why-i-regret-letting-my-teen-sign-up-for-an-ap-course/

Should I let my daughter drop AP classes?

AP students have the benefit of learning to digest large amounts of information, similar to a real college class; but students in the regular class have the benefit of time, regularly discussing the link between the material and the students' own lives. After a few more days of class, my daughter opted to drop AP. I let her do it.

Why are private schools rethinking how many AP classes they allow?

Some private high schools are rethinking how many AP classes they allow their students to carry because of the resulting stress and inability to do anything else but study. There was a great reader debate i n the Washington Post on AP overdrive. I found this reader comment interesting as it reflects the contradictory messages:

Why why take AP classes?

Why Take AP Classes? 3 Key Benefits 1 1: They Can Boost Your College Applications#N#Taking an AP class (or several!) is a great way to challenge yourself... 2 2: They Can Show Your Passion#N#Taking AP exams is also a way to demonstrate real academic interest in a certain subject. 3 3: They Can Get You College Credit More ...

Why should you not take AP classes?

It's also not worth it if the class doesn't significantly improve your studying or academic skills. Since all AP classes have a pretty big cost in terms of time, if they're not serving to develop your academic interests or improve your skills, they're likely not worth taking.

Are AP courses worth taking?

Some college admissions experts recommend taking as many as 7-12 AP courses before applying to the most elite universities. However, students who take 4-5 AP courses can still qualify for good schools, including many of the country's top public research institutions.

What are the cons of AP classes?

Cons of AP ClassesCoursework is time-consuming. When you enroll in an AP course, you should be aware that the work will take longer than that in regular-level classes. ... Exams are expensive. ... Many selective schools don't take AP credit.

Are AP classes a rip off?

AP classes are a scam. AP, or Advanced Placement, is the highest possible class level at Revere High School. It cultivates a false sense of superiority and, at the same time, insecurity. Funnily enough, AP classes at Revere High are often less structured and less communicative than Honors and CP courses.

Do colleges really care about AP classes?

Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.

Are AP classes really that hard?

In general, there is a lot of material to cover in AP classes, so they tend to be more challenging than regular classes—especially courses like AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Physics, US and World History, and English. These are all much harder than their regular or honors equivalents.

Can AP classes hurt your GPA?

GPA Weight At many high schools, honors and AP classes both offer more heavily weighted training compared to regular classes. While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class.

Does AP help you get into university?

Studies show that AP students are generally more successful at college compared with other students. In fact, AP courses are the best way to encourage a high school student to enter college.

Do AP exams really matter?

While your actual slate of scores on exams is only of middling importance, AP classes themselves can be very important. This is because one of the most significant factors in the college admissions process—especially at selective schools—is your transcript.

Is AP or dual enrollment better?

It is generally accepted that when it comes to having more rigorous curricula, AP programs win the AP vs dual enrollment battle. AP programs are also more widely accepted. Moreover, it is more convenient to take AP courses over dual enrollment.

Are AP tests pointless?

AP tests have gone from mostly worthless and a College Board money grab to almost entirely worthless and even more of a College Board money grab. Students have gone from cramming their knowledge of an entire year's coursework into a 3 hour exam to cramming it into a 45 minute exam.

Why Do AP classes exist?

The AP Program started as a pilot program in the 50s, amid concerns that students in high school were not being adequately prepared for advanced coursework and college and graduate education.

This Is Why I Will Not Push My Teen To Take AP Classes

At the AP fair in my son’s high school, I listen to the teachers list their expectations for students who will take their classes next year. I have been through the rigmarole before, with my firstborn who is now in college. This time though, I listen with the ears of one who has been wizened…

My Son Did High School His Way and I Had to Get Over It

We moved to our community when our son was 3. He went to preschool all the way through his sophomore year with a lot of the same kids. Those kids’ moms are some of my closest friends. We had countless playgroups, playdates, birthday parties, and sleepovers with these families. We carpooled to school events and…

Class Is In Session: How I Helped My Teens Do Their Best Work From Home

This post is sponsored by Staples Connect but the opinions are my own. All three of my kids are going to school virtually, so every morning they get out their laptops and attend their classes. Then also they need to complete any homework assignments, and I need to stay on top of it all. As…

Is Starting College With a Ton of AP and Dual Enrollment Credit Hours Really a Good Thing?

If you surveyed the average high school senior right now, and asked them how many college credits they’ve earned already, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who answers “zero.” As a matter of fact, you’d probably be quite surprised to hear many students brag about having 12, 18, even 30 college credit hours already…

Seven Reasons Your Teen Should Consider Dual Enrollment Courses

Dual Enrollment courses have been offered for well over a decade in many states. I’m a big believer not only because I graduated high school with 18 units of dual credit back in 2006, but also because of research that shows how it can help students earn a college degree. Studies suggest that taking college…

High School Teacher and Mom of Teens: 10 Ways to Get Your Teen Reading Again

My kids used to love to read books. One of our weekly errands was a trip to the local library so they could pick out books. We would load up our library bag with every picture/chapter/tween book we could find. Then, they would plow through those books as fast as they could. They loved reading…

What AP Classes Provide For Teens

AP classes provide teens an opportunity to get not only the credits they need to graduate from high school but an opportunity to earn some college credits upon completion of the class as well. And because of this, they are very attractive to ambitious teens to participate in.

Why AP Classes Are Not The Right Fit For All Teens

AP classes are advertised as being a fantastic opportunity for teens to earn college credits while still in high school. By doing this, they get a head start on their college career. However, what is not known by all teens who partake in AP classes is that to get that college credit, there are hoops that have to be jumped through.

Alternatives To AP Classes

Instead of being subjected to the pressure of not knowing if taking an AP class will result in college credit, according to EdSource, teens may want to consider taking classes at community colleges where a simple pass or fail option will give college credits at the end of the term.

Extracurricular Activities

If teens are looking for a boost to their college applications, they may want to consider extracurricular activities over AP classes to get into college.

What is AP program?

The AP Program believes that all motivated and academically prepared students should be able to enroll in AP courses. We strongly encourage all high schools to follow this principle. Some high schools let any student enroll in an AP course as long as the student has taken the recommended prerequisite courses. ...

Is AP class challenging?

AP classes can be challenging, but that doesn’t mean you’re not up to the task. If you’re willing to work hard and if you’re prepared academically, you should be able to succeed in an AP course. Read more.

Can I self study for AP?

First, you should know that you can self-study for most AP Exams—you don’t have to take the course beforehand, although we recommend you do. To arrange to take an AP Exam, you’ll have to contact a local high school that administers them. Learn more at I’m homeschooled.

What is AP in college?

Advanced Placement is a program run by the College Board (the makers of the SAT) that allows you to take special high school courses that can earn you college credit and/or qualify you for more advanced classes when you begin college. So what are AP courses? They are designed to give you the experience of an intro-level college class ...

Why do colleges check AP classes?

Many colleges say that they check to see whether you took the hardest courses available to you at your school. Taking AP classes is often the best way to show that you are challenging yourself academically at your high school.

What is an AP test?

An AP exam is basically a test of all that you learn in an AP class. You will typically earn college credit if you pass the exam given at the end of the year in May. ( AP tests are scored between 1 and 5, with anything above 3 considered passing.)

How much does an AP test cost?

If you're homeschooled or want to take an AP test for a class your school doesn't offer, contact your local school's AP coordinator. AP tests cost $94 each. Some schools offer subsidies, and the College Board has financial aid in the form of a $32 fee reduction.

What does a 5 on AP class mean?

An AP class on your transcript signals stronger academic training, especially with high passing scores of 4 and 5 on the test. In particular, getting a 5 on an AP test shows that you are more advanced in a subject than 80%-90% of advanced students —which looks very impressive to colleges!

When was AP created?

AP classes were created in the mid-1950s as a response to the widening gap between secondary school (high school) and college. A pilot program in 1952 had 11 subjects, but AP didn't officially launch until the 1956 school year, when the College Board took over and named it the College Board Advanced Placement Program.

Does Stanford accept AP credit?

Similarly, other schools might let you earn college credit but have limits on which AP exams they'll accept. As an example, Stanford University accepts AP credit from many science, language, and math AP courses but not any from history or English courses.