Why don't colleges require AP scores

[Anonymous]

A lot of the teachers teaching these alleged college level classes are not remotely qualified to do so. Which is a big issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like the SAT, the AP tests have been completely watered down and are a lot less meaningful than they used to be. This is why private schools have stopped bothering.

I am so tired of hearing of these striver kids from Enloe or TJ or wherever who are takin 20 APs including 4 as a freshmen then end up getting rejected by Ivies and ending up at meh state schools.

I personally think they do more harm than good. I understand they are unfortunately a necessary evil to show a student is taking the most rigorous courses, but they are a waste of time. I would rather my kid take the core courses at the university they are going to than placing into super advanced classes with upperclassmen. Unless the goal is to graduate early, being in advanced classes doesn't get you anywhere.

But I digress...

Many of these “striver” kids (as you call them) are brilliant students whose parents immigrants and don’t have enormous financial resources. There is no question they are more academically gifted than most private school kids. I am sure if they were students at your school, they would be top of the class there as well.

I know many of these kids and I am floored by their resilience, insights, knowledge, and sense of humor. I truly think your remarks are insulting and it breaks my heart that people disparage them so easily. You only see that they’re Asian or Indian and so you dismiss them. You have to respect your competition.

And many of them think they are so smart and are playing the game perfectly only to realize that colleges don’t generally care much if you have taken 10 vs 20 APs. They live in their little non-assimilated bubble and hear the occasional success story of the kid with 20 APs who got into MIT and think that will be them and that all of the “losers” who are only taking 5 APs and are “wasting their time” on mainstream XCs, socializing, etc are inferior and won’t get it. But guess who gets in?

They would be better off at a regular hs taking a difficult but normal load and watching tv, playing pickup football in the park and having a job serving ice cream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Students take AP test so they can transfer the credits to colleges. But AP classes are really watered down now, it is often suggested to a student to take the entry level class at colleges again instead of credit transfer. The material covered in an AP class corresponds to about two weeks of an entry level college course. The AP classes do a lot more harm than good to students by creating a false illusion of mastery.

I agree with this. Getting a good grade in Chem 101 because you were prepared with a strong chem corse in high school is far better than failing Chem 201 Freshman year because someone prepped you to ace the AP EXAM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students take AP test so they can transfer the credits to colleges. But AP classes are really watered down now, it is often suggested to a student to take the entry level class at colleges again instead of credit transfer. The material covered in an AP class corresponds to about two weeks of an entry level college course. The AP classes do a lot more harm than good to students by creating a false illusion of mastery.

I agree with this. Getting a good grade in Chem 101 because you were prepared with a strong chem corse in high school is far better than failing Chem 201 Freshman year because someone prepped you to ace the AP EXAM.

Sure but those aren’t the only two possibilities. You can also ace the exam and do well in Chem 201, which is the ideal.

[Anonymous]

Colleges don't even require SAT, only a few of them do. Before moving on to other items, first ask why not all colleges are test required.

That has been argued over and over here. Test optional moms and test required moms never see eye to eye. And I see a lot of familiar arguments here in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Back in my day (the 90s) Advanced Placement classes and tests were just tools to use to get some college credits to save time and money and had nothing to do with being admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't even require SAT, only a few of them do. Before moving on to other items, first ask why not all colleges are test required.

That has been argued over and over here. Test optional moms and test required moms never see eye to eye. And I see a lot of familiar arguments here in this thread.

Compared to SAT, AP required is more nuanced. IB moms will ask why IB are not required. Private moms will insist their unique curriculum is the best. FGLI moms will just say no money.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately many schools, such as UCs, care about count if AP classes taken and care much less about the AP test score. This feeds rampant grade inflation.

Kids from schools that limit and/or do away with APs because the coursework is ‘too easy’ likely get a better education, but suffer in the AO eye test.

Everyone taking a AP class should be required to take the AP exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like the SAT, the AP tests have been completely watered down and are a lot less meaningful than they used to be. This is why private schools have stopped bothering.

I am so tired of hearing of these striver kids from Enloe or TJ or wherever who are takin 20 APs including 4 as a freshmen then end up getting rejected by Ivies and ending up at meh state schools.

I personally think they do more harm than good. I understand they are unfortunately a necessary evil to show a student is taking the most rigorous courses, but they are a waste of time. I would rather my kid take the core courses at the university they are going to than placing into super advanced classes with upperclassmen. Unless the goal is to graduate early, being in advanced classes doesn't get you anywhere.

But I digress...

Agree. While I think AP classes can be useful for getting rid of the Gen Eds that they don't bother with in Europe, I am not that excited about my child graduating too early. I'd rather they take good courses with good professors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately many schools, such as UCs, care about count if AP classes taken and care much less about the AP test score. This feeds rampant grade inflation.

Kids from schools that limit and/or do away with APs because the coursework is ‘too easy’ likely get a better education, but suffer in the AO eye test.

Everyone taking a AP class should be required to take the AP exam.

State U has their mission to educate their residents. UC is test blind, before they take AP test scores, they have to first reinstate test required. Even that is hopeless considering that test required policy will badly disadvantage underserved students in state.

Private schools like Yale can do whatever they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately many schools, such as UCs, care about count if AP classes taken and care much less about the AP test score. This feeds rampant grade inflation.

Kids from schools that limit and/or do away with APs because the coursework is ‘too easy’ likely get a better education, but suffer in the AO eye test.

Everyone taking a AP class should be required to take the AP exam.

State U has their mission to educate their residents. UC is test blind, before they take AP test scores, they have to first reinstate test required. Even that is hopeless considering that test required policy will badly disadvantage underserved students in state.

Private schools like Yale can do whatever they want.

You are misinformed, UC schools take AP scores into account for admissions. Test blind does not cover AP scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately many schools, such as UCs, care about count if AP classes taken and care much less about the AP test score. This feeds rampant grade inflation.

Kids from schools that limit and/or do away with APs because the coursework is ‘too easy’ likely get a better education, but suffer in the AO eye test.

Everyone taking a AP class should be required to take the AP exam.

No way. Kids should be able to take the advanced level classes without having to sit for a test they have to pay for, especially kids who are not going to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like the SAT, the AP tests have been completely watered down and are a lot less meaningful than they used to be. This is why private schools have stopped bothering.

I am so tired of hearing of these striver kids from Enloe or TJ or wherever who are takin 20 APs including 4 as a freshmen then end up getting rejected by Ivies and ending up at meh state schools.

I personally think they do more harm than good. I understand they are unfortunately a necessary evil to show a student is taking the most rigorous courses, but they are a waste of time. I would rather my kid take the core courses at the university they are going to than placing into super advanced classes with upperclassmen. Unless the goal is to graduate early, being in advanced classes doesn't get you anywhere.

But I digress...

Agree. While I think AP classes can be useful for getting rid of the Gen Eds that they don't bother with in Europe, I am not that excited about my child graduating too early. I'd rather they take good courses with good professors.

So let them stay four years and they’ll have plenty of space in their schedule to take classes that interest them, pick up minors, or have lighter course loads. The benefit to getting low level credits out of the way early is not limited to early graduation.

[Anonymous]

Som3 colleges aren't really accepting AP scores as much bc they want you to take their course(s) instead -means more money for them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately many schools, such as UCs, care about count if AP classes taken and care much less about the AP test score. This feeds rampant grade inflation.

Kids from schools that limit and/or do away with APs because the coursework is ‘too easy’ likely get a better education, but suffer in the AO eye test.

Everyone taking a AP class should be required to take the AP exam.

State U has their mission to educate their residents. UC is test blind, before they take AP test scores, they have to first reinstate test required. Even that is hopeless considering that test required policy will badly disadvantage underserved students in state.

Private schools like Yale can do whatever they want.

You are misinformed, UC schools take AP scores into account for admissions. Test blind does not cover AP scores.

There is a distinction between AP score required and AP score considered. OP was asking AP score required.