How important are AP’s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is number of APs based on?

If you do a semester-long AP, does that count as 1 AP or 1/2 an AP? I'm asking because our school as year-long APs (2 semesters) and half-year APs (1 semester).

I think each counts as one AP regardless if it's one semester or two.

For example, Physics Mechanics is one AP. Electricity & Mag is another AP. Both are half semester.

But the total number is less important than how rigorous they are viewed and relevancy to your kid's major.

For example, AP Psychology and AP Enviro Science are considered easier than AP Lit and AP Physic Mechanics or AP Biology.

Except that some schools (like my DC’s) put those together as Physics C. The kids take both AP exams, but it’s only one AP class on the transcript.

But agree that it’s more about rigor of the transcript and also finding the right personal balance - your student should challenge themself but not be taking such a heavy load that grades go down or opt for courses too difficult for them. An A in an honors class is better than a C in an AP class.

Colleges also consider what the HS offers and allows (many privates limit the number of APs students can take), and what is typical for students at the school.

All courses are semester courses on the transcript everywhere I've gone to school or sent a kid. Even year long courses (US History A / US History B)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on what sort of college she’s aiming for.

This is key. My kids are at top 40 schools, one took fewer classes each semester, the other graduated in 3 years, due to APs. They had 12 or 13 total.

Top schools want to see rigor, and the way to demonstrate rigor is by taking APs. Fewer at private schools, more in public schools. If your child has zero intentio of attending a top 50/100 school, don't worry about APs.

And I would have this conversation with their counselor - they know who from the school gets in where

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are about 7-8 core AP courses. AP English Lit is one of them. If you are targeting T20 schools, it's a good idea for the unhooked to take them.

Do colleges produce a list of the 7-8 core AP classes or is this your personal list? Curious what the colleges consider core APs?

It's the ones that directly replace Honors courses, or are sequential to top level HS honors classes. Not electives or off-ramps from the main HS college prep curriculum.

English Lang and Lit, World Language and Lit (Lit is rare), US History, Government, Calculus, Economics, Bio/Chem/Phys (but there is some variation in these)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on what sort of college she’s aiming for.

This is key. My kids are at top 40 schools, one took fewer classes each semester, the other graduated in 3 years, due to APs. They had 12 or 13 total.

Top schools want to see rigor, and the way to demonstrate rigor is by taking APs. Fewer at private schools, more in public schools. If your child has zero intentio of attending a top 50/100 school, don't worry about APs.

And I would have this conversation with their counselor - they know who from the school gets in where

Isn't it weird to go to a top school and then avoid taking the breadth and depth of courses there? Its great for extra-curriculars and networking, but not an endorsement of the academic level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the 7-8 core AP classes suggested to take?

US History
English Lang
English Lit (are both english necessary for selective schools?)
Calculus
Language
Science - Physic, Chem, Bio or Enviro

What are the other 2-3 that are important for an undecided non-STEM major?

Just take the classes that you(r kid) can handle.

[Anonymous]

If your school offers APs then you are expected to take advantage of that. If the school doesn't offer any then you won't get penalised. You don't need to take 7+ but take maybe 1 or two since course rigour does matter when appying to colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your school offers APs then you are expected to take advantage of that. If the school doesn't offer any then you won't get penalised. You don't need to take 7+ but take maybe 1 or two since course rigour does matter when appying to colleges.

*Applying

[Anonymous]

Our older kid took all APs (now in college). Our younger one has taken everything dual enrollment, and prefers it that way. Still gets college credit without having to sit a SAT-like exam? Um, yes please. I think DE is great! We're not in the DMV, though.

[Anonymous]

Vassar, Bard and Oberlin have pretty different levels of competition to get in.

I’d think for Vassar you’d want lots of APs, at least some for Oberlin (and more if you’re hoping for merit) and not sure about Bard, which is not as competitive anymore and I think always cared more about the whole student.

[Anonymous]

At Princeton, over half of the class took 10 or more AP classes. Moreover, Princeton admits many students from private schools which have done away with AP classes.

So to be competitive at Princeton, one needs at least 10 AP classes.

You could certainly be the outlier and only take 5 or 7 classes, but at Princeton you better come from a lower resourced school as well as a lower SES background.

[Anonymous]

In large public schools, it's fairly common to take lot of AP's. I would say 8-10+ is common for the most advanced students looking at T50 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In large public schools, it's fairly common to take lot of AP's. I would say 8-10+ is common for the most advanced students looking at T50 schools.

CB adds some new APs including AP precalc. I don't think that AP counts as a core AP course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Princeton, over half of the class took 10 or more AP classes. Moreover, Princeton admits many students from private schools which have done away with AP classes.

So to be competitive at Princeton, one needs at least 10 AP classes.

You could certainly be the outlier and only take 5 or 7 classes, but at Princeton you better come from a lower resourced school as well as a lower SES background.

Princeton is the #1 ranked college in the nation. Of course their requirements will be the most competitive.

But what about schools that are further down like NYU, BU, Haverford, Skidmore, USC, Tufts, UMD, UW, U Wisconsin, Davidson, etc.??

[Anonymous]

Our public HS offers 35 APs. Obviously not all are of interest or would fit into our DS's schedule.

Is taking 7-8 APs ok? At least one in each of 5 core subjects plus more in the ones he cares about.

He is not interested in T30 but would be interested in T35-T100 ish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Princeton, over half of the class took 10 or more AP classes. Moreover, Princeton admits many students from private schools which have done away with AP classes.

So to be competitive at Princeton, one needs at least 10 AP classes.

You could certainly be the outlier and only take 5 or 7 classes, but at Princeton you better come from a lower resourced school as well as a lower SES background.

Princeton is the #1 ranked college in the nation. Of course their requirements will be the most competitive.

But what about schools that are further down like NYU, BU, Haverford, Skidmore, USC, Tufts, UMD, UW, U Wisconsin, Davidson, etc.??

For Stern, I would think you need it if your high school offers it. Not sure for other parts of NYU. USC seems to care a lot about your test score.