DC is taking APs as a signaling device to colleges to show that he can take hard classes and thrive. Though maybe it just backfires and identifies him as a full paying Asian-American? Can't win.

Anonymous wrote:If you take so much AP now, what are you going to in Senior year. Is there enough challenging classes in Senior year?

No regular student runs out of AP courses to take in Senior year. Even if you remove the category of AP Art or AP Capstone Research, there are 5 core subject areas that you can concentrate on. The colleges do expect you to take English, Math, Science, Social Science for at least 4 years and FL for at least 2 years.

AP Capstone Diploma Program
-AP Research
-AP Seminar

Arts
-AP Art and Design Program
-AP Art History
-AP Music Theory

English
-AP English Language and Composition
-AP English Literature and Composition

History and Social Sciences
-AP Comparative Government and Politics
-AP European History
-AP Human Geography
-AP Macroeconomics
-AP Microeconomics
-AP Psychology
-AP United States Government and Politics
-AP United States History
-AP World History: Modern

Math and Computer Science
-AP Calculus AB
-AP Calculus BC
-AP Computer Science A
-AP Computer Science Principles
-AP Statistics

Sciences
-AP Biology
-AP Chemistry
-AP Environmental Science
-AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
-AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
-AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
-AP Physics C: Mechanics

AP World Languages and Cultures
-AP Chinese Language and Culture
-AP French Language and Culture
-AP German Language and Culture
-AP Italian Language and Culture
-AP Japanese Language and Culture
-AP Latin
-AP Spanish Language and Culture
-AP Spanish Literature and Culture

+ 100

Is there really anything magical about APs? It's simply the highest class level offered, so DC is taking several APs. It's more important to me that DC is exposed to the material (especially AP math and science classes) than it is to get As in the classes or even passing the AP exams. That's looking at it as a potential STEM major, though; I'm looking at it as a foundation for college STEM classes, where an AP level of understanding may be presumed.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t over do the APs. The golden rule is to take the most rigorous classes that you could do well in. No point of getting all Bs in 6 APs. Some schools will take the AP weight off and only see the Bs. Be choosy and focus on APs in his major interest and leave the rest. DS ended up a 5 APs total but honor/advanced classes in others where AP isn’t offered. He is ending his high school career w strong GPAs, AP scores, internships, a sport, music and only a handful of late nights (past midnight) and a sane mind. His admission road this year has been very successful. His biggest stressor now, aside from prepping for AP physic C exams, is deciding which college to enroll in.

Good luck.

What about the AP exam scores?

MY DS is planning on CS major. He was advised to take at least an AP from each of the five core subject groups - Math, English, FL, Science and Social Science, before applying to college. This means at least 5 APs before 12th grade.

If you take so much AP now, what are you going to in Senior year. Is there enough challenging classes in Senior year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid didn't take any AP courses. Zero. He took a few honors over 4 years. He graduated from college a year ago and got a job starting at $110K. Stop stressing over this.

That was 4 years ago!

My younger kid is in 11th grade now and hasn't taken any AP courses either. I'll let you know how he turns out. He's a bright kid too and will end up in a good college. Look at how many kids who take all of these heavy AP courseloads end up burning out. Keeping up that pace doesn't come without its drawbacks. Mental health is more important in the long run. I'm sure there are some students who can do all of this without much effort but they are in the minority. If these courses require tutoring, they are probably too hard for the student in the first place. Just my 2 cents.

Parents whose kids aren't smart enough for the most rigorous classes and get shut out of Ivies always bring up BS reasons like this. Guess what, the truly top kids can handle a full slate of AP classes and straight As and be mentally fine. Most of these kids don't "burn out." But keep telling yourself that so you can feel better about your mediocre kid.

You ppl are just nasty.

Keep telling yourself that as you shell out $50k to send your kid to a CTCL that'll "nurture his untapped potential."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP scores have no weight in college admissions... unfortunately!

Why take them if not for the college credit? If you are about to head off to college and you can't earn a 4 or 5, what does that tell you? It says you are not college ready. But in today's world, students go anyway because there aren't other options for them. Then they drop off with tons of debt and no way to repay it.

So that the PP, who is calling other ppl's kids mediocre, can brag about those 12+ AP his/her DC is taking.

Yes there are truly kids out there who can carry that load for the love of the subjects and don't care about the college credit. But for most kids, these APs are just overkill. Many kids with <=5 APs go to school with those with 12+ APs and do just fine.

Do what is right for your kid and don't get suck into this if you aren't carrying 12+ APs, you are not worthy game. Search DCUM on how some magnet school kids are doing this admission cycle, you will find many posts on burnt-out teens.

Where are you hearing about burnt-out teens? I'm not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid didn't take any AP courses. Zero. He took a few honors over 4 years. He graduated from college a year ago and got a job starting at $110K. Stop stressing over this.

That was 4 years ago!

My younger kid is in 11th grade now and hasn't taken any AP courses either. I'll let you know how he turns out. He's a bright kid too and will end up in a good college. Look at how many kids who take all of these heavy AP courseloads end up burning out. Keeping up that pace doesn't come without its drawbacks. Mental health is more important in the long run. I'm sure there are some students who can do all of this without much effort but they are in the minority. If these courses require tutoring, they are probably too hard for the student in the first place. Just my 2 cents.

Parents whose kids aren't smart enough for the most rigorous classes and get shut out of Ivies always bring up BS reasons like this. Guess what, the truly top kids can handle a full slate of AP classes and straight As and be mentally fine. Most of these kids don't "burn out." But keep telling yourself that so you can feel better about your mediocre kid.

You ppl are just nasty.

There is a tension. Selective schools say they want most difficult courses but they also will tell you they only need to see 4-6 AP classes.

Agree that the mixed signal from the school is not making it easy for these kids. Just calling out that PP for the nasty comments by labeling kids who aren't taking the 12 APs Lots of highly gifted kids could care less about APs. We adults should help to foster these kids' mental and physical well beings and not add to the crazy rat race.

If your kid is really highly gifted, they'll be fine under a full slate of APs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid didn't take any AP courses. Zero. He took a few honors over 4 years. He graduated from college a year ago and got a job starting at $110K. Stop stressing over this.

That was 4 years ago!

My younger kid is in 11th grade now and hasn't taken any AP courses either. I'll let you know how he turns out. He's a bright kid too and will end up in a good college. Look at how many kids who take all of these heavy AP courseloads end up burning out. Keeping up that pace doesn't come without its drawbacks. Mental health is more important in the long run. I'm sure there are some students who can do all of this without much effort but they are in the minority. If these courses require tutoring, they are probably too hard for the student in the first place. Just my 2 cents.

Parents whose kids aren't smart enough for the most rigorous classes and get shut out of Ivies always bring up BS reasons like this. Guess what, the truly top kids can handle a full slate of AP classes and straight As and be mentally fine. Most of these kids don't "burn out." But keep telling yourself that so you can feel better about your mediocre kid.

You ppl are just nasty.

There is a tension. Selective schools say they want most difficult courses but they also will tell you they only need to see 4-6 AP classes.

Agree that the mixed signal from the school is not making it easy for these kids. Just calling out that PP for the nasty comments by labeling kids who aren't taking the 12 APs Lots of highly gifted kids could care less about APs. We adults should help to foster these kids' mental and physical well beings and not add to the crazy rat race.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High school administrator: don’t. Take time to enjoy being a kid.

That's lovely as a sentiment. But what you are doing to help those kids who do what you say get into the schools that make it a contest out of AP courses? Kids who take honors only or, god forbid, gen ed classes, and do really well but then are shut out of UVA b/c their schedule isn't "rigorous enough."

What is really going on there is that your child is competing with classmates who have the same or better grades with a more rigorous schedule. A college isn't going to take every child who applies from your large school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP scores have no weight in college admissions... unfortunately!

Why take them if not for the college credit? If you are about to head off to college and you can't earn a 4 or 5, what does that tell you? It says you are not college ready. But in today's world, students go anyway because there aren't other options for them. Then they drop off with tons of debt and no way to repay it.

They may not use the scores for admission (though you can self report the ones you have scores for), but many do use them for credit and placement. Some don't but that's OK too because your child will have a leg up on the intro classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid didn't take any AP courses. Zero. He took a few honors over 4 years. He graduated from college a year ago and got a job starting at $110K. Stop stressing over this.

That was 4 years ago!

My younger kid is in 11th grade now and hasn't taken any AP courses either. I'll let you know how he turns out. He's a bright kid too and will end up in a good college. Look at how many kids who take all of these heavy AP courseloads end up burning out. Keeping up that pace doesn't come without its drawbacks. Mental health is more important in the long run. I'm sure there are some students who can do all of this without much effort but they are in the minority. If these courses require tutoring, they are probably too hard for the student in the first place. Just my 2 cents.

Parents whose kids aren't smart enough for the most rigorous classes and get shut out of Ivies always bring up BS reasons like this. Guess what, the truly top kids can handle a full slate of AP classes and straight As and be mentally fine. Most of these kids don't "burn out." But keep telling yourself that so you can feel better about your mediocre kid.

You ppl are just nasty.

There is a tension. Selective schools say they want most difficult courses but they also will tell you they only need to see 4-6 AP classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP scores have no weight in college admissions... unfortunately!

Why take them if not for the college credit? If you are about to head off to college and you can't earn a 4 or 5, what does that tell you? It says you are not college ready. But in today's world, students go anyway because there aren't other options for them. Then they drop off with tons of debt and no way to repay it.

Most top privates will not take the credit in any event. It can satisfy some core obligations but they will not count it as credit. An AP 5 is not the equal of talking the college course at a selective school.

Much more luck at publics.