APUSH - Best GPA Strategy for Admissions

[Anonymous]

Strictly from a college admissions perspective:

Is it better to get a B/B+ in a very rigorous in-person AP class or an A in the easier online version (which colleges will see was taken online)?

My child isn’t drawn to humanities and could APUSH either in-person or online. The in-person version at our school has a heavy workload and very tough grading, and I’m concerned it could not only lead to a B/B+ but also obviously hurt grades in other classes due to the time commitment.

The online version has a much lighter workload, gives out many As, and would also free up a period during the school day to get ahead in other classes.

[Anonymous]

A in online APUSH is better than B+ in in-person class, for the purpose of college admission.

[Anonymous]

I hate to say it, but online to get the A is probably the best bet in this situation.

[Anonymous]

Fun fact: .colleges have no way of confirming or invaldiating claims of high school schedule conflicts

[Anonymous]

If you’re aiming for a T20 and your guidance counselor knows you’re chickening out and taking the easier route intellectually, this may affect the letter they write for you.

[Anonymous]

Is this Langley? A ton of students take APs online for exactly this reason. The school’s college advisor has even said that colleges don’t care whether a class is taken online or in person. I get why students would do it if they’re trying to boost their junior year GPA.

But as a parent, I really wouldn’t want my kid taking an AP online. The Langley student-run magazine had a whole article about how easy some of these online APs are — especially APUSH — and how common cheating is.

If it were a class not offered at Langley, like AP Euro, and my kid was genuinely VERY interested, then maybe. But otherwise, I think it’s a terrible idea for both academic and moral development.

[Anonymous]

Can’t they tell you took it online? Does that raise bells if it is offered at your HS in-person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re aiming for a T20 and your guidance counselor knows you’re chickening out and taking the easier route intellectually, this may affect the letter they write for you.

But since FCPS has deemed their online AP classes identical to the inperson classes, school staff members are not allowed to do this.

I would have a frank conversation with the school guidance counselor and make sure they know that you expect that they will not ding your child for this choice. Include the principal if needed.

[Anonymous]

Plenty of classes in FCPS are available only online and not in-person.

No college is getting this down in the weeds of the transcript.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re aiming for a T20 and your guidance counselor knows you’re chickening out and taking the easier route intellectually, this may affect the letter they write for you.

But since FCPS has deemed their online AP classes identical to the inperson classes, school staff members are not allowed to do this.

I would have a frank conversation with the school guidance counselor and make sure they know that you expect that they will not ding your child for this choice. Include the principal if needed.

This is simply false. FCPS now has a policy where schools are required to break out the online campus classes from the in-person classes.

From following the discussions here on DCUrban mom, FCPS leadership is well aware that the online AP classes are being used to gamify GPAs. They are easier, encourage cheating and hand out As. This is why the SB changed the policy a few months ago.

School counselors are entirely within their professional duty and judgement to highlight if a student took a class online.

[Anonymous]

Not in FCPS, but at a suburban public school on the west coast. At our school, lots of kids take APUSH, AP English, etc. online because they don't like the teacher to which they were assigned, the teacher is known for not covering all of the material that will be on the test (and therefore the student has to study a lot on their own to do well on the test), and schedule conflicts with electives (e.g., leadership, orchestra and band). My own kid will be taking AP Spanish online next year through the district's approved provider. I don't think that the fact that it's online is viewed as a negative. I think that if your child gets a 4 or 5 on it, that's going to negate any suggestion (by several posters here) that your kid took the easy way out.

[Anonymous]

Take it in school. Getting a rec from a APUSH teacher can be a huge benefit. Teachers talk and know which kids are taking online classes - so this backfires in the teacher rec area. Oh, and also your kid will learn more....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in FCPS, but at a suburban public school on the west coast. At our school, lots of kids take APUSH, AP English, etc. online because they don't like the teacher to which they were assigned, the teacher is known for not covering all of the material that will be on the test (and therefore the student has to study a lot on their own to do well on the test), and schedule conflicts with electives (e.g., leadership, orchestra and band). My own kid will be taking AP Spanish online next year through the district's approved provider. I don't think that the fact that it's online is viewed as a negative. I think that if your child gets a 4 or 5 on it, that's going to negate any suggestion (by several posters here) that your kid took the easy way out.

This.

Plus most colleges don’t require you to report AP scores, so only report them if the student did well.

Taking certain classes online makes a lot of sense. You still get the GPA boost, plus the breathing room that comes with the inherently less demanding online class environment. Having an extra free period during junior year is incredibly valuable and gives a real advantage. It’s just a smart choice.

[Anonymous]

Wow. GPAs in FCPS really are meaningless.

[Anonymous]

Online version, of course, because colleges don't know that your online class is easier than your in-person class. Online isn't necessarily easier.

Just don't pick online for science APs! Colleges will know it won't include the labwork, unless you specify that you took a particular one that ships the material to you.

- no skin in this game, my kids are taking in-person APs in a different school system.