Anonymous
05/29/2025 15:37
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:What are the 7-8 core AP classes suggested to take?
US History
English Lang
English Lit (are both english necessary for selective schools?)
Calculus
Language
Science - Physic, Chem, Bio or Enviro
What are the other 2-3 that are important for an undecided non-STEM major?
Just take the classes that you(r kid) can handle.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 15:36
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It really depends on what sort of college she’s aiming for.
This is key. My kids are at top 40 schools, one took fewer classes each semester, the other graduated in 3 years, due to APs. They had 12 or 13 total.
Top schools want to see rigor, and the way to demonstrate rigor is by taking APs. Fewer at private schools, more in public schools. If your child has zero intentio of attending a top 50/100 school, don't worry about APs.
And I would have this conversation with their counselor - they know who from the school gets in where
Isn't it weird to go to a top school and then avoid taking the breadth and depth of courses there? Its great for extra-curriculars and networking, but not an endorsement of the academic level.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 15:34
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are about 7-8 core AP courses. AP English Lit is one of them. If you are targeting T20 schools, it's a good idea for the unhooked to take them.
Do colleges produce a list of the 7-8 core AP classes or is this your personal list? Curious what the colleges consider core APs?
It's the ones that directly replace Honors courses, or are sequential to top level HS honors classes. Not electives or off-ramps from the main HS college prep curriculum.
English Lang and Lit, World Language and Lit (Lit is rare), US History, Government, Calculus, Economics, Bio/Chem/Phys (but there is some variation in these)
Anonymous
05/29/2025 15:30
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:It really depends on what sort of college she’s aiming for.
This is key. My kids are at top 40 schools, one took fewer classes each semester, the other graduated in 3 years, due to APs. They had 12 or 13 total.
Top schools want to see rigor, and the way to demonstrate rigor is by taking APs. Fewer at private schools, more in public schools. If your child has zero intentio of attending a top 50/100 school, don't worry about APs.
And I would have this conversation with their counselor - they know who from the school gets in where
Anonymous
05/29/2025 15:30
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What is number of APs based on?
If you do a semester-long AP, does that count as 1 AP or 1/2 an AP? I'm asking because our school as year-long APs (2 semesters) and half-year APs (1 semester).
I think each counts as one AP regardless if it's one semester or two.
For example, Physics Mechanics is one AP. Electricity & Mag is another AP. Both are half semester.
But the total number is less important than how rigorous they are viewed and relevancy to your kid's major.
For example, AP Psychology and AP Enviro Science are considered easier than AP Lit and AP Physic Mechanics or AP Biology.
Except that some schools (like my DC’s) put those together as Physics C. The kids take both AP exams, but it’s only one AP class on the transcript.
But agree that it’s more about rigor of the transcript and also finding the right personal balance - your student should challenge themself but not be taking such a heavy load that grades go down or opt for courses too difficult for them. An A in an honors class is better than a C in an AP class.
Colleges also consider what the HS offers and allows (many privates limit the number of APs students can take), and what is typical for students at the school.
All courses are semester courses on the transcript everywhere I've gone to school or sent a kid. Even year long courses (US History A / US History B)
Anonymous
05/29/2025 15:24
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What is number of APs based on?
If you do a semester-long AP, does that count as 1 AP or 1/2 an AP? I'm asking because our school as year-long APs (2 semesters) and half-year APs (1 semester).
I think each counts as one AP regardless if it's one semester or two.
For example, Physics Mechanics is one AP. Electricity & Mag is another AP. Both are half semester.
But the total number is less important than how rigorous they are viewed and relevancy to your kid's major.
For example, AP Psychology and AP Enviro Science are considered easier than AP Lit and AP Physic Mechanics or AP Biology.
Except that some schools (like my DC’s) put those together as Physics C. The kids take both AP exams, but it’s only one AP class on the transcript.
But agree that it’s more about rigor of the transcript and also finding the right personal balance - your student should challenge themself but not be taking such a heavy load that grades go down or opt for courses too difficult for them. An A in an honors class is better than a C in an AP class.
Colleges also consider what the HS offers and allows (many privates limit the number of APs students can take), and what is typical for students at the school.
For AP classes, you will still want that A. A B+ you will survive, but it doesn’t provide any advantage over an A+ in a honor.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 14:26
Subject: How important are AP’s?
What are the 7-8 core AP classes suggested to take?
US History
English Lang
English Lit (are both english necessary for selective schools?)
Calculus
Language
Science - Physic, Chem, Bio or Enviro
What are the other 2-3 that are important for an undecided non-STEM major?
US History
English Lang
English Lit (are both english necessary for selective schools?)
Calculus
Language
Science - Physic, Chem, Bio or Enviro
What are the other 2-3 that are important for an undecided non-STEM major?
Anonymous
05/29/2025 13:08
Subject: How important are AP’s?
It depends on what college she wants to attend and the number of available APs at her specific HS. And how many APs other students take. If she wants a super competitive college, she's going to need high rigor for her HS which means maxing out their APs. If she isn't looking for a competitive college, it won't matter as much. i would ask college counseling at her HS.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 12:12
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:There are about 7-8 core AP courses. AP English Lit is one of them. If you are targeting T20 schools, it's a good idea for the unhooked to take them.
Do colleges produce a list of the 7-8 core AP classes or is this your personal list? Curious what the colleges consider core APs?
Anonymous
05/29/2025 11:59
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What is number of APs based on?
If you do a semester-long AP, does that count as 1 AP or 1/2 an AP? I'm asking because our school as year-long APs (2 semesters) and half-year APs (1 semester).
I think each counts as one AP regardless if it's one semester or two.
For example, Physics Mechanics is one AP. Electricity & Mag is another AP. Both are half semester.
But the total number is less important than how rigorous they are viewed and relevancy to your kid's major.
For example, AP Psychology and AP Enviro Science are considered easier than AP Lit and AP Physic Mechanics or AP Biology.
Except that some schools (like my DC’s) put those together as Physics C. The kids take both AP exams, but it’s only one AP class on the transcript.
But agree that it’s more about rigor of the transcript and also finding the right personal balance - your student should challenge themself but not be taking such a heavy load that grades go down or opt for courses too difficult for them. An A in an honors class is better than a C in an AP class.
Colleges also consider what the HS offers and allows (many privates limit the number of APs students can take), and what is typical for students at the school.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 11:57
Subject: How important are AP’s?
we have some taking calc bc, ap physics mechanics, ap world history and ap chem as sophomores. it really depends on the child. some can be better at time management.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 11:39
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:What is number of APs based on?
If you do a semester-long AP, does that count as 1 AP or 1/2 an AP? I'm asking because our school as year-long APs (2 semesters) and half-year APs (1 semester).
However the HS counts it on DC's official transcript.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 11:38
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:What is number of APs based on?
If you do a semester-long AP, does that count as 1 AP or 1/2 an AP? I'm asking because our school as year-long APs (2 semesters) and half-year APs (1 semester).
I think each counts as one AP regardless if it's one semester or two.
For example, Physics Mechanics is one AP. Electricity & Mag is another AP. Both are half semester.
But the total number is less important than how rigorous they are viewed and relevancy to your kid's major.
For example, AP Psychology and AP Enviro Science are considered easier than AP Lit and AP Physic Mechanics or AP Biology.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 11:38
Subject: How important are AP’s?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Right. Target colleges and universities are generally in the 30-70 rank range (think Oberlin, Vassar, Bard, LMU).
For the schools in the 30-50 range at least, she will need more APs.
You think? She also has about 4 Honors classes
Anonymous
05/29/2025 11:34
Subject: How important are AP’s?
What is number of APs based on?
If you do a semester-long AP, does that count as 1 AP or 1/2 an AP? I'm asking because our school as year-long APs (2 semesters) and half-year APs (1 semester).
If you do a semester-long AP, does that count as 1 AP or 1/2 an AP? I'm asking because our school as year-long APs (2 semesters) and half-year APs (1 semester).