Did your kid use AP credit to reduce their time in college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
A word of caution: With some courses, the college might require that the student take that college's version of the class even if the student has an AP credit in that subject.

This happened with a friend's DD who loaded up on lots of APs in HS in hopes of jumping over some of the science classes at college. (And since DCUM always cares about this stuff, this student got the top score on all her AP exams--she was stellar.) The student did indeed get a lot of credits, but not every AP course translated automatically into skipping a class and moving to the next level in that subject.

The college somehow gave a certain amount of credit, not sure how that worked, but the student and parents were very surprised that she was also told she would have to take the college's classes in a couple of science subjects where the student had assumed that she had "done" the AP/college intro level work, and would just be placed in the next higher course in that sequence. The college told them that it wants all its students to have the same grounding in the college's way of teaching that topic, before moving to the next levels in those subjects.

Just noting that no one should assume that if a kid has an AP credit for subject X, and the college recognizes AP credits, the student will get to skip a college's foundational freshman course in subject X. I realize this isn't quite the same thing as the question of using AP credits to reduce time in college. But having to take a course you thought you'd "placed out of" will affect a student's schedule.

This post points out how individualized the requirements are at each college for receiving credit for AP classes.

At Cornell the requirements are exactly the opposite from the above post. You will not receive the AP credit if you take the introductory courses.

So in order for my kid to receive 8 credits offered for a 5 on the Chemistry AP she had to SKIP both of the introductory-level chemistry courses and take sophomore level honors chemistry as the first chemistry class. Same requirement for AP Calc and foreign languages -- no credits if you want to take the introductory level classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
A word of caution: With some courses, the college might require that the student take that college's version of the class even if the student has an AP credit in that subject.

This happened with a friend's DD who loaded up on lots of APs in HS in hopes of jumping over some of the science classes at college. (And since DCUM always cares about this stuff, this student got the top score on all her AP exams--she was stellar.) The student did indeed get a lot of credits, but not every AP course translated automatically into skipping a class and moving to the next level in that subject.

The college somehow gave a certain amount of credit, not sure how that worked, but the student and parents were very surprised that she was also told she would have to take the college's classes in a couple of science subjects where the student had assumed that she had "done" the AP/college intro level work, and would just be placed in the next higher course in that sequence. The college told them that it wants all its students to have the same grounding in the college's way of teaching that topic, before moving to the next levels in those subjects.

Just noting that no one should assume that if a kid has an AP credit for subject X, and the college recognizes AP credits, the student will get to skip a college's foundational freshman course in subject X. I realize this isn't quite the same thing as the question of using AP credits to reduce time in college. But having to take a course you thought you'd "placed out of" will affect a student's schedule.

This is a good point. I'm a biology professor. Our majors and minors have to take one or two biology electives of their choice and we do grant credit for one elective for scores of 4 and 5, but we absolutely do not grant credit for first semester introductory bio (majors and minors do gen bio 1 first semester, gen bio 2 second semester). At one point we did, but found that those who jumped straight into bio 2 their second semester after placing out of bio 1 with AP credit were absolutely drowningin bio 2. Just didn't have those foundational skills/knowledge needed to succeed. It probably varies by subject, but I think science subjects especially are very very leery of granting credit that allows students to skip into a higher level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why the sensitivity about kids social v heavy AP/CC credits? I'm the PP who mentioned my DD wants a different HS experience. I didn't call anyone a loser or criticize anyone else's choice. I simply said my kid wants a different experience. One of her best friends is crushing HS - probably 2 yrs ahead of her in math and is also a very talented musician with multiple state and national level awards. He prefers to play and write music in his free time so isn't as social, by choice. When he walks on stage and sits in the first chair, I couldn't be happier for him and couldn't care less about his social activities. When he's playing, I'm sure no one's wondering if he was at Larla's party Saturday night. HS is an individual experience based on each kid's goals and choices, so there's no right or wrong option.

Would you turn to his mother in the audience and say, "What a different HS experience. Larlo had. I mean, my DD is taking quite a few AP classes, but also wants to have time with friends and participate in her activities!"

Then don't say it on the internet.

[Anonymous]

My kid did not (kid loves school generally and college in particular), but my niece did.

They both have friends and social lives.

[Anonymous]

As someone who graduated college more recently than most here there was no way I was giving up my Spring semester senior year to save some money. I had a job by Thanksgiving so by the time I came back from Christmas break I was in full coasting mode and enjoying my last 6 months of freedom before having to start my career.

[Anonymous]

Would you turn to his mother in the audience and say, "What a different HS experience. Larlo had. I mean, my DD is taking quite a few AP classes, but also wants to have time with friends and participate in her activities!" Then don't say it on the internet.

You're kidding right? Our kids grew up together and his mom is one of my best friends. I'm her plus one at all the concerts. My friends and I always talk about our kids, their goals, their failures and triumphs, and whether we want to kill them or hug them because teenagers are so challenging. And it's an actual fact that my DD is having a very different HS experience. She'll never win any national music awards and that's totally fine with her. It's not a contest. Again, I wasn't denigrating anyone's choice so I'm puzzled by the sensitivity.

[Anonymous]

No. Used it to get out of gen ed courses and pave the way for taking whatever she wanted when studying abroad.

[Anonymous]

I responded earlier that my dd entered with 32 credits and did not have to take any Gen Eds. I wanted to clarify that most of her credits were brought over as transfer credits from our local community college. Our high school offers an offers an option to Dual Enroll if you take an AP. We pay $99 per credit and a college professor reviews all graded material from the AP class and certifies the grade. For the classes that dd did the dual enrollment she did not have to take the AP exam but rather had a community college transcript with actual grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My son entered college with 62 credits and was able to earn two degrees in four years (a B.S. and a B.A.).

If this is true, that's great for your son, but wow, what a different HS experience. My kid's taking quite a few AP classes, but also wants to have time with friends and participate in her activities so will use AP's just for admission. I want her to enjoy the 4 yr college experience. They have the rest of their lives to work and earn money.

What an idiotic, rude, and judgmental post.

PP's son achieved something great. Good for him. I have absolutely no doubt he has many friends and lots of fun.

Also I love the implication that if only your daughter chose this inferior route, she would no doubt have accomplished the same.

It is not rude to think that taking mostly high school courses in high school, and getting one undergraduate degree in 4 years of college is healthier than the alternative.

Agree, you can think whatever you want. Making a judgment like that and saying it to someone who's child who has focused on academics is absurdly rude.
The idea that anyone who has gone above and beyond with coursework is an anti-social loser is ridiculous.

But it is probably true! Let’s be realistic here.

You clearly haven't experienced high schools in this region. It is the norm now to take as many ap classes as you can.

[Anonymous]

It was a long time ago, but I used mine to take niche classes that interested me, fun classes like archery, and a lighter load one or two semesters.

[Anonymous]

"The idea that anyone who has gone above and beyond with coursework is an anti-social loser is ridiculous.


But it is probably true! Let’s be realistic here.

Wow! What kind of loser in life would have this kind of thought?

I think it is important to acknowledge that the dual enrollment kids who spend their last two years of high school taking classes at the local community college instead of on their high school campus are not going to have anything close to a traditional high school social experience. There are some kids who can take a million APs and still have a somewhat mainstream social life since they're still physically on campus and surrounded by high school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who graduated college more recently than most here there was no way I was giving up my Spring semester senior year to save some money. I had a job by Thanksgiving so by the time I came back from Christmas break I was in full coasting mode and enjoying my last 6 months of freedom before having to start my career.

hmmm. my daughter graduated in December after 3.5 years and she did the same. she (well, we) just didn't have to pay tuition, she had no classes to attend, didn't have to do papers, tests, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Would you turn to his mother in the audience and say, "What a different HS experience. Larlo had. I mean, my DD is taking quite a few AP classes, but also wants to have time with friends and participate in her activities!" Then don't say it on the internet.

You're kidding right? Our kids grew up together and his mom is one of my best friends. I'm her plus one at all the concerts. My friends and I always talk about our kids, their goals, their failures and triumphs, and whether we want to kill them or hug them because teenagers are so challenging. And it's an actual fact that my DD is having a very different HS experience. She'll never win any national music awards and that's totally fine with her. It's not a contest. Again, I wasn't denigrating anyone's choice so I'm puzzled by the sensitivity.

You absolutely are denigrating another's choice. Your words:
If this is true, that's great for your son, but wow, what a different HS experience. My kid's taking quite a few AP classes, but also wants to have time with friends and participate in her activities so will use AP's just for admission. I want her to enjoy the 4 yr college experience. They have the rest of their lives to work and earn money.

So the opposite has to be true:
That's great for your son, but wow, what a different HS experience. My kid's taking quite a few AP classes, (but if my kid took the load your kid is taking, she wouldn't) have time with friends a participate in her activities, so I will use APs just for admission. (By doing this, your child will not enjoy the 4 year college experience) and I want her to enjoy the 4 year HS experience. (You're pushing your kid to grow up too fast) - They have the rest of their lives to work and earn money.

Also, you beginning with, "if this is true..." means you're not even sure you believe the poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My son entered college with 62 credits and was able to earn two degrees in four years (a B.S. and a B.A.).

If this is true, that's great for your son, but wow, what a different HS experience. My kid's taking quite a few AP classes, but also wants to have time with friends and participate in her activities so will use AP's just for admission. I want her to enjoy the 4 yr college experience. They have the rest of their lives to work and earn money.

Agree.

My son son used the APs just for admission. We're not thinking of reduced time in college. I want him to fully take advantage his college years.

[Anonymous]

My daughter didn't, but AP credits did mean that she was still able to graduate on time even with a change of major, an eventual double major, and a covid-disrupted study abroad semester. That cushion of having some of her gen ed requirements out of the way made fitting everything in a little easier.