Anonymous wrote:Sidwell doesn't have any APs and their admissions are arguably the best in the DMV this year. Some kids will take a dozen AP exams after just taking the regular classes.

STA offers APs in math, science and foreign language. My son took additional AP exams in English language, English Literature and US history after taking the regular on-level classes in these subjects. Received a 5 on all.

They are reporting AP scores, so it's the same difference.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it affects their college acceptances?

I don't think there's a single HS in the DMV that doesn't offer AP classes. The IB schools have less AP classes but that's because they offer IB which is just as rigorous. So no, it doesn't matter as long as you're taking AP or IB classes or a combination of both. Colleges want to see students taking the most rigorous classes available to them in their own HS.

What? Maybe public schools. None of the DC privates have AP classes.

None isn’t accurate. To be fair, a few DC privates have APs (Burke, Visi, Gonzaga), VA (St. Stephens), MD (St. Andrews).

SJC has APs too. It’s really only a small group of extremely expensive private schools that can afford to drop APs and still show good college results.

All of the Catholic high schools have APs.

From a private to private universities, this won't be a problem.

If you're target the largest/ most competitive state schools, some might expect weighted GPAs etc and not adjust.

AP scores are also required for UK university admissions (except St Andrews)

Also at a private with no AP and excellent college placement. Imo, the lack of AP curriculum is an advantage - and only an Issue if kids are looking at top state flagship programs. Both in terms of the gpa calculation, if seeking merit $, and the fact that lots of kids enter those public universitues with enough AP college credits to skip a semester or 2. However, if applying to top private colleges/ivy, there is no issue - those colleges know our school curriculum and rigor. Our kids dont have weighted gpa, dont have perfect 4.0. On contrast, every public hs kid we know has all A's in AP classes with multiple test retakes, etc lots of grade inflation even in AP courses. Many never take/report the AP test scores because they are not great. Those kids do get onto top flagships but not as much t10-20. I think having to take all AP/highest rigor is total bs. Drives the kids crazy, creates unnecessary stress, and then it doesn't even count that much within the 'holistic' admission process.

Anonymous wrote:Even some of the DMV privates that *do* offer AP/IBs only offer them at the upper levels (junior/senior). Our sense is that it DID affect us when applying to some of the state schools that are really looking at numbers first and foremost rather than holistically--no matter what they tell you at orientation.

If I had it to do over again, I would have had more conversations with the college counselor about how they build in presentation of the school's "challenge score" when helping a student put college apps together and thinking about how to build in some of that discussion into the places in the College App where you can add additional information.

I agree. Also important to know that your college counselor may or may not want to do this. There has been a lot
of discussion of why get rid of AP in first place. The students most affected by this are the top students. Remember without a former AP course you lose control as a student. We found out too late that some wise students only took a few high courses so they could get high rigor check in their common ap
counselor form. They then hired a tutor
and took AP exams so were able to present a better application. We are close to a first gen family so would have liked that behind the scenes advice from our private.

Colleges assess a student’s level of rigor based on what the HS offers and compares them to other students at the same school, so not taking AP classes doesn’t hurt if the school doesn’t offer them. Outside of the very top colleges, take AP *tests* on your own doesn’t really move the needle much. Colleges are more interested in the classes you took and how you did in them. Taking AP tests on your own *is* helpful if you are trying to get college credit or placement with high scores.

Anonymous wrote:Many top private schools like Philips Andover, Riverdale Country, Choate Hall, etc. don't offer formal APs and have their own version of college-level advanced courses where they can create the syllabus/curriculum and not have to be limited to the College Board outlines.

I don't think students from Andover etc. are impacted negatively in college matriculation. They actually do really well! These are known schools and it's all well laid out in the school profile.

But if you're in a public or private school that doesn't offer any APs, you'll never be penalized for it. I just went to an event with a bunch of AOs from multiple colleges and they all reinforced that they just want to see you take highest rigor the student can handle and do well in IF it's offered at your school.

It definitely is an issue. Some
colleges will not recalculate the higher track non AP. Schools also may not be allowed to talk to colleges and school profiles may not be able to articulate this point enough.

Sidwell doesn't have any APs and their admissions are arguably the best in the DMV this year. Some kids will take a dozen AP exams after just taking the regular classes.

STA offers APs in math, science and foreign language. My son took additional AP exams in English language, English Literature and US history after taking the regular on-level classes in these subjects. Received a 5 on all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it affects their college acceptances?

I don't think there's a single HS in the DMV that doesn't offer AP classes. The IB schools have less AP classes but that's because they offer IB which is just as rigorous. So no, it doesn't matter as long as you're taking AP or IB classes or a combination of both. Colleges want to see students taking the most rigorous classes available to them in their own HS.

What? Maybe public schools. None of the DC privates have AP classes.

None isn’t accurate. To be fair, a few DC privates have APs (Burke, Visi, Gonzaga), VA (St. Stephens), MD (St. Andrews).

SJC has APs too. It’s really only a small group of extremely expensive private schools that can afford to drop APs and still show good college results.

Sounds like these are mostly catholic scools?

Lots of privates don't have APs. My kid's NYC private also doesn't have APs and exmissions are great. Part of the reason we chose private over a top tier NYC selective public was to avoid dealing with APs as the whole AP process has gotten out of hand. There is enough pressure on the kids without dealing with countless AP tests.

To better answer the question (as some people have tried to do), make sure that the school makes it very clear that your child has taken the most difficult classes the school offers. This is all they can do. There might be a bit more pressure on them to do well on SAT/ACT and do something academic as an extracurricular or summer activity.

But even at top schools, not everyone is expected to be on the super academic PhD track. If your kid is bright enough and can handle the work but brings other things to the table, that is good enough.

PP: Affect "us"--can't believe I did that. I meant that it affected DD. She really did drive the whole process, and we supported when needed. But I do stand by the second note, that I should have had more conversations to understand the process as it stood in this hypercompetitive year, with more students applying than ever. There's a supposed shift beginning this year and continuing with the birthrate for the application year declining, but we'll see.

Even some of the DMV privates that *do* offer AP/IBs only offer them at the upper levels (junior/senior). Our sense is that it DID affect us when applying to some of the state schools that are really looking at numbers first and foremost rather than holistically--no matter what they tell you at orientation.

If I had it to do over again, I would have had more conversations with the college counselor about how they build in presentation of the school's "challenge score" when helping a student put college apps together and thinking about how to build in some of that discussion into the places in the College App where you can add additional information.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it affects their college acceptances?

I don't think there's a single HS in the DMV that doesn't offer AP classes. The IB schools have less AP classes but that's because they offer IB which is just as rigorous. So no, it doesn't matter as long as you're taking AP or IB classes or a combination of both. Colleges want to see students taking the most rigorous classes available to them in their own HS.

What? Maybe public schools. None of the DC privates have AP classes.

None isn’t accurate. To be fair, a few DC privates have APs (Burke, Visi, Gonzaga), VA (St. Stephens), MD (St. Andrews).

SJC has APs too. It’s really only a small group of extremely expensive private schools that can afford to drop APs and still show good college results.

Both of my kids went to different privates (outside of DC) without APs. It did not seem to impact admissions at their school, except perhaps for large southern public’s (Clemson for one of mine) that seem to be focused on weighted GPA. It wasn’t a good fit anyway and my kid ended up at a more highly ranked large public school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it affects their college acceptances?

I don't think there's a single HS in the DMV that doesn't offer AP classes. The IB schools have less AP classes but that's because they offer IB which is just as rigorous. So no, it doesn't matter as long as you're taking AP or IB classes or a combination of both. Colleges want to see students taking the most rigorous classes available to them in their own HS.

What? Maybe public schools. None of the DC privates have AP classes.

None isn’t accurate. To be fair, a few DC privates have APs (Burke, Visi, Gonzaga), VA (St. Stephens), MD (St. Andrews).