Does Everyone Take AP Classes?

[Anonymous]

We attended an information night at Whitman last night for our daughter who is currently in 8th grade and has begun selecting here classes for 9th grade. In talking with other parents it seems all of her friends are taking some type of AP course. Is this normal? Our daughter has gotten straight A's in middle school. On the other hand she has not taken any advanced classes either. She is currently taking Grade 8 math. She is a good student but not elite. How much will not taking AP classes hurt her during the college application process?

Any advice on what are some of the best elective to take at Whitman?

[Anonymous]

I'm a parent at one of the other Bethesda high schools. From what I can tell the most common AP class for 9th grade is AP NSL, which is the government course required of all MCPS graduates. I think some kids take that as an AP in 9th; the rest take a different History class in 9th and Honors or regular NSL in 10th.

[Anonymous]

I think about 15-20% of 9th graders take AP NSL at Whitman. You take it if you want to take APUSH in 10th. I think there were only 2 sections of APUSH when my DC took it so again a small group. Otherwise you take us history in 9th and either AP NSL or honors or Reg NSL in 10th. A few kids, usually international students, might take AP languages the first couple of years. And a tiny group is in advanced math and takes AP calc in 10th grade. So really not many taking APs in 9th, more in 10th, lots in 11th and 12th. I wouldn't worry about it at this stage. See how she does in 9th and make class decisions year by year. Plenty of kids got in to great colleges, including Ivy league schools, who didn't take APs in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think about 15-20% of 9th graders take AP NSL at Whitman. You take it if you want to take APUSH in 10th. I think there were only 2 sections of APUSH when my DC took it so again a small group. Otherwise you take us history in 9th and either AP NSL or honors or Reg NSL in 10th. A few kids, usually international students, might take AP languages the first couple of years. And a tiny group is in advanced math and takes AP calc in 10th grade. So really not many taking APs in 9th, more in 10th, lots in 11th and 12th. I wouldn't worry about it at this stage. See how she does in 9th and make class decisions year by year. Plenty of kids got in to great colleges, including Ivy league schools, who didn't take APs in 9th grade.

Thank you very much for this - very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Parent of a current 9th grader at Whitman here. AP NSL is a great class and if your kid is recommended for it (and is generally likes the subject) it's well worth taking in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a current 9th grader at Whitman here. AP NSL is a great class and if your kid is recommended for it (and is generally likes the subject) it's well worth taking in 9th grade.

Do you have to recommended for it in order to take it? Her sheet she brought home shows Honors as the recommended class.

[Anonymous]

Whitman parent here. Wish my kid had taken a full boat of AP classes each semester starting freshman year. DD is now a junior and we will be lucky if she can even get into a place like Georgetown because she does not have a rigorous course load the first two years of at least 4 AP classes per semester. Don't make my mistake, folks. I'm disgusted with myself (and don't get me started on her - separate thread).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whitman parent here. Wish my kid had taken a full boat of AP classes each semester starting freshman year. DD is now a junior and we will be lucky if she can even get into a place like Georgetown because she does not have a rigorous course load the first two years of at least 4 AP classes per semester. Don't make my mistake, folks. I'm disgusted with myself (and don't get me started on her - separate thread).

Mine took 10 and frankly it was a couple too many, especially doing 5 in one year. It's really not necessary. Colleges expect challenging classes but they aren't expecting all APs. And NO ONE at Whitman is taking 4 APs in 9th and 10th grade. 1 in 9th and 2 in 10th is on the high end.

[Anonymous]

Yes. And don't forget Jay Matthews yearly ranking of best high schools factors in how many kids in the school take AP (not pass with a good score). I went to Whitman "back in the day" before Jay and only the "smart" kids took AP.

[Anonymous]

My former babysitter who graduated from a MoCo HS and got a full academic scholarship to a great state school told me that APs aren't necessary freshman year since colleges ultimately only accept a certain number of AP credits (so the freshman APs are sort of a waste).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My former babysitter who graduated from a MoCo HS and got a full academic scholarship to a great state school told me that APs aren't necessary freshman year since colleges ultimately only accept a certain number of AP credits (so the freshman APs are sort of a waste).

I don't think any AP's are a "waste". Schools want to see that kids are taking the most challenging courses that are available at their school. For a freshman to take 1 AP course, especially if they earned straight A's in middle school, would be the norm at our school.

My DS attends UMCP and could easily graduate early, thanks to the AP credits he came in with.

[Anonymous]

My kids high school does not offer any APs to freshman.

[Anonymous]

To 16:20 - my former babysitter also pointed out: why would you want your kid to graduate from college a year early?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My former babysitter who graduated from a MoCo HS and got a full academic scholarship to a great state school told me that APs aren't necessary freshman year since colleges ultimately only accept a certain number of AP credits (so the freshman APs are sort of a waste).

Not true. My DC got credit for all 10 APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whitman parent here. Wish my kid had taken a full boat of AP classes each semester starting freshman year. DD is now a junior and we will be lucky if she can even get into a place like Georgetown because she does not have a rigorous course load the first two years of at least 4 AP classes per semester. Don't make my mistake, folks. I'm disgusted with myself (and don't get me started on her - separate thread).

I was told by someone well connected to the Georgetown interviewing process that local public school kids rarely make it in, but it is due more to "poise" issues and writing skills. Most of the local kids accepted at Georgetown are from the top tier Catholic schools (Gonzaga, Georgetown Prep, Visitation, Stone Ridge plus other good Catholic schools). I have never heard that taking AP classes freshman year is a "must." In fact, many of the top privates DO NOT offer APs because they think they needlessly cause stress and are too surface-level (not deep enough). FWIW, I have one kid in MCPS and one kid in private, and I'm a Georgetown grad, so I have an interest in this!