OP here—My daughter is planning an intense senior recital to showcase her main instrument towards the end of the year. She also wishes to continue her second extracurricular activity which takes between 10 and 15 hours a week. She has to take four international baccalaureate exams for her diploma and sitting for 3-4 additional AP exams without any reason seems silly. But posters have given several good reasons and I’m encouraging her to just sit for them regardless of the outcome. So far she has achieved a five on five AP exams and a four on two of them.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all the input! We will reconsider when she knows where she is going. Some of the ideas here I had not thought of.

Just curious -- what is your objection to the tests? If I were a student, I would want to know how I did overall. FWIW, my DD got a B+ in AP Bio, but a 5 on the test, so she felt really good about that.

Thanks for all the input! We will reconsider when she knows where she is going. Some of the ideas here I had not thought of.

Anonymous wrote:Even though there may be no general ed requirements, why not take the exam and possibly get credit?

Yes, might be useful to graduate early, take one less class one semester, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My HS senior is taking a handful of AP classes. Is there any point in taking the AP exams as a senior? She intends to go to a LAC with an open curriculum so there won't be any gen ed requirements. Part of me says to take it, what the harm? But another part says why bother? Any advice from recent new college student experiences?

I just dropped my son off at college. He took two APs as a senior and his college gave him credit for the 4s he scored on both. Worth it to me! He will be happy he doesn’t have to suffer through English 101. I remember sitting through it years ago and wondering why I had to take it.

Is he taking English 102 or 201 or something? Or never writing again?

He signed up for an English 200 level class. I forget the title but I think it’s Brit Lit. He already knows how to write well. Many years of Catholic school.

Why wouldn't you take them?

Chances are they will be able to get college credit and can use that to graduate early or take four classes instead of five some semesters.

It's also good exam practice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My HS senior is taking a handful of AP classes. Is there any point in taking the AP exams as a senior? She intends to go to a LAC with an open curriculum so there won't be any gen ed requirements. Part of me says to take it, what the harm? But another part says why bother? Any advice from recent new college student experiences?

I just dropped my son off at college. He took two APs as a senior and his college gave him credit for the 4s he scored on both. Worth it to me! He will be happy he doesn’t have to suffer through English 101. I remember sitting through it years ago and wondering why I had to take it.

Is he taking English 102 or 201 or something? Or never writing again?

My university would not give credit for my AP English, but they did let me skip English 101 (huge win) and let me take a 200-level English course instead (much more interesting and less busy work).

So there can be benefits even if one does not per se get credit for a class.

Anonymous wrote:Our private requires all students to take the exam. You cannot take the course without taking the exam- you will get an incomplete.

Private school.

Do colleges expell student who don't finish their diploma? If so, will a GED suffice?

Our private requires all students to take the exam. You cannot take the course without taking the exam- you will get an incomplete.

Private school.

Anonymous wrote:My HS senior is taking a handful of AP classes. Is there any point in taking the AP exams as a senior? She intends to go to a LAC with an open curriculum so there won't be any gen ed requirements. Part of me says to take it, what the harm? But another part says why bother? Any advice from recent new college student experiences?

As soon as we knew where DC was going to college, we did a deep dive. One ended up taking 7 AP tests, even in a couple in classes he didn't take. wasn't going to hurt (except for testing fee), could only help. Ended up helping a lot. One took none.

"Intends to" is carrying a lot of weight in the OP. What if she doesn't get in?

Anonymous wrote:If it is one of the 8 colleges that don’t accept APs for credit or placement (Amherst and Williams in this category), then why bother.

If it’s not one of those 8, then check to school to see which APs they award credit. Why not have those credits.

I guess if your kids get accepted to one of those schools that don't take AP credit, you'll know that by April 1. Then commit to school by May 1.

AP exams are after May 1, but you do have to pay for them way before then.

My DD got 17 hours of credit with her APs. It's worth it if the school takes it.

I was told that in some instances the GPA doesn't get the extra point, AP bump if the AP exam has not been taken. I suspect this may just be the HS my kids are attending, but I also don't think it's a lone wolf in that policy.