - thus another example of how AP varies from place to place and consumers ie parent/student need to beware

 

[Southernmiss]

Oldest DS took 5 APs and his college counted 4 of them. So it's almost like he had a semester headstart on his courses. He'll have the opportunity to take extra classes and possibly double major in college.

Next DS a sophomore has just finished his first AP course and thinks he did well on the exam. He'll have more opportunities for AP courses than older DS so we'll see how many he's able to have and get credit for when he enters college.

I am all for encouraging my kids to take the hardest level classes they can succeed in at any age.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Mainly you are looking at your mutiplier, let's be honest for your overall GPA.

Kids that are in competition for top spots are in AP and honors starting their freshman yr. All the "smarties" which my dd are friends with take the hardest classes they can in order to stay in the top 1%.

Even though they do not rank anymore they all compare their GPAs. They are mostly in all the same classes.

My dd is a sophomore and just took the AP Euro Test last week ($80 bucks). She is hoping for a 5. Next yr she is taking AP Language. She has scaled back her ambitiousness....

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

In my opinion ap classes were MUCH more difficult than actual college classes.

 

[ashmarie06]

In my opinion ap classes were MUCH more difficult than actual college classes.

Agreed!

 

[tvguy]

Depending on what University you attend, don't entirely count on an exemption from classes but maybe just some general elective credits. But it does make you more attractive to selective schools.

That's what my kids were told. Taking AP classes shows you took challenging classes, even to the growing number of universities that will not give any college credit for those classes.

 

[DenMig]

I teach AP Chemistry. It is an intense curriculum. We do not require students to take the AP exam, but for those who choose to I add additional study sessions and help them plan out a way to prepare outside of class. Although I prepare my kids for the exam the best I can, my ultimate goal is to give them a foundation for college chemistry so they aren't "blown out of the water." AP keeps up with current curriculum standards. As the next generation science standards are being released AP Biology was redesigned as of this current school year and AP Chemistry is being redesigned starting next school year. The college board sets standards regarding who can teach AP classes. For example, I have to be a highly qualified teacher on my teaching certificate in chemistry and I have to have a syllabus accepted by the college board for my class to be designated AP.

 

[mom2aandj]

Agree wholeheartedly. The AP test scores themselves don't matter -- colleges never even know about them or care as far as the college application goes. It's the fact that a student takes them that counts. And not just that, but how many they take, which is where the "rigor" comes in. They look at the big picture. If the high school offers 20 different AP classes and a graduating Senior has only taken 2 or 3 of them, that is a big red flag to them.

You're very smart to be thinking about all this now -- I know my DS has friends who were never in advanced or Pre-AP classes and then realized the colleges were going to be looking for them to have taken AP classes. A lot of them either flunked or dropped those AP classes, because they didn't have the background from the regular classes they had taken before that.

I have begun to worry about this with our very competitive high school. You need 99% aptitude scores to get into the AP track because there so many bright kids in this area. Well, I know from my own high school days, you certainly don't need abilities that high to do well in an AP class. I had many many classmates with 85/90% scores that got 4 and 5s on the exams. But they can fill the AP classes here with the 99% scorers. So where does that leave the kids who might have the ability to still do well but can't get in due to space? Out of luck?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have begun to worry about this with our very competitive high school. You need 99% aptitude scores to get into the AP track because there so many bright kids in this area. Well, I know from my own high school days, you certainly don't need abilities that high to do well in an AP class. I had many many classmates with 85/90% scores that got 4 and 5s on the exams. But they can fill the AP classes here with the 99% scorers. So where does that leave the kids who might have the ability to still do well but can't get in due to space? Out of luck?

That is something that just ruffles my feathers. How about have more AP classes if the demand is high?

We moved to a school district that allows kids to take AP without those type of restrictions.

 

[Southernmiss]

I have begun to worry about this with our very competitive high school. You need 99% aptitude scores to get into the AP track because there so many bright kids in this area. Well, I know from my own high school days, you certainly don't need abilities that high to do well in an AP class. I had many many classmates with 85/90% scores that got 4 and 5s on the exams. But they can fill the AP classes here with the 99% scorers. So where does that leave the kids who might have the ability to still do well but can't get in due to space? Out of luck?

As the pp said, ap courses require teachers who meet certain criteria to teach the ap classes. For many reasons, schools are limited in the number of teachers who meet this criteria. This limits the number of students who can get in.

 

[Cinderella94]

That is something that just ruffles my feathers. How about have more AP classes if the demand is high?

We moved to a school district that allows kids to take AP without those type of restrictions.

This is me going , but just wanted to add: that is what created an issue at my high school. They encouraged everyone to take at least 1 AP class at some point in high school. Being honest, AP classes are not for everyone. AP class grades at my school ended up getting inflated because of this, because too many bad grades don't look good on teachers (I once got an A in a class that I got a 1 on the exam for. I deserved the 1 because I didn't know the material, at all). Or, they lessened the work load in the classes so that they weren't challenging to the top of the class, but the lower level group that took the class anyway could do okay.

 

[mhsjax]

My oldest has taken several AP classes. All the ones that were offered for his particular grade level. He LOVES them and he isn't your typical book worm.

We also aren't required to pay for the test, but all the kids in the class take it. I am learning more and more how much I love my school district. I would hate to have to pay for those exams.

 

[SpecialK]

As the pp said, ap courses require teachers who meet certain criteria to teach the ap classes. For many reasons, schools are limited in the number of teachers who meet this criteria. This limits the number of students who can get in.

It's not that difficult to meet the criteria to teach AP classes. A lot of teachers are not interested in attending the training sessions or doing the extra work required (in theory) to teach an AP course. I know some teachers who were "stuck with it" because no one else wanted it. You can imagine how we'll the students in these classes do on the test.