Number of APs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here.

APs aren't necessarily the most challenging courses. Basically, they're supposed to be the equivalent of a freshman survey course taught at an average college. And often they're taught by people who don't have the credentials to be hired to teach such a course at a typical college.

My kid's private school has both post-AP courses and non-AP courses that are more challenging than APs. My objection to APs is that we're treating base metal as if it were the gold standard, intellectually speaking. Wrong model for a good curriculum.

what is considered post-APs?

Courses for which APs are a prerequisite -- e.g. Quantum Mechanics, Francophone Lit, Linear Algebra, Calc-based Statistics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here.

APs aren't necessarily the most challenging courses. Basically, they're supposed to be the equivalent of a freshman survey course taught at an average college. And often they're taught by people who don't have the credentials to be hired to teach such a course at a typical college.

My kid's private school has both post-AP courses and non-AP courses that are more challenging than APs. My objection to APs is that we're treating base metal as if it were the gold standard, intellectually speaking. Wrong model for a good curriculum.

what is considered post-APs?

Courses for which APs are a prerequisite -- e.g. Quantum Mechanics, Francophone Lit, Linear Algebra, Calc-based Statistics.

No privates in DC area with such curriculum.

[Anonymous]

GDS certainly does -- I drew on examples I knew of from experience. Might not be an exhaustive list even there.

[Anonymous]

That's impressive. I don't think MCPS offers those courses except the magnets.

[Anonymous]

NCS/STA offers post AP's in Honor Linear Algebra and Vector
Calculus, Number Theory, C++ Through Game Programing, and Abstract Algebra. I'm sure the other schools offer an equally impressive list of classes.

[Anonymous]

Then how come private kids don't perform very well in standardized tests? Even #1 Boarding School (Smartest Boarding School thread) wasn't very impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCS/STA offers post AP's in Honor Linear Algebra and Vector
Calculus, Number Theory, C++ Through Game Programing, and Abstract Algebra. I'm sure the other schools offer an equally impressive list of classes.

Just to be clear though, the only class at StA after Calculus BC is linear algebra/vector calculus. The number theory class is taught at a pre-calculus level (no real college equivalent). The many English and social studies electives are all taught at a level above a freshman college survey course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then how come private kids don't perform very well in standardized tests? Even #1 Boarding School (Smartest Boarding School thread) wasn't very impressive.

Because most students at these schools aren't taking such courses and because standardized tests aren't designed to differentiate among students working at that level. Math on the SAT maxes out at Algebra 2 doesn't it. And nothing the SAT tests would enable you to identify a gifted writer or literary critic.

Standardized tests are designed to do a rough sort among a population with wide variations in prep and ability by asking questions that, typically, can be machine scored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then how come private kids don't perform very well in standardized tests? Even #1 Boarding School (Smartest Boarding School thread) wasn't very impressive.

Because most students at these schools aren't taking such courses and because standardized tests aren't designed to differentiate among students working at that level. Math on the SAT maxes out at Algebra 2 doesn't it. And nothing the SAT tests would enable you to identify a gifted writer or literary critic.

Standardized tests are designed to do a rough sort among a population with wide variations in prep and ability by asking questions that, typically, can be machine scored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then how come private kids don't perform very well in standardized tests? Even #1 Boarding School (Smartest Boarding School thread) wasn't very impressive.

That is because there is a high % of students there because of reasons other than academic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then how come private kids don't perform very well in standardized tests? Even #1 Boarding School (Smartest Boarding School thread) wasn't very impressive.

That is because there is a high % of students there because of reasons other than academic.

You lost me. Like what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then how come private kids don't perform very well in standardized tests? Even #1 Boarding School (Smartest Boarding School thread) wasn't very impressive.

That is because there is a high % of students there because of reasons other than academic.

You lost me. Like what?

family connections and $$$$ are two

[Anonymous]

From my experience, going through the college admissions process last year with my own DC and seeing where the multiple friends ended up, APs are highly overrated. I guess this is really just anectodal, but the kids I know did just as well with admissions with 3 +/- APs, 1 or 2 dual-enrollment courses, and either straight As or very close to it than those who had 7 or 8 APs but slightly lesser GPA. Of course, the type of AP class matters, so I would suggest taking AP calculus, physics, etc., and dual-enrollment for English or other minor courses if offerd. You will get credit for the dual-enrollment but probably not the AP at most higher level colleges.

There is an old joke amongst college admissions reps when doing Q&A. Question: Is it better to get straight As or take the most challenging couses? Answer: Both.

I have found, however, that a few difficult APs with top notch grades seems to look better to admissions reps than multiple, multiple APs.