Anonymous
01/31/2014 07:26
Subject: College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
00:49 PP here. PP, if you read my post, you'd realize my DCs won't receive AP designation if they don't take the exam. So yes, in my DCs case, taking the exam does make the class valuable.
Anonymous
01/30/2014 08:49
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The SATs seems reasonable to me but agree on APs. My DC will have taken 10 APs by the time she graduates. That's $900 in AP testing fees. And most of the colleges DC has applied to take few or no AP credits, or if they do they don't allow you to graduate early, so there's no economic benefit. Sure these have been good classes with engaged students, and maybe DC gets out of some intro level classes, but I don't know that I need to pay the College Board $900 for that.
If you don't pay the College Board, you will pay the college she attends far more for taking the tests that get her out of the intro classes. College Board is far cheaper.
Some of the colleges DC has applied to don't take any AP credits and don't use it for placement. And none of the colleges DC has applied to charge for placement tests.
Raises an interesting question about the May tests. At that point we will know where DC is going and what that school's policy on AP tests is. If the school doesn't recognize that particular AP test for placement or credit what's the motivation for DC to take the test? MCPS expects, but does not require, students in AP classes to take the test. DC will probably take all 5 in May, but if money were a factor for us I might wonder why.
I did this in high school. Took 5 AP classes my senior year. Got into my top choice college ED. They either only accepted 5s and gave you an "unspecified" credit for that subject, which you couldn't use if you ever took a class in that department or they used it to place you out of the intro class, which you could do for free by taking their placement tests during orientation. I chose not to take any AP tests at the end of my senior year because it made no sense to me. I had one unspecified Chem credit from my junior year AP test that I did use to take fewer classes my last term in college, but I lost my Spanish credit when I took classes in that department.
At my DC's private school, if the DC doesn't take the AP exam then the AP is removed from the transcript and they just receive credit for a class without the AP designation. My DCs did not take APs to gain college credit, but to demonstrate that they took an academic challenging curriculum, which is one thing schools are looking for. They didn't even send their AP exam scores to the colleges.
Right, but do you need the college boards stamp of approval to demonstrate that it's an academically challenging curriculum? If my DC takes an AP class and gets an A but skips the exam does it make the class less valuable?
We are really only talking about senior year tests here that you know the college you are going to won't accept. My DC took the AP exams in 9th, 10th and 11th grade (and did send the scores on the common app). Mostly a philosophical question -mine will likely take all his AP tests this spring, although I am guessing the motivation to get 5s on ones the college he's committed to doesn't recognize will be low.
Anonymous
01/30/2014 07:43
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Anonymous wrote:The SATs seems reasonable to me but agree on APs. My DC will have taken 10 APs by the time she graduates. That's $900 in AP testing fees. And most of the colleges DC has applied to take few or no AP credits, or if they do they don't allow you to graduate early, so there's no economic benefit. Sure these have been good classes with engaged students, and maybe DC gets out of some intro level classes, but I don't know that I need to pay the College Board $900 for that.
I didn't graduate early (full merit scholarship, so no point) but it was great to be able to take a few 12 credit semesters and fun electives since I went to college with a semester's worth of credits. There's more to ap credits than just graduating early.
My district (not local, in PA) didn't routinely pay for the exams for everybody, but any student who couldn't afford them could have them paid for by the district. Any class that "required" you to take the ap exam could have that requirement waived if student and teacher agreed that the odds of achieving a score that would get them credit were low. These seem like more reasonable approaches.
Anonymous
01/30/2014 00:49
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The SATs seems reasonable to me but agree on APs. My DC will have taken 10 APs by the time she graduates. That's $900 in AP testing fees. And most of the colleges DC has applied to take few or no AP credits, or if they do they don't allow you to graduate early, so there's no economic benefit. Sure these have been good classes with engaged students, and maybe DC gets out of some intro level classes, but I don't know that I need to pay the College Board $900 for that.
If you don't pay the College Board, you will pay the college she attends far more for taking the tests that get her out of the intro classes. College Board is far cheaper.
Some of the colleges DC has applied to don't take any AP credits and don't use it for placement. And none of the colleges DC has applied to charge for placement tests.
Raises an interesting question about the May tests. At that point we will know where DC is going and what that school's policy on AP tests is. If the school doesn't recognize that particular AP test for placement or credit what's the motivation for DC to take the test? MCPS expects, but does not require, students in AP classes to take the test. DC will probably take all 5 in May, but if money were a factor for us I might wonder why.
I did this in high school. Took 5 AP classes my senior year. Got into my top choice college ED. They either only accepted 5s and gave you an "unspecified" credit for that subject, which you couldn't use if you ever took a class in that department or they used it to place you out of the intro class, which you could do for free by taking their placement tests during orientation. I chose not to take any AP tests at the end of my senior year because it made no sense to me. I had one unspecified Chem credit from my junior year AP test that I did use to take fewer classes my last term in college, but I lost my Spanish credit when I took classes in that department.
At my DC's private school, if the DC doesn't take the AP exam then the AP is removed from the transcript and they just receive credit for a class without the AP designation. My DCs did not take APs to gain college credit, but to demonstrate that they took an academic challenging curriculum, which is one thing schools are looking for. They didn't even send their AP exam scores to the colleges.
Anonymous
01/28/2014 15:25
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Anonymous wrote:No problem with AP in Fairfax County. The County pays the fee and the class preps the student.
Our HS has an online SAT prep course provided by the HS. There are plenty of ways a poor student can prep without taking some of the snake oil sales type of SAT prep classes that abound in this affluent area. IME, it s the affluent parents that seem to be duped by them more than the poor parents. The poor parents don't have enough time to obsess about them.
You do realize that this is likely the last year that the county will pay AP/IB fees, don't you? It's the hot-button topic in the budget debate right now.
Anonymous
01/28/2014 12:55
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The SATs seems reasonable to me but agree on APs. My DC will have taken 10 APs by the time she graduates. That's $900 in AP testing fees. And most of the colleges DC has applied to take few or no AP credits, or if they do they don't allow you to graduate early, so there's no economic benefit. Sure these have been good classes with engaged students, and maybe DC gets out of some intro level classes, but I don't know that I need to pay the College Board $900 for that.
If you don't pay the College Board, you will pay the college she attends far more for taking the tests that get her out of the intro classes. College Board is far cheaper.
Some of the colleges DC has applied to don't take any AP credits and don't use it for placement. And none of the colleges DC has applied to charge for placement tests.
Raises an interesting question about the May tests. At that point we will know where DC is going and what that school's policy on AP tests is. If the school doesn't recognize that particular AP test for placement or credit what's the motivation for DC to take the test? MCPS expects, but does not require, students in AP classes to take the test. DC will probably take all 5 in May, but if money were a factor for us I might wonder why.
I did this in high school. Took 5 AP classes my senior year. Got into my top choice college ED. They either only accepted 5s and gave you an "unspecified" credit for that subject, which you couldn't use if you ever took a class in that department or they used it to place you out of the intro class, which you could do for free by taking their placement tests during orientation. I chose not to take any AP tests at the end of my senior year because it made no sense to me. I had one unspecified Chem credit from my junior year AP test that I did use to take fewer classes my last term in college, but I lost my Spanish credit when I took classes in that department.
Anonymous
01/27/2014 15:08
Subject: College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Let's not forget the College board then charges you an exorbitant amount to send your scores to each college. The margin on that transaction has to 99% or more. That's in addition to test fees, buying their own test book, and prepping for multiple tests.
The College Board is a shameful organization "non-" profiting off college stress. Only in America would such an organization be allowed to exist.
The College Board is a shameful organization "non-" profiting off college stress. Only in America would such an organization be allowed to exist.
Anonymous
01/27/2014 13:39
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The SATs seems reasonable to me but agree on APs. My DC will have taken 10 APs by the time she graduates. That's $900 in AP testing fees. And most of the colleges DC has applied to take few or no AP credits, or if they do they don't allow you to graduate early, so there's no economic benefit. Sure these have been good classes with engaged students, and maybe DC gets out of some intro level classes, but I don't know that I need to pay the College Board $900 for that.
If you don't pay the College Board, you will pay the college she attends far more for taking the tests that get her out of the intro classes. College Board is far cheaper.
Some of the colleges DC has applied to don't take any AP credits and don't use it for placement. And none of the colleges DC has applied to charge for placement tests.
Raises an interesting question about the May tests. At that point we will know where DC is going and what that school's policy on AP tests is. If the school doesn't recognize that particular AP test for placement or credit what's the motivation for DC to take the test? MCPS expects, but does not require, students in AP classes to take the test. DC will probably take all 5 in May, but if money were a factor for us I might wonder why.
Anonymous
01/27/2014 13:32
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Anonymous wrote:The SATs seems reasonable to me but agree on APs. My DC will have taken 10 APs by the time she graduates. That's $900 in AP testing fees. And most of the colleges DC has applied to take few or no AP credits, or if they do they don't allow you to graduate early, so there's no economic benefit. Sure these have been good classes with engaged students, and maybe DC gets out of some intro level classes, but I don't know that I need to pay the College Board $900 for that.
If you don't pay the College Board, you will pay the college she attends far more for taking the tests that get her out of the intro classes. College Board is far cheaper.
Anonymous
01/27/2014 13:20
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
The SATs seems reasonable to me but agree on APs. My DC will have taken 10 APs by the time she graduates. That's $900 in AP testing fees. And most of the colleges DC has applied to take few or no AP credits, or if they do they don't allow you to graduate early, so there's no economic benefit. Sure these have been good classes with engaged students, and maybe DC gets out of some intro level classes, but I don't know that I need to pay the College Board $900 for that.
Anonymous
01/27/2014 12:56
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
No problem with AP in Fairfax County. The County pays the fee and the class preps the student.
Our HS has an online SAT prep course provided by the HS. There are plenty of ways a poor student can prep without taking some of the snake oil sales type of SAT prep classes that abound in this affluent area. IME, it s the affluent parents that seem to be duped by them more than the poor parents. The poor parents don't have enough time to obsess about them.
Our HS has an online SAT prep course provided by the HS. There are plenty of ways a poor student can prep without taking some of the snake oil sales type of SAT prep classes that abound in this affluent area. IME, it s the affluent parents that seem to be duped by them more than the poor parents. The poor parents don't have enough time to obsess about them.
Anonymous
01/27/2014 12:11
Subject: Re:College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
That is why the ACT is gaining ground.
Anonymous
01/27/2014 12:06
Subject: College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Don't some high schools give you the option of taking college classes at local schools (maybe a Community College).
This would be a great alternate market. Instead of taking AP American History - take an American History class at a local college.
This would be a great alternate market. Instead of taking AP American History - take an American History class at a local college.
Anonymous
01/27/2014 11:59
Subject: College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
Anonymous wrote:According to market logic, competition should produce more and better alternatives for consumers. It is time to open up the testing market!
It may make it easier to buy a grade.
I have seen the market force in action when my kid had to take an all-day driving improvement course. Friends suggested the guy who makes it easy. Yep - he popped in a video, the class played with their IPhones for 2-3 hours, then everyone went home and the report went to DMV. I can totally see "testing agencies" operating like this.
Anonymous
01/27/2014 11:47
Subject: College Board Needs to Do More to Make SAT/AP Exams Affordable
It's bad enough that we low and middle income folks cannot spend thousands of dollars on test prep for exams like the SAT. Now we have to also worry about the costs of not only the SAT but all those AP exams we are told will save us tuition dollars. The College Board is supposedly a non-profit organization with a near monopoly on college testing - yet another reason I support alternative tests like the SAT as well as alternatives to AP like the IB.
From today's Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304149404579322930896845794?mod=hp_opinion
According to market logic, competition should produce more and better alternatives for consumers. It is time to open up the testing market!
From today's Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304149404579322930896845794?mod=hp_opinion
According to market logic, competition should produce more and better alternatives for consumers. It is time to open up the testing market!