I graduated from high school in 1987 and my school did not offer a single AP course. I absolutely would have taken some if it had been an option - my decision, not pressure from my parents. In the end, my college did some placement testing for English and foreign language, so I ended up getting 6 credits based on where I placed with those.

My DC is in 6th grade now. AP isn't even in our vocabulary. Just maintaining good study habits.

My DC took AP Gov't sophomore year and a few AP/IB classes junior and senior in preferred fields.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never took any AP classes, but that was when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Why do you assume that kids are only taking AP classes because parents are pushing and forcing them?

Because that's what I'm observing. Parents feel like their kids must do it. It seems ridiculous. I asked one parent where they hope the kid will go to college, and they said state school. My response was, "you know the kid could just enjoy HS, do a semester or two at MC, and then go on to state school, right?"

If half the kids graduating from the magnet at Blair end up at UMCP, I just don't get why parents are making HS miserable for their kids.

I just don't get why you think that, in all cases,

1. it's the parents
2. kids who take AP classes are miserable

It's a big world out there, with lots of different people in it, most of whom you don't know.

+1

Also note that UMCP is pretty competitive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is getting out of hand. Why are parents encouraging/forcing their kids to begin taking AP classes freshman and sophomore year?

We've had two sitters from our local HS who ended up with full rides at top colleges, and they didn't take APs the way other kids are being pressured to. One explained to me that colleges only accept a certain amount of AP credits, so you look foolish taking more than that. She paced it out, which meant not starting freshman year. She's a sophomore in college now.

So, what's your motivation for pushing your kids? There seems to be a frenzy about this at our local school. I don't get it.

Its not that i dont believe you OP. But thats REALLY hard to believe. No Ap but full rides to top colleges??? Ive been thru college application process multiple times but cant figure out how your sitters were able to do this.

OP didn't say, no APs. AP said, no APs the way other kids are being pressured to.

So if Kid A took more APs than OP's babysitters, then self-evidently somebody must have been pressuring Kid A to do this!!!! Or something.

Anonymous wrote:I think this is getting out of hand. Why are parents encouraging/forcing their kids to begin taking AP classes freshman and sophomore year?

We've had two sitters from our local HS who ended up with full rides at top colleges, and they didn't take APs the way other kids are being pressured to. One explained to me that colleges only accept a certain amount of AP credits, so you look foolish taking more than that. She paced it out, which meant not starting freshman year. She's a sophomore in college now.

So, what's your motivation for pushing your kids? There seems to be a frenzy about this at our local school. I don't get it.

Its not that i dont believe you OP. But thats REALLY hard to believe. No Ap but full rides to top colleges??? Ive been thru college application process multiple times but cant figure out how your sitters were able to do this.

My DC got credit for all AP classes.

Op if you don't want your kid taking APs in 9th grade then don't sign up for them. My DC took one that year-he loved the class, the work level was totally fine, he got an A in the class and a 5 on the test so seemed to have learned the material. He chose to take the class, we didn't push.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never took any AP classes, but that was when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Why do you assume that kids are only taking AP classes because parents are pushing and forcing them?

Because that's what I'm observing. Parents feel like their kids must do it. It seems ridiculous. I asked one parent where they hope the kid will go to college, and they said state school. My response was, "you know the kid could just enjoy HS, do a semester or two at MC, and then go on to state school, right?"

If half the kids graduating from the magnet at Blair end up at UMCP, I just don't get why parents are making HS miserable for their kids.

Who says an AP class is "miserable"?

Most students at Blair end up at UMCP because it is a strong school and relatively affordable. Not everyone wants to go far from home.

Graduated MCPS in 1990. Didn't start APs until Soph year. But when I was in school, MCPS still had Jr High--grades 7-9. You didn't go to high school until 10th. There were a few exceptions in the county such as JW/RM but for the most part, HS and the availability of AP didn't start until 10th.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never took any AP classes, but that was when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Why do you assume that kids are only taking AP classes because parents are pushing and forcing them?

Because that's what I'm observing. Parents feel like their kids must do it. It seems ridiculous. I asked one parent where they hope the kid will go to college, and they said state school. My response was, "you know the kid could just enjoy HS, do a semester or two at MC, and then go on to state school, right?"

If half the kids graduating from the magnet at Blair end up at UMCP, I just don't get why parents are making HS miserable for their kids.

I just don't get why you think that, in all cases,

1. it's the parents
2. kids who take AP classes are miserable

It's a big world out there, with lots of different people in it, most of whom you don't know.

Anonymous wrote:I never took any AP classes, but that was when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Why do you assume that kids are only taking AP classes because parents are pushing and forcing them?

Because that's what I'm observing. Parents feel like their kids must do it. It seems ridiculous. I asked one parent where they hope the kid will go to college, and they said state school. My response was, "you know the kid could just enjoy HS, do a semester or two at MC, and then go on to state school, right?"

If half the kids graduating from the magnet at Blair end up at UMCP, I just don't get why parents are making HS miserable for their kids.

I had 2 or 3 AP classes in HS- 97. My mom did not force me and I liked them. I did not take the AP test.

I took evening community college instead. Graduated with 16 credits of college-level 4.0. My state flagship college accepted them all.

High Schools push AP classes because it helps their rankings. Many kids take them starting Freshman year. I know kids who take as many as 5 junior and senior year. I don't think AP classes are as close to college classes as they used to be. When I was in HS, I had to "apply" for senior AP English...an essay teacher recs etc. Now anyone can sign up for both junior and senior year.

I never took any AP classes, but that was when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Why do you assume that kids are only taking AP classes because parents are pushing and forcing them?

I think this is getting out of hand. Why are parents encouraging/forcing their kids to begin taking AP classes freshman and sophomore year?

We've had two sitters from our local HS who ended up with full rides at top colleges, and they didn't take APs the way other kids are being pressured to. One explained to me that colleges only accept a certain amount of AP credits, so you look foolish taking more than that. She paced it out, which meant not starting freshman year. She's a sophomore in college now.

So, what's your motivation for pushing your kids? There seems to be a frenzy about this at our local school. I don't get it.