AP Art

[Anonymous]

Honestly, if he's taking an AP studio art with the hope that it will give him college credit, I would not do it. Every single college has a different policy towards granting AP credits. Some will allow it to count it as if it were a 3-credit course towards graduation, others will only allow the course to allow him to skip an intro-level course and jump immediately to a higher level studio art class. It is very premature at this point to decide. He really needs to think about the amount of time he wants to put towards the AP art portfolio, especially if he does not plan on submitting an art portfolio as part of his college applications.
My DC did AP Drawing as a junior and received a 5, and DC plans to major in studio art in college. The amount of time it takes to develop a well-curated portfolio for a high grade in AP Drawing is substantial (and only 16% of students received a 5 - so it's not an easy AP). The main benefit for DC was that the fast pace meant that DC had created multiple additional pieces for college admissions portfolios. DC has been accepted to a number of arts programs for college and each one has a different policy towards AP credits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC took last year - AP Studio Art - Drawing, in addition to 3 other AP classes. This was his "final" art classes, 9 of them since middle school and it served as a "capstone" course. Portfolio requirement is substantial, but not bad if student has been taking art every year. He probably spent more time on this class than any other during junior year. One perk was this allowed him to create an art portfolio as supplemental for college applications.

Nice. What's your son's major? Do you think the art supplement helped with admissions?

Undecided with history/poli sci interests

It's another way to differentiate and smaller privates/SLACs seem to appreciate. It's been a value added for us this year even as TO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your DC has no art experience, this is not the class for him. Was brutal at our public. It is not an easy AP, though it depends on teacher.

Agree. DD is a junior and taking it now. She loves art, has received a Scholastic Gold Key and state award for best in drawing and this class is really tough for her. The pace is brutal. That being said, she's happy she's taking it...but it's not an easy class and none of the colleges she's looking at will give her credit.

I wouldn't take it if he's looking for an easy class. I would consider it if he really enjoy art, wants to challenge himself and come out with a portfolio he can submit as a supplement. That could set his application apart from other business or engineering applicants.

I'd ask his counselor and art teacher for their input.

Same, also the AP score is based on their portfolio not a test so if they are not decent at art, they likely won't score high enough to test out of anything.

OP: are you referring to AP art (see my comment above) or AP art history? They are different classes.

My daughter did score high enough on the AP to test out of one of her fine arts requirements, but she enjoys those classes anyway so she still took an art class in college to have an easier class (and the grading was much easier than her AP art class in high school).

[Anonymous]

My kid did AP art. Got a 4 on the exam (final project) and got 1 college credit for it. Not worth the amount of time spent taking the class for the measly 1 credit.

[Anonymous]

I think the circumstances where college credit is useful are pretty narrow. It seems like in this situation they would just graduate with extra credits that they didn't really need.

But your kid is a teenager and it won't be easy to convince him with logic. Can he talk to the AP art teacher or a college counselor?

If he loves art I definitely think he should do it, but not just for college credits that won't do him any good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your DC has no art experience, this is not the class for him. Was brutal at our public. It is not an easy AP, though it depends on teacher.

Agree. DD is a junior and taking it now. She loves art, has received a Scholastic Gold Key and state award for best in drawing and this class is really tough for her. The pace is brutal. That being said, she's happy she's taking it...but it's not an easy class and none of the colleges she's looking at will give her credit.

I wouldn't take it if he's looking for an easy class. I would consider it if he really enjoy art, wants to challenge himself and come out with a portfolio he can submit as a supplement. That could set his application apart from other business or engineering applicants.

I'd ask his counselor and art teacher for their input.

Same, also the AP score is based on their portfolio not a test so if they are not decent at art, they likely won't score high enough to test out of anything.

OP: are you referring to AP art (see my comment above) or AP art history? They are different classes.

My daughter did score high enough on the AP to test out of one of her fine arts requirements, but she enjoys those classes anyway so she still took an art class in college to have an easier class (and the grading was much easier than her AP art class in high school).

OP. I'm referring to AP 2-D Art and Design.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s an easy A on a weighted GPA. Sounds good to me

Are you high? It is NOT an easy A for anyone who does not have artistic ability and dedication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an easy A on a weighted GPA. Sounds good to me

Are you high? It is NOT an easy A for anyone who does not have artistic ability and dedication.

+1 You have to create a substantial portfolio and submit it for evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your DC has no art experience, this is not the class for him. Was brutal at our public. It is not an easy AP, though it depends on teacher.

Agree. DD is a junior and taking it now. She loves art, has received a Scholastic Gold Key and state award for best in drawing and this class is really tough for her. The pace is brutal. That being said, she's happy she's taking it...but it's not an easy class and none of the colleges she's looking at will give her credit.

I wouldn't take it if he's looking for an easy class. I would consider it if he really enjoy art, wants to challenge himself and come out with a portfolio he can submit as a supplement. That could set his application apart from other business or engineering applicants.

I'd ask his counselor and art teacher for their input.

Same, also the AP score is based on their portfolio not a test so if they are not decent at art, they likely won't score high enough to test out of anything.

OP: are you referring to AP art (see my comment above) or AP art history? They are different classes.

My daughter did score high enough on the AP to test out of one of her fine arts requirements, but she enjoys those classes anyway so she still took an art class in college to have an easier class (and the grading was much easier than her AP art class in high school).

This varies widely by school. My DC took an art class in college and it was the course where he got his lowest grade and spent a LOT of time on it. He had a lot of experience in HS art too.

[Anonymous]

It is not an easy A. It is a lot of work. Don't do it, unless you are an artist or unless you are willing to commit a lot of attention to the class. Not a blow-off class.

[Anonymous]

Some people here seem to be confusing AP Art and AP Art History. Very different courses!

AP studio art should be for kids who want/need a portfolio or are truly passionate and gifted artists. It’s not an easy blowoff class and doesn’t always translate into much college credit.

[Anonymous]

Credits aside, it shows consistent commitment to the subject, which is worth it's weight in gold.