How important are AP’s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're finalizing courses now. Is it ok for colleges ranked between 30-75 to take the below schedule?? Kid wants to be a History major.

Grade 9: no APs allowed
Grade 10: 1 AP (US History)
Grade 11: 3 APs (Math, English, World History)
Grade 12: 3 APs (Math, English, Language)

No science?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're finalizing courses now. Is it ok for colleges ranked between 30-75 to take the below schedule?? Kid wants to be a History major.

Grade 9: no APs allowed
Grade 10: 1 AP (US History)
Grade 11: 3 APs (Math, English, World History)
Grade 12: 3 APs (Math, English, Language)

No science?

Pp said kid wants to be a history major. Unless they are gunning for T10, an AP science isn’t critical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your DC wants to demonstrate that they can handle the academic demands of college by their selected courses and grades. So DC's course selections and the grades they get, should instill confidence in the AO reading their application.

If taking an AP means getting a C or B -, I don't think it's a great call. Showing rigor is good, but only if you can get at least a B or higher.

I'd consider some other APs that will play to DC's strengths and give confidence that DC will be able to handle college.

I don't think sheer # of APs is the most important thing, it depends more on what your kid is likely going to focus on studying at college (their likely major) and how selective the colleges are.

For a target college, I think 5-7 APs total including those in DC's field by end of senior year, should be good.

Fwiw, my DD had 7 APs total and is at Tufts. Her school offered over 25 APs in various subjects, but she focused on core subjects for her likely major. She did no APs in science. She is a social science major fyi.

+1

The 15+ APs is ridiculous and there's a probably a law of diminishing returns aspect from an admissions standpoint.

Enjoy your senior year in HS! It goes VERY quickly.

Maybe taking 15+ APs IS enjoyable to some students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right. Target colleges and universities are generally in the 30-70 rank range (think Oberlin, Vassar, Bard, LMU).

For the schools in the 30-50 range at least, she will need more APs.

+1. One attended Oberlin. One admitted to Vassar. Know less about the other two. But Oberlin and Vasser attract really smart kids who have had demanding loads. I would definitely take English Lang (and Lit if possible) for both. Writing heavy schools. 2 APs when your peers take 10 and 20+ are offered just is t competitive. Add Kenyon, Macalaster, Hamilton, Wes, etc to schools where 2 won’t cut it. You need to drop down a tier and be looking at Wooster, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In large public schools, it's fairly common to take lot of AP's. I would say 8-10+ is common for the most advanced students looking at T50 schools.

CB adds some new APs including AP precalc. I don't think that AP counts as a core AP course.

Come on. A decent college doesn't count pre-calculus as a real AP. Neither one of my kids college would give college credit for pre-calculus I don’t think they even offered it (WM and a SLAC).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your DC wants to demonstrate that they can handle the academic demands of college by their selected courses and grades. So DC's course selections and the grades they get, should instill confidence in the AO reading their application.

If taking an AP means getting a C or B -, I don't think it's a great call. Showing rigor is good, but only if you can get at least a B or higher.

I'd consider some other APs that will play to DC's strengths and give confidence that DC will be able to handle college.

I don't think sheer # of APs is the most important thing, it depends more on what your kid is likely going to focus on studying at college (their likely major) and how selective the colleges are.

For a target college, I think 5-7 APs total including those in DC's field by end of senior year, should be good.

Fwiw, my DD had 7 APs total and is at Tufts. Her school offered over 25 APs in various subjects, but she focused on core subjects for her likely major. She did no APs in science. She is a social science major fyi.

+1

The 15+ APs is ridiculous and there's a probably a law of diminishing returns aspect from an admissions standpoint.

Enjoy your senior year in HS! It goes VERY quickly.

Maybe taking 15+ APs IS enjoyable to some students

Yeah, right helicopter parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're finalizing courses now. Is it ok for colleges ranked between 30-75 to take the below schedule?? Kid wants to be a History major.

Grade 9: no APs allowed
Grade 10: 1 AP (US History)
Grade 11: 3 APs (Math, English, World History)
Grade 12: 3 APs (Math, English, Language)

No science?

Pp said kid wants to be a history major. Unless they are gunning for T10, an AP science isn’t critical.

+1. W&M Admit in IR & foreign language

9th: none allowed
— summer PE
10th AP World History (Latin 3, French 1, Orchestra, HN Algebra 2, HN Chem, HN English)
— summer physics
11th: APUSH, AP English Language, AP HUG (pre-Calc, French 2, Latin 4, Orchestra)
— summer Korean 1
12th: AP Comp Gov, AP US Gov, AP Macro, AP Micro, AP Latin, AP English Lit (Standard Calc, French 3, Orchestra, no science)

Yep. 3 languages, 3 years of science and standard Calc. W&M likes kids who have interesting passions. UVA would have never considered this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is number of APs based on?

If you do a semester-long AP, does that count as 1 AP or 1/2 an AP? I'm asking because our school as year-long APs (2 semesters) and half-year APs (1 semester).

I think each counts as one AP regardless if it's one semester or two.

For example, Physics Mechanics is one AP. Electricity & Mag is another AP. Both are half semester.

But the total number is less important than how rigorous they are viewed and relevancy to your kid's major.

For example, AP Psychology and AP Enviro Science are considered easier than AP Lit and AP Physic Mechanics or AP Biology.

Except that some schools (like my DC’s) put those together as Physics C. The kids take both AP exams, but it’s only one AP class on the transcript.

But agree that it’s more about rigor of the transcript and also finding the right personal balance - your student should challenge themself but not be taking such a heavy load that grades go down or opt for courses too difficult for them. An A in an honors class is better than a C in an AP class.

Colleges also consider what the HS offers and allows (many privates limit the number of APs students can take), and what is typical for students at the school.

All courses are semester courses on the transcript everywhere I've gone to school or sent a kid. Even year long courses (US History A / US History B)

Good for you. That’s not how all schools do it, including ours.

Definitely not the case in FCPS, the largest local school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In large public schools, it's fairly common to take lot of AP's. I would say 8-10+ is common for the most advanced students looking at T50 schools.

CB adds some new APs including AP precalc. I don't think that AP counts as a core AP course.

Come on. A decent college doesn't count pre-calculus as a real AP. Neither one of my kids college would give college credit for pre-calculus I don’t think they even offered it (WM and a SLAC).

Our enormous fcps only offers regular precalculus and AP precal. No honors level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your DC wants to demonstrate that they can handle the academic demands of college by their selected courses and grades. So DC's course selections and the grades they get, should instill confidence in the AO reading their application.

If taking an AP means getting a C or B -, I don't think it's a great call. Showing rigor is good, but only if you can get at least a B or higher.

I'd consider some other APs that will play to DC's strengths and give confidence that DC will be able to handle college.

I don't think sheer # of APs is the most important thing, it depends more on what your kid is likely going to focus on studying at college (their likely major) and how selective the colleges are.

For a target college, I think 5-7 APs total including those in DC's field by end of senior year, should be good.

Fwiw, my DD had 7 APs total and is at Tufts. Her school offered over 25 APs in various subjects, but she focused on core subjects for her likely major. She did no APs in science. She is a social science major fyi.

+1

The 15+ APs is ridiculous and there's a probably a law of diminishing returns aspect from an admissions standpoint.

Enjoy your senior year in HS! It goes VERY quickly.

Maybe taking 15+ APs IS enjoyable to some students

Yeah, right helicopter parent.

DP. Mine is taking 15 and it was her decision. She makes her own schedule. She took six this year and ended with straight As.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In large public schools, it's fairly common to take lot of AP's. I would say 8-10+ is common for the most advanced students looking at T50 schools.

CB adds some new APs including AP precalc. I don't think that AP counts as a core AP course.

Come on. A decent college doesn't count pre-calculus as a real AP. Neither one of my kids college would give college credit for pre-calculus I don’t think they even offered it (WM and a SLAC).

Getting college credit is not the only purpose of APs. AP precalc shows rigor in the curriculum and also is the prerequisite for “real” AP calculus courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In large public schools, it's fairly common to take lot of AP's. I would say 8-10+ is common for the most advanced students looking at T50 schools.

CB adds some new APs including AP precalc. I don't think that AP counts as a core AP course.

Come on. A decent college doesn't count pre-calculus as a real AP. Neither one of my kids college would give college credit for pre-calculus I don’t think they even offered it (WM and a SLAC).

At my DC’s school you can’t take AP Calculus AB or BC unless you have first taken AP Precalculus. There is no “honors” precalculus anymore. Only regular precalc and AP. You also have to take AP Calc AB before you can take BC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a DD who does well in a subject but has overall trouble managing a heavy workload. She has the option of taking AP English Lit junior year, but isn’t sure. Anyone have advice on how much an AP matters for college applications?
She has two APs already (one sophomore and one junior year not including English).
TIA

It is all relative and depends on the number of APs offered at her school. To be competitive at selective schools she will need two things. A GPA over 4.3 or so and have the most rigorous box checked by her school counselor.

At public schools in the DMV area you will most likely need around double digit APs to get that most rigorous box checked.

So if looking for a top 50 school 8 or more would be a realistic number. Outside that then a handful with good grades will most likely be fine.

Testing well 1500+ won’t hurt.

[Anonymous]

Why do take online AP classes at night during freshman year if school won’t provide AP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your DC wants to demonstrate that they can handle the academic demands of college by their selected courses and grades. So DC's course selections and the grades they get, should instill confidence in the AO reading their application.

If taking an AP means getting a C or B -, I don't think it's a great call. Showing rigor is good, but only if you can get at least a B or higher.

I'd consider some other APs that will play to DC's strengths and give confidence that DC will be able to handle college.

I don't think sheer # of APs is the most important thing, it depends more on what your kid is likely going to focus on studying at college (their likely major) and how selective the colleges are.

For a target college, I think 5-7 APs total including those in DC's field by end of senior year, should be good.

Fwiw, my DD had 7 APs total and is at Tufts. Her school offered over 25 APs in various subjects, but she focused on core subjects for her likely major. She did no APs in science. She is a social science major fyi.

+1

The 15+ APs is ridiculous and there's a probably a law of diminishing returns aspect from an admissions standpoint.

Enjoy your senior year in HS! It goes VERY quickly.

Whether or not there are diminishing returns is entirely dependent upon the high school environment, the student and their goals for college. In our highly competitive, large DMV high school top students take 14-20 APs, and if you want to compete at the top unis, you need to stand out in your class in a positive way. So all As in those APs + some sort of special sauce