So, my high school offers AP Capstone which is a new program that the College Board put out that is supposed to establish “critical thinking and research skills” through a two-year program typically beginning junior year. At the end of the two-year program, you receive a diploma, signifying completion of the program and (at minimum) 4 AP courses. This is fairly new so I’m wondering how colleges weigh this and if it seems worthwhile. I read a few articles on it and it seems like a lot of people have mixed opinions.
AP research and AP seminar might be looked at as an academic elective, but is unlikely to be counted for subject credit or advanced placement in college (like how, for example, AP calculus may let you start in a math course more advanced than first semester calculus in college).
In theory, shouldn’t “critical thinking and research skills” be introduced and practiced in most college preparatory course work (as appropriate to the subject and level)?
Yeah, the whole critical thinking/research skills things was a point of criticism in a lot of articles, because if resources and better instruction is being concentrated into AP Capstone courses to teach those skills, non-AP courses are neglected and students receive substandard instruction.
On the other hand, if the program doesn’t drain resources, it seems like there really isn’t any distinct benefit to taking the course - especially if no subject credit is given to participants which I’m not sure about. If it is I might end up taking it for the credit, but otherwise there’s no reason to.