Value of AP capstone diploma and seminar/research certificate

[Anonymous]

If your child did the work for AP capstone diploma, looking back, would they do it again? Would they recommend a younger sibling do? I read in FCPS, 69 students did work for and got AP capstone diploma and 19 get the research/seminar certificate. If already taking the hard classes, does it really move needle enough for colleges?

“The AP Capstone Diploma is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams of their choosing. The AP Seminar and Research Certificate is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research.”

[Anonymous]

Not from FCPS, but I doubt it.

Reasons:

1) Seems like a way that ETS is trying to compete with IB, which is an already-established international credential.

2) Scores of 3 are not considered competitive/ enhancing for Ivies. Below that, probably doesn't matter because just taking some APs is sufficient.

3) AP already created some recognition awards for scoring across multiple tests (AP Scholar, etc.).

4) Numbers in FCPS that you report are pretty low -which suggests many top students don't bother.

My kid faced a decision like this with IB. He took some IB classes and some AP classes. He got in where he wanted to go. He reports that some kids who got the IB diploma are not satisfied with the return on their time invested. A lot depends on what university you are targeting/will attend. And whether your goal is maxing credits toward the degree. I'd expect parallels with this AP-based program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not from FCPS, but I doubt it.

Reasons:

1) Seems like a way that ETS is trying to compete with IB, which is an already-established international credential.

2) Scores of 3 are not considered competitive/ enhancing for Ivies. Below that, probably doesn't matter because just taking some APs is sufficient.

3) AP already created some recognition awards for scoring across multiple tests (AP Scholar, etc.).

4) Numbers in FCPS that you report are pretty low -which suggests many top students don't bother.

My kid faced a decision like this with IB. He took some IB classes and some AP classes. He got in where he wanted to go. He reports that some kids who got the IB diploma are not satisfied with the return on their time invested. A lot depends on what university you are targeting/will attend. And whether your goal is maxing credits toward the degree. I'd expect parallels with this AP-based program.

OP here. Thank you for thoughtful reply.

The low #s is what had me wondering the value. Do think colleges would be more impressed with 5s in AP classes and may be more impressed with AP science or math class than AP research/seminar. And based on FCPS reporting the results now, seems like kids find out too late to make difference for college- meaning, student is taking classes when apply to college but has yet to get diploma until after already accepted.

You mention IB, have heard low numbers that get full IB diploma- so maybe same thing that kids are taking hard classes at time apply to college but don’t need the actual full diploma.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think the various AP certifications that are essentially awards for certain “bundles” of AP exams/scores impress colleges all that much.

[Anonymous]

By the time the capstone is granted, your kid has already been accepted to college. To me, that makes it worthless

[Anonymous]

Both of my kids did AP Seminar/Research. A PP is correct that the award for completing it comes too late to have any benefit for college applications, if that is the only reason you're doing it. DC1 took both courses and hated all the work, but once she got to college, she was so glad she took the classes. She felt they helped her in her research heavy courses. She actually told DC2 to take the classes if she wanted to be prepared for college.