<p>Now that I've been accepted, I'm fairly certain I'll be headed to Carleton next year :)
Just wondering, did people feel it was worthwhile to take AP exams senior year? Are people ever pressed to get enough credits to graduate?
Thanks!</p>
<p>It depends. Of the four APs I took senior year, I took three tests. Two of those were for potential placement out of intro classes, but I think for the most part my motivation in taking the tests was a combination of 1) having already signed up for the tests, 2) wanting to do well in appreciation of my awesome teachers (who I think were partially evaluated based on our AP results), and 3) wanting to get to the next level of AP Scholar, whatever it was (seems kind of silly now, but there you go). I didn’t take the AP Spanish exam because I didn’t feel prepared for it and I knew that Carleton would offer a free placement test for languages.</p>
<p>No, I’ve never heard of anyone being pressed for credits to graduate. A more likely scenario would be stressing about the requirements for a double major, which can be difficult to pull off at Carleton unless you plan well in advance. AP tests will mostly help you in terms of placing out of intro classes for subjects that interest you, and that will make it easier to complete the higher-level course requirements for your major(s).</p>
<p>patsfan, my son, a senior at Carleton, took at least 7 APs (and their tests) in HS. He wasn’t concerned with them until he met with his advisor sophomore year when he was deciding on his major. Then he realized that several of his AP classes would count toward graduation and give him some leeway in his coursework. At that point, we had to jump through a couple of extra hoops to get the scores sent to Carleton, but it was worth it. He actually could have graduated last term if he’d wanted (sigh). He also didn’t need to take a full course load while doing his senior comps, which was great.</p>
<p>Just giving you some more data to make your decision.</p>
<p>APs allow you to place out of several introductory classes and the language requirement. While you won’t received distribution credits, it helped my child a lot - was able to place out of 2 math classes, intro physics, intro chem, language requirement, and much more and was able to take more advanced classes earlier on. Could graduate early - but why would you?</p>
<p>Mom90, I have to laugh, because my son definitely didn’t want to leave early, although I think my husband was pondering the money it would have saved. ;)</p>
<p>My son’s school really expected the seniors to take the tests. It was considered a step you would do for the students who followed you, just as students ahead had taken tests, presumably done well and make a positive reputation for the school. </p>
<p>Also when he signed up, I think he didn’t know where he would go to college, so those credits might have been significant.</p>
<p>However, if I self-study AP and get 5s, since it is not offered in my school, do you think it will be better for me to take the intro class?</p>
<p>If you get a 5 on an AP test and report it to Carleton, there’s a very good chance that you will not be allowed to take the corresponding intro class because it is seen as GPA inflation. If you know the material well enough to get a 5, you’d probably be bored in intro anyway.</p>