Anyone else think it's ridiculous for kids to take AP classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not ridiculous if the cost of college credits matters to you. AP tests cost less than college credits. And if you are able to use AP credits to cut your college time by a semester or even more, that saves big $.

+1
That's our motivation.

It is at least 1+ college credit I dont have to pay for and frees up time for Dd to focus on other/harder classes and even have a small PT job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't care, but my kid's high school offers them and colleges expect them. Most colleges don't give you any credit for them, with a few exceptions. The only time one of my kids received college credit was when he/she did HISCIP and took two classes at Georgetown senior year. Both classes (6 credits) were transferable.

Huh.

My neighbors kid graduated a year early due to AP classes she took at her fcps high school.

Same here - my kid got all the basic classes done by getting 4s or 5s on her AP tests (history, english lit, calc AB, CS, biology, Chemistry), then did a double major (for language and econ/stats) and two study abroads (London, Japan).

She took more APs than those but didn't sit for the tests as they weren't necessary for any of the college programs she was applying to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a class issue OP. All the top private high schools just signed a pact that they’re phasing out AP courses over the next four years. They believe their courses are higher quality, involve more critical thinking, and could more easily be multidisciplinary with less pressures comply with AP course standards. They’re probably right. The student bodies in those schools tends to be fairly uniform in terms of ability, so it’s not the only way to surround yourself with other smart kids. Many if not most kids in that setting don’t need to worry about whether they earn credits or save money by taking AP courses.

Meanwhile, in public schools, APs offer a baseline standard that might be more rigorous than what the school otherwise offers. It may be the only way to bring similarly academically inclined students. That money savings from earning credits while in HS means something more to many of these kids.


On the admissions front, fwiw, I know people who say that if the kids are all taking APs, they’ll expect your kid to as well. And the reverse is true. Also, admissions officers know that in some wealthy communities, like MCPS, the schools want as many kids as possible enrolled in AP classes. That means the classes are not as difficult as they are elsewhere, and they know that.

Private schools still sit for the AP tests they want to in May. They have always had deeper classes that cover less material than an AP class, and must get the AP workbook and teach themselves the breadth for the test. But it works, and they only sit for what matters for their potential college major or Liberal Arts prereqs, etc.

[Anonymous]

20 years ago, my AP classes were really just the "advanced" version of the existing class. So if you wanted to go beyond 9th grade biology or 10th grade chemistry, you took the AP version in your junior or senior year. There was no stress about it. What else would you take?

Also, I was able to graduate a semester early, save $$$, and got an awesome internship that happened to be starting in spring instead of summer.

You can't generalize AP classes any more than you can generalize high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to hs 20 years ago and took 9 aps. They had the best teachers and the most interesting curriculum. Things like enough lot and European history not to mention calculus etc. they were challenging and interesting and we had the smartest kids in school on them. Would have been bored and not challenged in regular and honor classes.

+1 - My AP English, AP American History classes were the best classes I took in high school for critical thinking and writing. AP Calc was tougher than tough, but it was supposed to be. The students I know that took AP Science classes loved them because they had the kids that were most interested in those subjects and could cover the subjects faster and more in-depth.

I don't think it's worth blaming the AP program - I think an AP class (just like any other class) is as good or bad as the teacher that it teaching it. I do think that AP classes have a higher percentage (in public school) of having competent teachers.

We had the best math teacher in the dept teaching AP Calc - she was a former computer scientist who downshifted to math teacher after having kids. She could explain anything. Kids sat in the back not registered just to learn it from her and be ready for their calc class or in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't care, but my kid's high school offers them and colleges expect them. Most colleges don't give you any credit for them, with a few exceptions. The only time one of my kids received college credit was when he/she did HISCIP and took two classes at Georgetown senior year. Both classes (6 credits) were transferable.

This is false. Most colleges do give credit. The very top tier do not.

[Anonymous]

"Why can't we just let kids be kids and enjoy HS? Is the stress really worth it? I don't believe it is."

My kids do not find AP classes that stressful. If a kid does, they should not be taking them. They are just pretty much the normal progression. After pre-calc you take calc..should you not take math??

[Anonymous]

No, i don't think it's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

AP class homework load in public school is still half of what private school homework load is for similar class + prep AP test DIY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP class homework load in public school is still half of what private school homework load is for similar class + prep AP test DIY.

So every AP class in public school get the same HW?? Generalize much?

[Anonymous]

I am of the mind that APs should only be taken in subjects in which you naturally excel or in which you have a strong interest.

[Anonymous]

i think it is total BS and a money making scheme.

If you add up the credits kids really need to graduate from HS it is way less than what they take. If you want college level classes you should be able to take classes at you local college or offer actual college classes at the HS like some high schools already do. AP testing is a racket.

AP Calculus is a joke and should only count as a college class if you are going into something that has nothing to do with science or math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Why can't we just let kids be kids and enjoy HS? Is the stress really worth it? I don't believe it is."

My kids do not find AP classes that stressful. If a kid does, they should not be taking them. They are just pretty much the normal progression. After pre-calc you take calc..should you not take math??

+ 1

My kid will be bored to tears in regular class. He does not find AP classes stressful at all. I also like that the AP classes attract good students and the peer group is very academic focussed.

If your kid is finding the AP classes stressful, there is no reason to subject them to unnecessary torture. Let them find their natural level in the subject of their choice and let them excel at their level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP class homework load in public school is still half of what private school homework load is for similar class + prep AP test DIY.

Nice try. The only benefit of private school is that all the rich people send their kids there. Then the same kids get into Ivy League schools because of legacy and not merit. Big deal.

See the cast of jokers running the country right now? Yes, most of them are private school products. Utterly useless and immoral.

Don't even go there.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I’m especially dismayed at the trend of 9th and 10th graders loading themselves with AP courses. I took 5 AP classes in high school. Only 1 felt like a true college level course as far as requiring and developing critical thinking. The rest were more about volume, not quality of the assignments. I repeated a couple of them my freshman year in college and the APs paled in comparison.