Anyone else think it's ridiculous for kids to take AP classes?

[Anonymous]

I do.

I'm your classic Type A over-achiever, but I'm older than the AP craze. I took one AP senior year at my private HS.

I enjoyed HS. I was well equipped to succeed in college and law school. Candidly, my private HS was more challenging than law school (and I went to a tier I law school).

Why can't we just let kids be kids and enjoy HS? Is the stress really worth it? I don't believe it is. I wish we could launch a mutiny and dial it down a notch.

I would much rather see APs replaced with seminars dedicated to critical thinking, creative problem-solving, public service, international affairs, etc.

[Anonymous]

+1 totally agree. We need well rounded caring citizens of the world. Not stress cases.

[Anonymous]

I went to hs 20 years ago and took 9 aps. They had the best teachers and the most interesting curriculum. Things like enough lot and European history not to mention calculus etc. they were challenging and interesting and we had the smartest kids in school on them. Would have been bored and not challenged in regular and honor classes.

[Anonymous]

Pp again. I don’t thing aps are all that hard for the top third of a good hs.

[Anonymous]

How old are you? I graduated almost 30 years ago and I took at least 7 APs, although only took 4 of the exams.
I think they are good - it's a standardized curriculum that is pretty challenging, and so a good quality control on HS classes. There's also a focus on trying to think about and analyze the topic, not just memorize facts. One of my teachers was on the exam board for one subject and she was awesome.
WHether it makes sense for your kid to take AP classes is a whole different question. It might make sense if they are going to a big state school, where it's helpful in getting certain prerequisites out of the way and helping you to graduate in 4 years.

[Anonymous]

"Candidly, my private HS was more challenging than law school"

If this is even close to true, you took the equivalent of at least a dozen AP classes today.

Having the letter AP next to the name of the class means NOTHING.

School is not harder now than it was then.

It just seems that way because despite hearing about grade inflation you still think students must be working harder than you did if the are getting a 4.0.

[Anonymous]

APs did nothing for my DDs college applications. SAT scores are significantly more important. If I had it to do over, I would have had her do hours of SAT prep rather than hours of AP homework.

[Anonymous]

I went to a college prep school in the late 80s/early 90s and there were only a few AP classes and only the geniuses were allowed to take them. Now it seems like almost anyone can sign up for them. My high school classes were harder than most of my college classes.

[Anonymous]

Studies show AP does not affect college success.

[Anonymous]

I would not let my kids take AP exams if I had some way to ensure that they would get into the best colleges through their school transcripts and their SAT scores, or their academic life/ working life would be in any way equitable for them.

However, since they are Asian-Americans and are held to a higher standards than the Whites and the URMs, they have no choice but to take AP classes. They cannot be slackers, even if in this country slackers of other races can do very well.

If this country becomes a true democracy and meritocracy and is not a helpless damsel who any crazy billionaire and his cronies can continue to gang-rape, I would not prepare my kids to be able to immigrate to Canada if need be.

[Anonymous]

I'm 51, so I'm not sure how old you are? I LOVED my AP classes. They were the only challenging, intellectually stimulating classes I took in high school. And they were taught by the best teachers. I took AP English, AP European History, and AP French. That's pretty much all that was offered in my school back then. But they were worlds above any of the other classes I took.

Would I push my kid into taking them? No. But for the kids who want them, they are awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not let my kids take AP exams if I had some way to ensure that they would get into the best colleges through their school transcripts and their SAT scores, or their academic life/ working life would be in any way equitable for them.

However, since they are Asian-Americans and are held to a higher standards than the Whites and the URMs, they have no choice but to take AP classes. They cannot be slackers, even if in this country slackers of other races can do very well.

If this country becomes a true democracy and meritocracy and is not a helpless damsel who any crazy billionaire and his cronies can continue to gang-rape, I would not prepare my kids to be able to immigrate to Canada if need be.

You should calm down a bit. Read Dream Hoarders. If you are UMC, you are fine. Your kids are fine.

[Anonymous]

When colleges start adjusting their overpriced tuition and stop raising tuition so much higher than inflation and the cost of living, perhaps I will agree with you.

But as I told my high schooler after she earned a 5 on her first AP test, every AP class that can be used towards college is like giving our family thousands of dollars and saving yourself a lot of stress when you graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Studies show AP does not affect college success.

But reality shows that they can save tons of money on tuition or help students to double major or graduate a semester early.

[Anonymous]

Yes but the issue is these days colleges want to see students taking APs if they are offered at their school or else they might put it against them for not taking the most challenging classes they can.