AP track success stories

[Anonymous]

I have often heard parents, colleagues and neighbors talk about how their kids were able to shave off year or more in college. How does that happen? Is the kid exceptionally intelligent? Or is it an outcome of proper planning on what courses to take and when.
I would love to hear some success stories and may be get some ideas of what courses to take and when. DD is starting high school this year at Lake Braddock.

[Anonymous]

It starts with a capable child who is on board with the plan. If the child doesn’t buy in into it, it doesn’t work.

Also, it’s not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

AP classes count for credit at most colleges. For example, 5s in 10 APs will get DC credit for 10 classes, which is usually the freshman course load.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have often heard parents, colleagues and neighbors talk about how their kids were able to shave off year or more in college. How does that happen? Is the kid exceptionally intelligent? Or is it an outcome of proper planning on what courses to take and when.
I would love to hear some success stories and may be get some ideas of what courses to take and when. DD is starting high school this year at Lake Braddock.

I did it 20 years ago. Took 6 AP classes during junior/senior year and 3 community college classes (during the summers). My senior year math was also 2 semesters dual enrollment through the CC. Got 5s on everything except a 4 in English lit. That plus one cc class my first summer in college bought me 3 semesters of credit so I graduated in 2.5 years.

It was a great choice financially, but it had a lot of implications otherwise. I was a first semester student (latest registration) trying to register for sophomore and jr classes. I had last pick of everything. I couldn’t study abroad because only fluffy gen Ed classes could be done there and I had skipped all of them. I had to declare a major during my 1st semester, I couldn’t change my mind multiple times like friends. I also graduated before any of my roommates who finished on time.

I don’t regret it, but there were certainly pluses and minuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP classes count for credit at most colleges. For example, 5s in 10 APs will get DC credit for 10 classes, which is usually the freshman course load.

Thanks. 5s? Is that an A in the new grading system?

[Anonymous]

I have a college freshman, so we just went through this AP process.
 
My student took a total of 11 AP and 2 Dual Enrollment (DE) courses taken at the high school
9th- The school did not allow any AP courses
10th - 1 AP (school only allowed 1) 
11th- 4 AP, 1 DE
12th- 6 AP, 1 DE 

-The College Board runs AP exams in May every year. Tests are taken at the school. Scores are issued in July and range from 1-5.
-My student made 4s and 5s on the AP exams.
-Colleges vary on what they accept, per exam. Some will take 3s, some will only take 4s and 5s. Some scores will earn you credit, and some will let you exempt an intro course without credit. Some 5s will earn you 6 hours of college credit, and some 4s and 5s will grant you 3 hours.
-Once you matriculate into college, you can transfer your credits. My student was granted 43 hours (including 9 hours of DE credit). 
-A usual course load is 15 hours per semester, so this amount can roughly shave off 1.5 semester's worth. I say "roughly" because we don't know ultimately how the credits will be used: graduate early, double major, or get a graduate degree in 4 years. 
-Their college requires that a major be declared when credits are between 40 and 59 hours, so the student already declared a major- this will help with course registration moving forward.
-My student is a freshman but is taking a 200 and 300-level course in the first semester. There are a few freshmen in the same situation in their class so this isn't too rare. Some have transferred with even more credit. Colleges have a limit on how many they will take- probably 60 max.

It requires a student who wants to work hard. I was not on board with my student's 11th and 12th grade heavy courseload but they loved the challenge and the rigor of their AP classes. I was a bit skeptical about how the AP credits would actually really count until my student showed me their school system that shows what requirements the credits counted towards. I was pleasantly surprised. My student is really happy that their hard work literally paid off. 

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a college freshman, so we just went through this AP process.
 
My student took a total of 11 AP and 2 Dual Enrollment (DE) courses taken at the high school
9th- The school did not allow any AP courses
10th - 1 AP (school only allowed 1) 
11th- 4 AP, 1 DE
12th- 6 AP, 1 DE 

-The College Board runs AP exams in May every year. Tests are taken at the school. Scores are issued in July and range from 1-5.
-My student made 4s and 5s on the AP exams.
-Colleges vary on what they accept, per exam. Some will take 3s, some will only take 4s and 5s. Some scores will earn you credit, and some will let you exempt an intro course without credit. Some 5s will earn you 6 hours of college credit, and some 4s and 5s will grant you 3 hours.
-Once you matriculate into college, you can transfer your credits. My student was granted 43 hours (including 9 hours of DE credit). 
-A usual course load is 15 hours per semester, so this amount can roughly shave off 1.5 semester's worth. I say "roughly" because we don't know ultimately how the credits will be used: graduate early, double major, or get a graduate degree in 4 years. 
-Their college requires that a major be declared when credits are between 40 and 59 hours, so the student already declared a major- this will help with course registration moving forward.
-My student is a freshman but is taking a 200 and 300-level course in the first semester. There are a few freshmen in the same situation in their class so this isn't too rare. Some have transferred with even more credit. Colleges have a limit on how many they will take- probably 60 max.

It requires a student who wants to work hard. I was not on board with my student's 11th and 12th grade heavy courseload but they loved the challenge and the rigor of their AP classes. I was a bit skeptical about how the AP credits would actually really count until my student showed me their school system that shows what requirements the credits counted towards. I was pleasantly surprised. My student is really happy that their hard work literally paid off. 

That is a very impressive count of AP's and DE's. Is it the top 5-10% kids for FCPS to take these many AP's and DE's?. I thought senior year was relaxed but it seems loaded with AP's and DE.

[Anonymous]

12:38 here.
My student was in the top 10% at the beginning of 12th grade, with 5 APs and 1 DE at that time. Applied to college Early Decision and was accepted with a 4.24 GPA. We only knew that they were in the top 10% because there was a system glitch where the students were able to see their actual ranking.

The APs and DE courses add a 1.0 bump to GPA. By graduation, and with all A's in senior year, my student had a 4.38 GPA by graduation. Not sure what % that is but the counselor did say that the HS class prior had a 4.25 GPA and above for the top 10%.

I am guessing kids who are in the top 10% take 8-10 APs:
10th- 1
11th- 3/4
12th- 4/5- This is the 4 core courses + Foreign language, which the more competitive colleges say they like to see.

Thank you for saying that it's impressive. I sat back and marveled at watching my student. I posted a lot of questions on DCUM over the years. It has been so interesting to see and understand how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:38 here.
My student was in the top 10% at the beginning of 12th grade, with 5 APs and 1 DE at that time. Applied to college Early Decision and was accepted with a 4.24 GPA. We only knew that they were in the top 10% because there was a system glitch where the students were able to see their actual ranking.

The APs and DE courses add a 1.0 bump to GPA. By graduation, and with all A's in senior year, my student had a 4.38 GPA by graduation. Not sure what % that is but the counselor did say that the HS class prior had a 4.25 GPA and above for the top 10%.

I am guessing kids who are in the top 10% take 8-10 APs:
10th- 1
11th- 3/4
12th- 4/5- This is the 4 core courses + Foreign language, which the more competitive colleges say they like to see.

Thank you for saying that it's impressive. I sat back and marveled at watching my student. I posted a lot of questions on DCUM over the years. It has been so interesting to see and understand how it works.

Certainly an achievement to be very proud of. Congratulations to your student and you too, and thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP classes count for credit at most colleges. For example, 5s in 10 APs will get DC credit for 10 classes, which is usually the freshman course load.

Thanks. 5s? Is that an A in the new grading system?

You had us until this, OP. If you googled AP class 5, you'd have your answer. It is not believable you'd know enough:

- to find this website to post on here +

- to ask about how kids are shaving time off their college years +

- write in English, showing you write and understand the language +

- already have a child enrolled in FCPS +

- know there are some new grading policies...

And yet you are incapable of Googling your question for an answer? Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP classes count for credit at most colleges. For example, 5s in 10 APs will get DC credit for 10 classes, which is usually the freshman course load.

Thanks. 5s? Is that an A in the new grading system?

You had us until this, OP. If you googled AP class 5, you'd have your answer. It is not believable you'd know enough:

- to find this website to post on here +

- to ask about how kids are shaving time off their college years +

- write in English, showing you write and understand the language +

- already have a child enrolled in FCPS +

- know there are some new grading policies...

And yet you are incapable of Googling your question for an answer? Got it.

What is wrong with you? Not everyone knows everything, and everyone has a point where they tire or searching, and just ask their question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have often heard parents, colleagues and neighbors talk about how their kids were able to shave off year or more in college. How does that happen? Is the kid exceptionally intelligent? Or is it an outcome of proper planning on what courses to take and when.
I would love to hear some success stories and may be get some ideas of what courses to take and when. DD is starting high school this year at Lake Braddock.

Unless you have specific circumstance where you need to graduate quickly, it's not a good goal.
Good reasons include:

* 4 or 5 year accelerated masters degree at your undergrad institution
* going to professional grad school (doctor, lawyer, business) where advanced undergrad study doesn't matter.
* don't care about academics, but your career path requires a degree as an arbitrary barrier.

In other cases, using the 4th year to get a more complete college education is usually a better choice.
Students who are so academically advanced that they complete a year of college in high school, are usually capable of completing advanced undergraduate course work that leads to intellectually/academically challenging careers, and shouldn't jump out of school early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP classes count for credit at most colleges. For example, 5s in 10 APs will get DC credit for 10 classes, which is usually the freshman course load.

Thanks. 5s? Is that an A in the new grading system?

No, an AP test score (1-5) is separate front. FCPS grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP classes count for credit at most colleges. For example, 5s in 10 APs will get DC credit for 10 classes, which is usually the freshman course load.

Thanks. 5s? Is that an A in the new grading system?

You had us until this, OP. If you googled AP class 5, you'd have your answer. It is not believable you'd know enough:

- to find this website to post on here +

- to ask about how kids are shaving time off their college years +

- write in English, showing you write and understand the language +

- already have a child enrolled in FCPS +

- know there are some new grading policies...

And yet you are incapable of Googling your question for an answer? Got it.

What is wrong with you? Not everyone knows everything, and everyone has a point where they tire or searching, and just ask their question.

Absolutely...but the person who asks about AP track success stories - the title of the post - knows what AP classes are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP classes count for credit at most colleges. For example, 5s in 10 APs will get DC credit for 10 classes, which is usually the freshman course load.

Thanks. 5s? Is that an A in the new grading system?

You had us until this, OP. If you googled AP class 5, you'd have your answer. It is not believable you'd know enough:

- to find this website to post on here +

- to ask about how kids are shaving time off their college years +

- write in English, showing you write and understand the language +

- already have a child enrolled in FCPS +

- know there are some new grading policies...

And yet you are incapable of Googling your question for an answer? Got it.

What is wrong with you? Not everyone knows everything, and everyone has a point where they tire or searching, and just ask their question.

Absolutely...but the person who asks about AP track success stories - the title of the post - knows what AP classes are.

It is easy to know what AP classes are. If you comprehend OP's original post, there are multiple questions, way BEYOND knowing just what AP classes are. Also note, OP is looking for STORIES- which means events and decisions that happen over time so that they can help their DD prepare at her start of high school-- which is the best time to be looking at AP classes.

I have often heard parents, colleagues and neighbors talk about how their kids were able to shave off year or more in college.
How does that happen? Is the kid exceptionally intelligent? Or is it an outcome of proper planning on what courses to take and when.
I would love to hear some success stories and may be get some ideas of what courses to take and when. DD is starting high school this year at Lake Braddock.