Self study AP exams

[Anonymous]

Hello Parents, Does taking APs help in getting college admission into good universities even if a kid is in high school magnet program? What are the advantages of self study APs?

[Anonymous]

probably not ... i would spend the time to do something more useful - write a blog, codes or something that your kid enjoys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello Parents, Does taking APs help in getting college admission into good universities even if a kid is in high school magnet program? What are the advantages of self study APs?

If your kid is in a high school magnet program, they are taking AP or AP equivalent classes and would be taking the corresponding tests. (And yes, this demonstrated rigor helps with college admissions.)

There are very few APs that students self-study instead of taking the class. Usually this is because they have high interest but the class isn't offered or they can't fit it into their schedule. There is no real advantage for an extra 2 or 3 APs on top of a usual magnet load of 10-12 APs beyond the possibility of 6-9 extra elective credits in college (depending on where).

[Anonymous]

I don’t think so. I’d consider it if I were at a school that doesn’t offer APs and I wanted to prove myself. Otherwise, nope.

[Anonymous]

My DD has a friend who self-studied for 4 APs alongside her regular classes. She is aiming high and knows what she wants to do as a career. I fully expect it will pay off in terms of entry to a highly competitive medical program.

[Anonymous]

Admissions offices see this as "striver" behavior. It is better to choose one academic area and show that you are enthusiastic about it... through maximizing coursework in that area, related extracurriculars, etc. I would argue that for admissions, the student's time is better spent getting and working at a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Admissions offices see this as "striver" behavior. It is better to choose one academic area and show that you are enthusiastic about it... through maximizing coursework in that area, related extracurriculars, etc. I would argue that for admissions, the student's time is better spent getting and working at a job.

And who are you exactly to make this statement? You're not a college admissions director at somewhere like Harvard, that is very clear.

[Anonymous]

Only things that would stand out, or significantly improve your child's profile would really help. So if your kid will be taking quite a few APs anyway (as expected for a magnet student), then a few more would really mean nothing for college admission.

The following are typically useful for magnet kid:
(1) unweighed GPA 4.0
(2) A significant breakthrough (international or at least nation level award) in one EC
(3) A spectrum of various EC (does not have to be all that strong)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Admissions offices see this as "striver" behavior. It is better to choose one academic area and show that you are enthusiastic about it... through maximizing coursework in that area, related extracurriculars, etc. I would argue that for admissions, the student's time is better spent getting and working at a job.

And who are you exactly to make this statement? You're not a college admissions director at somewhere like Harvard, that is very clear.

While p pp is surely not the director of admissions at Harvard (nor did they claim to be), the advice they gave is what I’ve heard from experts in the field.

[Anonymous]

thank you so much for very helpful responses!