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

[clh2]

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.

I had no issues paying for any of DD's AP exams - she earned a total of 20 credits for 4 AP classes she took in high school. We also paid $85 for a college registration fee (and $5 or $10 for a transcript) for a dual-enrollment English class which was another 3 credits. I don't know many colleges were 23 credits would cost approximately $400. Heck- one credit at DD's school cost almost $800 - EACH.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

I had no issues paying for any of DD's AP exams - she earned a total of 20 credits for 4 AP classes she took in high school. We also paid $85 for a college registration fee (and $5 or $10 for a transcript) for a dual-enrollment English class which was another 3 credits. I don't know many colleges were 23 credits would cost approximately $400. Heck- one credit at DD's school cost almost $800 - EACH.

I just got my dd's tuition bill. Her school is up to $1400 per credit, or$43k a year. With her 15 credits from AP she could have graduated a semester early . . .sigh . . .but she had two very good internships this year and will hopefully have a very interesting one this coming year.

Sent from my SCH-I800 using DISBoards

 

[disykat]

My son earned about 90 credits - not sure exactly how many but I know he became a "junior" right after freshman registration. He'll probably still take almost 4 years to go through school, but like others have said, he'll have room to take some time off for internships etc. His internship this summer will extend through December so he won't take classes in the Fall.

He's at a huge school, so at least he'll be able to avoid the trend of taking 5 or 6 years to finish that seems so common there.

The sad thing to me about his AP classes is what he's missing in college. He's been there two years and the ONLY classes he's taken that weren't math, science, computer science, or engineering were his technical writing class and the musical ensemble he's in.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My DS's school only offers Pre-AP for 9th grade.

Pre-AP is something made up by individual districts or schools. The AP people don't support that designation, as they believe that AP classes should be open to any student and that 9th graders shouldn't be "tracked" to or away from them. Whereas AP classes have a single national set of standards and objectives, there is nothing like that for "pre-AP".

The fact that you daughter is being invited to pre-AP is a great sign that she's a strong student, and that the school has confidence in her. But it's hard to say anything about the course because there's no standardization of what the term pre-AP means.

 

[aprilgail2]

Typically AP classes aren't offered until junior and senior year. Prior to that a student on the AP track will take honor or advanced level classes.

That varies largely school to school- my daughter is taking 2 AP classes in Sept and she will be in 9th grade.

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!

My daughters friend is graduating with 40+ credits and is going into college as a sophmore in Sept.

Pre-AP is something made up by individual districts or schools. The AP people don't support that designation, as they believe that AP classes should be open to any student and that 9th graders shouldn't be "tracked" to or away from them. Whereas AP classes have a single national set of standards and objectives, there is nothing like that for "pre-AP".

The fact that you daughter is being invited to pre-AP is a great sign that she's a strong student, and that the school has confidence in her. But it's hard to say anything about the course because there's no standardization of what the term pre-AP means.

We have pre-AP classes in 8th grade- when the kids go into 6th grade they are broken down into 2 different tracks-one takes regular classes and the other takes more advanced classes- in 7th grade one goes to honors and the other goes to regular classes and in 8th grade it gets broken down further - some go to pre-ap, others to honors and the rest to regular. The pre-ap kids move on to AP in high school, honors kids to honors and regular to regular.

 

[mhsjax]

I had no issues paying for any of DD's AP exams - she earned a total of 20 credits for 4 AP classes she took in high school. We also paid $85 for a college registration fee (and $5 or $10 for a transcript) for a dual-enrollment English class which was another 3 credits. I don't know many colleges were 23 credits would cost approximately $400. Heck- one credit at DD's school cost almost $800 - EACH.

OH I didn't say that it wasn't a great value, but after seeing how many people do pay for them, I am glad that we don't. Reduced is great, free is better.

 

[sam_gordon]

I had no issues paying for any of DD's AP exams - she earned a total of 20 credits for 4 AP classes she took in high school. We also paid $85 for a college registration fee (and $5 or $10 for a transcript) for a dual-enrollment English class which was another 3 credits. I don't know many colleges were 23 credits would cost approximately $400. Heck- one credit at DD's school cost almost $800 - EACH.

Wow, that seems like a lot of credits for each class.

 

[Mom21]

Wow, that seems like a lot of credits for each class.

I admit I don't know much of anything about AP classes, but my dd is taking 3 this year and 4 next year. She said her teacher said if they make a 5 on the Chemistry that is equal to 8 credit hours. She said it only applies to Chemistry and not to her other 2 classes. Said anything between 3-5 gave her normal credit hours for those. I didn't ask her to explain, because I figured we'd find out when she goes to college, but she did say her teacher said that.

 

[sam_gordon]

I admit I don't know much of anything about AP classes, but my dd is taking 3 this year and 4 next year. She said her teacher said if they make a 5 on the Chemistry that is equal to 8 credit hours. She said it only applies to Chemistry and not to her other 2 classes. Said anything between 3-5 gave her normal credit hours for those. I didn't ask her to explain, because I figured we'd find out when she goes to college, but she did say her teacher said that.

See, that seems strange to me. Granted, it's been a while since I've been in college, but from what I remember, each semester was worth 3 credit hours. So getting a 5 on an AP test gets you more credit than a year in college?

 

[Janepod]

I admit I don't know much of anything about AP classes, but my dd is taking 3 this year and 4 next year. She said her teacher said if they make a 5 on the Chemistry that is equal to 8 credit hours. She said it only applies to Chemistry and not to her other 2 classes. Said anything between 3-5 gave her normal credit hours for those. I didn't ask her to explain, because I figured we'd find out when she goes to college, but she did say her teacher said that.

That doesn't make sense, as every university has different rules about how they treat APs. I've never heard of any university offering more than 3 credits for a 5 on any test.

And obviously some schools offer less. For example, at my alma mater, you would not receive any credit, but you could waive a science requirement, just as a 5 on Calc AB/BC meant you could waive a math requirement, or a 5 on a language AP meant you could waive a language requirement.

 

[Mom21]

See, that seems strange to me. Granted, it's been a while since I've been in college, but from what I remember, each semester was worth 3 credit hours. So getting a 5 on an AP test gets you more credit than a year in college?

Strange to me too. I'm assuming that is a year of credit since most science classes are 3/semester plus 1/semester for a lab. So 8 credit hours would be one year

Guess we'll see how true that is once she gets her AP results and see what college gives her. Not sure if it will even apply to her though since her major will be chemistry or chemical engineering. They may not allow her to exempt out of chemistry.

 

[DopeyDame]

I admit I don't know much of anything about AP classes, but my dd is taking 3 this year and 4 next year. She said her teacher said if they make a 5 on the Chemistry that is equal to 8 credit hours. She said it only applies to Chemistry and not to her other 2 classes. Said anything between 3-5 gave her normal credit hours for those. I didn't ask her to explain, because I figured we'd find out when she goes to college, but she did say her teacher said that.

That makes perfect sense. Most lab science classes in college are actually 4 credits, not 3 credits. And chemistry is a two semester course - you potentially can get for both 1st and 2nd semester intro chem. Similarly, Calc BC typically gest you 6 credits - 1st and 2nd semester Calc.
Obviously, the exact credits and what you get depends on the college

 

[Gina]

Every university must be different. When we spoke to the admissions counselor at the school he'll be going to, she told us that if he gets a 4 on the English (language & comp) AP test, he'll place out of that awful Freshman Rhet & Comp class. If he gets a 5, he'll place out of both that and the English Lit class. He is praying for a 5, lol.

 

[Cinderella94]

At my university, certain exams like AP chem and AP bio definitely do count for more than the typical 3 university credits, depending on one's AP exam score. This is because those classes here at the university also have a lab with them that the student is getting additional credits for.

 

[marcyinPA]

That varies largely school to school- my daughter is taking 2 AP classes in Sept and she will be in 9th grade.




My daughters friend is graduating with 40+ credits and is going into college as a sophmore in Sept.

My niece did this. When she took the AP exams, my sister in law said "no pressure, but this is a $40K test"... She did very well, and went on to grad school, and has since graduated from there.

 

[sam_gordon]

Strange to me too. I'm assuming that is a year of credit since most science classes are 3/semester plus 1/semester for a lab. So 8 credit hours would be one year

Guess we'll see how true that is once she gets her AP results and see what college gives her. Not sure if it will even apply to her though since her major will be chemistry or chemical engineering. They may not allow her to exempt out of chemistry.

Thanks! I didn't think about the lab portion. I was under the assumption (and now I know it depends on the school) that you would get 3 hours credit for passing (3, 4, 5) an AP class. I didn't think about it being 6 hours (full year).

Here's hoping DD scored well on hers (doubtful according to her)!