I've never seen it make sense. It isn't generally true and it completely ignores all the people who aren't "at the company" at all. |
What tier college? |
Not always. My kid is at a T40 school, engineering major. Took Calc 3/4 freshman year and got A- in both. Got credit for AP Physics C Mech (got a 5), took 2nd semester of Physics (E&M) freshman year at college and got an easy A. By end of freshman year they had finished all but 3 courses for sophomore year (school has a strict schedule where engineering majors take each course, as they are often only offered 1 semester). That opens up the door for an easy minor as well as the opportunity to take a lighter load junior and senior year, if needed when the engineering curriculum is extremely intense (spring semester junior year is 13 credits of intense engineering and everyone says DO NOT take another course like suggested) However, I would not recommend taking the AP credit for something in a major unless you got a 5 and feel you understood the material. |
My kid skipped many intro level classes in college because of AP credit and had no issues. Maybe it depends on the kid. Kid took AP Physics C (Mechanics and E&M) in HS. Had to take a mandatory physics class for their engineering major. Skipped almost every lecture in college physics class. Just did exams and problem-sets and got an A. That seems a risky path but clearly the college class aligned with the AP class |
some colleges are just easier or more difficult than others. its survival of the fittest for public schools ie UCLA/GaTech ... smaller private schools might be more lenient/easier. test optional as created an environment where kids not ready being accepted into STEM and their course grades being "fake". the whole college experience is nothing but exams. |
I highly advise against using any science or math APs to replace college intro-level courses. This is where I see disaster strike. As others have stated, AP courses are taught to the test. Intro-level courses at a university are taught to make Calc II, III, Physics 201, etc. at the same university easier and more manageable. For example, at my university, AP Calc can replace Math 150 & 151 Calc 1a & 1b so freshmen can jump right into Math 155 - Calc 2. Those who struggle the most typically fall into two groups: freshmen who received credit for 150 & 151 through the AP test or students who received a low C final grade in the 150/151 courses. Without those strong foundational courses, it's a struggle for any freshmen who want to go a mathematics or science route. |
Or work as hair dressers and baristas |
+1 - well explained! I think the best strategy with AP courses is to accept the credit for classes not in your field (to satisfy gen eds), and to retake the last AP level class in your major to establish the foundation for the next courses in sequence at your particular university. While others around you may be struggling with new content at a college pace that first semester, the AP student will hopefully be familiar with most content and can fill in gaps while figuring out how to do “college”. |
For most AP classes, I would still advise my kids to take the classes they passed out of if they were part of a sequence, such as mathematics. |
And also it's wrong, statistically speaking. People just like to comfort themselves with that when their kids are mediocre. Newsflash - most of them will continue being mediocre. |
Thank you for the insightful post. |
+1 If you got a 5 on an AP STEM course (calc, Chem, Bio, Physics C), you will most likely be fine taking the credit and moving to next course. You earned a B or A in the college course. |
Another college professor and I agree a lot with the other professor who posted. They’re not equivalent to college classes. They are what they are and I wouldn’t call them a scam necessarily, but they are geared towards passing a test and do not focus on learning the material to the extent that a college course does. |
My DD seemed prepared for college with her APs. I agree with a PP — it probably depends on the school. |
Test optional? We are discussing AP TESTS. |