<p>I wanted to take AP CALCULUS BC, and looked into EPGY. Their prices are just exorbitant- $450/quarter for 3 quarters!! Thats $1350 for an AP course!</p>
<p>Is this worth it??</p>
<p>quite simply, no.</p>
<p>I was looking into EPGY courses too. How do online courses actually work? Do they provide textbooks or something? And how would colleges like BU consider this?</p>
<p>EPGY is a good program if you do one of their post-AP courses. For AP courses and pre-AP courses, just self-study.</p>
<p>3 quarters covers both Calc AB and BC. The prices are high, but the courses are excellent. BTW, if you calculate the average cost of a high school or college course, the EPGY courses won't seem so very expensive. </p>
<p>Here's how AP level EPGY math and science courses work. (I'm limiting my comments to those subjects as they are handled similarly at EPGY and the OP was interested in math.) First, you must apply to EPGY. The application itself is just basic information. High school students must also submit the results of an SAT or PSAT test. Students enrolling in math courses have to take a placement exam. Don't ask me the cut-offs for these exams; I don't know them. </p>
<p>After you enroll, EPGY sends you a set of CDs. You purchase the text separately. You download homework assignments, suggested course schedules, and course policies from the EPGY website. You are assigned a tutor, who can be contacted on-line during "office hours," via e-mail, or on the telephone. EPGY also has tech support available via e-mail or on the telephone.</p>
<p>When you start the course, you watch lectures on the CDs and read your text. There are quizzes throughout the CDs. Your scores on the quizzes are automatically recorded on EPGY files on your computer. Homework is not turned in for many EPGY math and science courses and I believe that is the case for the calculus courses.</p>
<p>You send a weekly report via internet to EPGY. The report, which is prepared by the EPGY software (you just push a button), shows which lectures you listened to and the scores on your quizzes. You can view a summary of your progress on the EPGY website.</p>
<p>Most courses have about three interim exams and one final. Sometimes the tests are downloaded from the EPGY site and sometimes you have to request they be e-mailed by your tutor. In the latter case, you must usually return the completed test within a day or two. Tests are done with pencil and paper and either mailed or faxed to your tutor. Some tests are timed; others are not. Timed tests are typically three hours long. All tests are done on the honor system. Both you and a supervising adult sign the honor statement. Some EPGY courses require that you retake interim tests until you achieve a certain grade, although I don't recall if calculus is that way. In many EPGY courses, if you do poorly on a final you may take a second final test, but that will automatically lower your final grade by one full letter. Tests are hand graded by your tutor who will return comments to you. You can receive a faxed copy of the graded test if you request it.</p>
<p>Grading policies vary from one course sequence to another. Usually homework, if turned in, and quizzes count for very little of your grade. Interim tests make up a portion of your grade, but sometimes less than half, especially in courses where you can retake the interim tests multiple times. In all EPGY math and science courses, the bulk of your grade is the final exam. EPGY does not curve any test scores. </p>
<p>AB-BC calculus consists of three courses, each approxmiately one semester. The grade for one course in the AB-BC calculus sequence does not affect the grade for another course in that sequence. If you don't finish a course in three months, you have to pay for an extra month. However, if you are taking the first course, you can just sign up for the second course, pay for three more months and let the first course spill over into the second three months. Finals can be taken after your three months expire for no extra charge. </p>
<p>EPGY courses require initiative on the part of the student. If you don't send in your weekly report, EPGY sends you a polite reminder, but takes no further action. Because homework is generally not turned in, you have to have the initiative to do it, check it, and e-mail any questions to your tutor. If you are an independent learner, EPGY courses may be an excellent fit for you. Otherwise, you may want to stick with more traditional courses.</p>
<p>I took EPGY Multivariable calculus, and i can quite honestly say it was better (and more challenging) than any class i took in high school, including the top-notch IB and AP courses. The quality is very high, and the tutor was extremely helpful. But all of this comes at a price. You get what you pay for i guess.</p>
<p>Anyways, if I'm not mistaken they have financial aid, so maybe that could help you a bit.</p>
<p>EllenF, thanks for the great explanation! thanks also paul</p>
<p>I just wanted to figure out if the course is worth (which seems like it is).. I'm gonna find some other way of doin gthe AP at a cheaper price though and probably won't get to post-AP due to the slow canadian curriculum...</p>