Next year I’m going to be a Junior, and I currently do coop (go to school half day, do online classes at home the other half)
I was thinking about taking some AP courses online, and thought especially about AP Psych/ Bio. I’m currently overwhelmed with my options of course providers. Anyone recommend me a good provider that you’ve used before? I just don’t know which to choose.
Also, is there a big difference between online and in-school AP classes?
Thanks
I am taking AP Psych. next year provided by BYU; take a look at it, it offers the best programs in independent study courses.
I thought about and heard good things from BYU. I’ll keep them in mind
Very few people can compare online schools because really, how many people have taken AP classes at multiple online schools? I’m sure a few people have (I took mostly FLVS classes, but I also took AP French on Laurel Springs), but it’s just not an easily answered question, unfortunately.
I will say that Florida Virtual School’s classes are absolutely top-notch.
My school lets a few people do VHS classes every year; I took an honors physics class through VHS and enjoted it, but I was surprised about how easy it was (it was much easier than a regular honors class, so with an AP test in mind you might need to study a lot more on the side for the AP exam).
Also, I have taken Florida Virtual School’s classes (I am in online school called Connections Academy that uses FLVS courses). AP Computer Science is an excellent course for understanding and doing well on the AP Exam, and expect to spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on how fast you finish the daily coding assignment and how long it takes. I have a friend who has taken AP Psychology and she says it’s fun for interested people, but you have to do a lot of work and reading, mentioning 75 pages (3 chapters) per week. Plus, there are 5-9, 1-3 page essays in the semester course. A ton of reading and some essays. I estimate 1.5 hours a day. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re interested in AP Psychology. I’d self-study AP Psychology instead using solely a Princeton AP prep book – you’ll get a 5, or at least a 4, and many people have gotten 5s. AP Macroeconomics is okay/good course, if you read the book. People have gotten 4s and 5s on it, but you should spend about 1 hour per day for it, or 15-25 minutes if you only read the lesson (I wouldn’t recommend it because lesson explains it rather vaguely). I am currently taking AP Biology, and it is a good course, but it recommends the prerequisite Biology. Basic biology concepts won’t be taught. If read the first chapter in the book (they course doesn’t instruct you to read it), you can get roughly some basic biology. If you skip Biology, you may have trouble understanding jargon like DNA, RNA, genomes, cell meiosis, etc. in about 25% of the book. If you end up with a good AP Bio teacher, he/she will clear up those concepts for you, though. The other 75% you can understand without basic biology knowledge. I skipped Biology and am taking AP Biology – currently have an A, but the course is difficult for me. Expect to spend 2.5-4 hours, 2 days a week, depending on your reading speed. If you spread it out over 5 days, expect to spend 1.25 to 1.75 hours a day, more on the lessons with labs (there are 5-6 labs total). Take note that my FLVS-reliant school has scheduled AP courses to end in June, so if you take a course at FLVS, you may need to rush and do more extra lessons every other week or so, unless FLVS itself schedules it before May.
@helpless2017 How long did you spend in Honors Physics per lesson/day? How many lessons are there, or how many days per week is it scheduled? I’m planning to take something at VHS next year, maybe Honors Physics, AP Physics 1, AP Physics C, and AP Chemistry and such. Thanks!
So, funny story, I’m taking AP Physics I through VHS now. Honors Physics was probably like 8 hours/week, but I had a near perfect grade and was in eighth grade and had to do a lot of extra learning. Physic 1 is like 8 hours/week again (I have like a 99 lol) but a lot of it feels like busywork and I don’t feel prepared for the exam- If you can take AP Physics 1/any physics in school instead, do that. Definitely don’t do AP Chem online, I’m taking it in school now that unless you can’t take it in school, you should because of the labs.
@helpless2017 so if the course is taught at my school, I should take it there? There’s just a normal level physics class, not honors nor AP. Would it be better to take the normal physics vs an online honors/ AP?
Always take the course at your school if the exact class is offered there. Honestly, in that case, I would do H/AP online