<p>I'm new and I don't know where it's appropriate to post this so sorry if this is in the wrong section and/or if this topic has been discussed already.</p>
<p>Well, I've always been thinking to myself how iffy APs were in general due to the basis of college credit dependent on a test. The benefits I see to taking APs are the weighted grades and college credit but as stated before, college credit is dependent on your passing of the test.
On the other hand, you can take college courses at a local community college and simply pass that class to get your college credit... although there will be no effect on your GPA. (and no test!)</p>
<p>So my question...
Which would be more ideal for a junior who is almost done with his or her junior year and nearing summer vacation? </p>
<p>Taking your standard (good-sized) load of APs during senior year <strong>(where I don't think GPA matters as much due to it being your senior year.. thus eliminating the benefit of weighted GPA)</strong>
***OR***
Taking some community college courses and getting your college credit that way. (but still taking APs if you please)</p>
<p>I think the latter option would save a lot of time, money, and stress (due to the AP tests) but I don't know which "option" colleges would rather recommend. It also seems like the most logical option because of the "decreased" importance of the senior year in regards to GPA/AP exam scores but also because your college credit isn't based on a single test.</p>
<p>Theres a website where you can check what classes that you take in college are transferrable. Im a junior and I took a cc class last I took English 1a which is your AP Comp and I got a B+. So im not going to mention it because it probably wont help me much but the experience is worthy. And why not. If I were you I would go to summer school for your school adn retake a class you may have gotten a C or a B in and change into an A. It'll probably be much easier and it wont show that you retook it and it will boost your GPA. Unless your valedictorian so far. or if your only B's were in AP classes</p>
<p>Go with the APs. Some colleges perceive CC courses to be easier (less rigorous) than APs. You are also saying that attending a CC would save "time, money, and stress."
Why would it save time? Because you wouldn't have to do that much work for a CC class?
Why would it save money? Who will pay your CC tuition and books? Don't you think that's a waste of resources?
Why would it save stress? What about the commute and the coordination of your high school and your CC classes?
CC courses are fine when your high school does not offer a certain course you want to take really badly (and you cannot wait until college to take it) or when you have already taking the most advanced courses your high school has to offer in some subjects.</p>
<p>b@r!um,
Time because all the AP tests are pretty much in the span of the same week and I think "spreading out" rather than "cramming" is the better option. </p>
<p>Money because CC tuition is FREE for high school students (where I live at least) while AP exams are 83$ each...</p>
<p>Stress simply because all these "major" tests are given in the span of one week whereas CC classes are just classes.</p>
<p>I just think it's common sense to NOT have... let's say.. 6 tough AP tests that you absolutely have to pass to get credit rather than, for example, just taking a couple classes over the summer and getting your credit that way. </p>
<p>Thanks, I'm most likely going to do both anyway.</p>
<p>Just wondering if it was pointless to flood yourself with APs during Senior year because that year is pretty much less important. (Maybe a lot less or a little... but still less.)</p>
<p>Whether you will get credit for community college courses depends on the college you end up going to. In our state CC courses automatically transfer to both public and, I think, private colleges in the state. But if you go to an out-of-state school, they may not transfer at all. I know that my alma mater, a selective LAC, will not grant credit for any college course (including CC courses) taken before entering college full time.</p>
<p>All colleges that I'm aware of have a clearly defined policy on granting credit for AP or IB courses. It is often a department by department thing, but it is well defined and can be found on the college's web site. </p>
<p>At my alma mater, if you want credit for a course taken at a CC before entering college full time, you must take and pass the final exam for the equivalent course at the LAC, given at the regular time. (Say at the end of fall semester). Plus there is extra tuition payable if you get more than two extra courses of credit per school year.</p>
<p>So unless you have already researched the policies of the college you plan to attend and know that they will give you credit for CC courses, I would recommend going the AP route, unless the course you want to take is not offered at your high school and is available to you at the local CC.</p>
<p>
[quote]
In our state CC courses automatically transfer to both public and, I think, private colleges in the state.
[/quote]
Not true. Some private colleges don't accept CC credits for certain classes regardless of whether these classes were taken at an in-state or out-of-state CC.</p>
<p>I was speaking about Washington State. Our HS GC said that CC courses transfer to all colleges, public and private, in the state. I have not had the time or energy to check all private colleges in Washington State, but I did check with Whitman College, which is probably the most selective private college in the state. They do accept CC course credit, although they do put a limit on the number of credit that can transfer.</p>
<p>This is why I advised checking on the specific policy of the college(s) the OP is planning on attending.</p>
<p>pongyo, do you think AP exams are more stressful than final exams at a CC? Though policies vary from college to college, I have seen CCs where final exams count for 50% of your final grade.
And I really doubt that taking a CC class is cheaper than taking AP exams. Most likely you would have to pay for your textbooks and transportation to the CC (just $1 of gas per day makes $200 over the course of the year).</p>
<p>Dadx3, I just wanted to point out that most private schools do not accept credit for every CC class (e.g. vocational or high school-level classes) regardless of the state that the CC is located in. Sorry for any misunderstandings.</p>
<p>I'm just going to take a couple college classes during the summer at a CC while taking some APs next year.</p>
<p>I actually went to a "National College Fair" today and asked a couple college admissions people (3 UCs, etc.) what their college's take on it was. The answer given was pretty much the same. (summarizing)They said that they look at AP and CC courses equally since they are both "college courses". They had other stuff to say but yea... that was basically the main idea.</p>
<p>b@r1um,
I just think AP exams are more stressful because of the fact that all the tests are pretty much bunched up in a week. That might be to your liking but I wanted to know what other options were available.</p>
<p>At my school, the GC's discourage CC courses, because they are seen as an easy way out of taking AP classes. </p>
<p>Why are you so worried about the tests being bunched up in a week? How do your final exams work?? Pretty much the same idea, except ours are bunched up in two days vs. two weeks!</p>
<p>You could get the benefits of both. At my school, you can talk to the counselor and get your CC grades on your transcript... PLUS they get weighted the same as AP/Honors classes.</p>