<p>^^The thing I don’t understand is how AP classes can be so time consuming. DS is a graduating senior, and self-studied for 7 AP exams. He got 5’s on all of them, and didn’t spend more than 50 hours studying for any one of them. In contrast AP classes spend 150 hours in class, plus at least as much time on the homework, for 300 hours in all? How can doing it with a teacher takes 6 times the amount of time it takes to do it on your own? ^^</p>
<p>At least at our school, they’re doing more in class than just teaching to the test, although they’re definitely doing that. In AP Euro, for example, in addition to doing the reading, they do a lot of class discussion, they write a few papers, and they write a LOT of DBQs and short essays. This class improved D’s writing more than any english class she’s had. At the beginning the teacher really focuses on acquiring outlining, annotating and note taking skills, so there’s required outlining of chapters that you probably wouldn’t do when studying from a prep book that’s already in an outline-type form. D didn’t like doing that, but it helped her and it was a skill she didn’t yet have - I thought better to learn as a HS sophomore rather than when she’s off at college. The vast majority of kids in this class got 5’s on the test, but not nearly as many got A’s in the course, as there was a lot more to the course than just taking an AP test.</p>
<p>I understand the concern that self-studiers might miss out on stuff. However, since AP’s are basic intro courses, a well-read kid might have already have covered most of the material, and an early self-assessment allows them to concentrate of the parts they don’t yet know. It’s much more efficient.</p>
<p>For the science stuff (Chemistry and the Physics exams) at least, DS used MIT’s OpenCourseWare. Why learn from a high school teacher when you can learn from some of the finest minds in the world?</p>
<p>Anyway, look at it this way: college is incredibly short. You get to take, what, 40 courses? But there are hundreds of interesting courses. If you can get some of the basics out of the way yourself, then there is more room to learn the higher level stuff from the experts. Just because your high school doesn’t offer AP’s is no reason to sit around putting off what you think is interesting to learn until the magical age of 17 or 18.</p>
<p>Take what classes YOU like-not necessarily the most rigorious-I tooka couple AP math but no AP english because, well, i HATE english to put it lightly. I’m much happier for it and don’t think i will be negatively affected in the college application process. I also took only two years of f. language in order to take a ceramics class. It’s something that i am passionate about and can demonstrate that to a college adcom. </p>
<p>find your niche-join a lot of clubs. Seriously, i’m involved in everything and love it. You will find the place you fit, you just have to look for it</p>
<p>Don’t Stress-I’m one of those kids who never has to do their homework or study and i highly suggest sometimes just “blowing off” some assignments-especially if they don’t mean much in the long run. It’s worth your sanity to be knocked down a few points. Seriously</p>
<p>My Last piece of advice is to parents-let your kids be kids. My parents let me go out every weekend and never tell me to do my homework or “check up” on my work. They see high school as my job, and if i mess it up its on me. I think this teaches a lot of responsibilty. Sometimes i make the wrong decision, but normally i work it out. Besides, when i look back at high school I’m going to remember the weekend i was up until 4 in the morning enjoying an evening with my friends more than i’ll remember that i got a B on my PreCalc test that monday. </p>
<p>Screwing up in high school is not the end of the world. Most kids will end up more than alright</p>