If your kids had does not offer AP classes

[Anonymous]

Have one in college and one in HS from DMV privates--part of the reason to take the AP tests even if your school doesn't offer them is to enter college with some credits. Kids from privates shouldn't have to study that much for English, Math or World Language APs and those in particular can exempt students from some common intro GEs in college. At the very least they also give a little buffer in terms of having some extra credits too so students don't have to load up on courses every term or can take a study abroad term and not worry so much about a fully packed schedule, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the science and math APs are good to take and while both my kids attended top NYC privates, their school allowed them to sign up for AP exams at the school but did not teach for the AP exam so they brushed up on any topics that school did not cover.

Is this true of DC area schools? Will they proctor?

Students at privates without APs can sign up to take the tests at several MoCo publics or Basis in VA and pay for them.

This approach seems like a waste of time TBH. There seem to be two threads on this now, but AP count doesn’t directly correlate with admissions success. This is especially true when coming from a school that doesn’t offer AP courses.

Not a waste of time if you want to get out of some college courses--many like to be exempt from language requirements. Or for those where cost is an issue--if you go to a state school, entering with AP credits may allow students to graduate early.

[Anonymous]

It can be a huge advantage in college admissions because colleges want to see that you took the most rigorous schedule available at your school. If you are at a school with 17 offered APs it is a lot more difficult to achieve that than of you are at a school with zero AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the science and math APs are good to take and while both my kids attended top NYC privates, their school allowed them to sign up for AP exams at the school but did not teach for the AP exam so they brushed up on any topics that school did not cover.

Is this true of DC area schools? Will they proctor?

Students at privates without APs can sign up to take the tests at several MoCo publics or Basis in VA and pay for them.

Adding context. UCs do supposedly compare applicant GPA’s to the GPA of others in the applicant’s school. In other words, they went to see how the student ranks compared to others weighted and unweighted. It’s about standing out positively in the environment you are in. And transparently, I am also a poster from CA but a new one to this particular thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It can be a huge advantage in college admissions because colleges want to see that you took the most rigorous schedule available at your school. If you are at a school with 17 offered APs it is a lot more difficult to achieve that than of you are at a school with zero AP classes.

Understood, but they rank students based on how you compare to others on YOUR school. If your school offers zero AP courses, they won’t directly compare you to a student coming from a school that offers 17. The UCs are very adept at dealing with this as many schools don’t offer AP.

[Anonymous]

Even at high schools that do not label any courses as AP, often it is possible to sit the AP exams. That is what I did. My set of AP exam results (the ones from before 12th grade) showed college admissions offices that I knew the material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the science and math APs are good to take and while both my kids attended top NYC privates, their school allowed them to sign up for AP exams at the school but did not teach for the AP exam so they brushed up on any topics that school did not cover.

Is this true of DC area schools? Will they proctor?

Students at privates without APs can sign up to take the tests at several MoCo publics or Basis in VA and pay for them.

This approach seems like a waste of time TBH. There seem to be two threads on this now, but AP count doesn’t directly correlate with admissions success. This is especially true when coming from a school that doesn’t offer AP courses.

So, if your child is a private that does not teach an official AP class, but your child takes them outside of class anyway, wouldn't they be compared to other students at their school? And wouldn't some of the other students in their grade take multiple AP tests also? To me, it seems more fraught because even if your child does not have to take any AP exams (in theory), a fair number do - they're just not public with how many/which ones, unlike the public school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell doesn't have any APs and their admissions are arguably the best in the DMV this year. Some kids will take a dozen AP exams after just taking the regular classes.

STA offers APs in math, science and foreign language. My son took additional AP exams in English language, English Literature and US history after taking the regular on-level classes in these subjects. Received a 5 on all.

Can you link to the matriculation list?

Sidwellseniors2025

[Anonymous]

No, just take most rigorous courses available. If attending a public school in US where there are no APs try taking a class at community college to at least get some feel for pace at which classes will move in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the science and math APs are good to take and while both my kids attended top NYC privates, their school allowed them to sign up for AP exams at the school but did not teach for the AP exam so they brushed up on any topics that school did not cover.

Is this true of DC area schools? Will they proctor?

Students at privates without APs can sign up to take the tests at several MoCo publics or Basis in VA and pay for them.

This approach seems like a waste of time TBH. There seem to be two threads on this now, but AP count doesn’t directly correlate with admissions success. This is especially true when coming from a school that doesn’t offer AP courses.

So, if your child is a private that does not teach an official AP class, but your child takes them outside of class anyway, wouldn't they be compared to other students at their school? And wouldn't some of the other students in their grade take multiple AP tests also? To me, it seems more fraught because even if your child does not have to take any AP exams (in theory), a fair number do - they're just not public with how many/which ones, unlike the public school kids.

This is correct, many students at DCs private took multiple AP exams, even though the school didn’t offer AP classes. DC took 3 AP exams, and it did require quite a bit of studying outside of school, as the school went deeper on coursework, but the AP exams are broader, with a wider range material.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is at a top private school with no APs, admissions will be aware of this.

If your kid is at a crappy public school in West Virginia they should take any and all APs offered and if none or very few, they need to dual enroll or seek out online learning opportunities for AP credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell Friends phased out AP courses in 2023. They are moving to the Andover model of making their own version of college-level courses.

No one will penalize the Sidwell kids I'm sure for not having APs. As long as they take the hardest classes available to them.

I hope schools doing this still consider teaching AP content to make way for students to sit for AP tests anyway. That's the most equitable path for the (few) students at these schools who are receiving financial aid: when they go to college, if they go to a state school that accepts AP credit, they can come in as a Sophomore and end up spending less at the end of the day. APs are a financial boost for bright, under-resourced kids, and private schools that claim to serve these kids should keep this in mind as a holistic approach to launching them.

[Anonymous]

DC is at a school that offers few APs. This year, as a senior, he got permission from his school to take AP BC Calc and AP Chem online. The classes were fairly useless, he says, but I do believe this contributed to his receiving full Banneker Key at UMd. Looks good that he sought out more rigor than was available.

[Anonymous]

AP exams have become a public high school and lower tier private school thing.

Top private high schools have abandoned AP exams and their college results are excellent without them.

AP exams are just not impressive or worth the time if you are already at an elite high school.

[Anonymous]

I will add that you can get college credit without taking AP exams. Our high school directly gives you college credits that will transfer. It is much simpler.