Explanation of AP Exams?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hey there,
I am currently a sophomore taking all honors w/ AP Gov and AP Chemistry. Next year, the APs I intend on taking are AP Physics 1, AP Lang and Comp, APUSH, and AP Comp Sci A.

I’ve been thinking about the colleges I’d like to go to, which include UIUC and Northwestern for aerospace engineering. I’ve been looking into the AP credits they accept, and have a few questions about AP testing:

  1. Is it worth the 90 bucks for the exam for EVERY AP class I take (considering I study well for each one)?

  2. Going off from the first question, is it better off focusing on the APs that relate to STEM?

  3. What I see a solid benefit from getting 3-5’s on the non-stem AP exams (such as gov, apush, etc)?

Thanks!

2

@KSanders24 It is really going to depend on what college you end up going to. For example, I took the AP Physics 1 test, for example, but for college my score doesn’t count for anything. I also took the APUSH test, and though I got a 4, I got no credit because my college only accepts 5’s on APUSH. Of course, that’s just my college, and since it’s private it can accept as many AP’s as it wants, unlike some state policies for state universities. Focus on AP’s that are interesting to you–if you’re a humanities/history person, don’t feel pressured to take AP Physics C or Chem. In many colleges you can get gen ed requirements out of the way with AP’s though and maybe even come in as a sophomore or second semester freshman–this depends on the college and it’s AP credit policy, though. When you’re a senior and know what college you’re going to, if it’s not to late, look at the college AP credit policy and only register for AP exams that they give credit in.

3

@aykt4245 So essentially, take all AP exams that I’m confident in and that colleges take credit for?

4

If you feel you know the subject matter, then take the test. Every school and even department sets their own guidelines for what they will give credit for, and those guidelines may be different for majors vs. non-majors. Some STEM APs may not be accepted for engineering, especially in lab sciences. Doing well on humanities APs may get you out of some core courses, which can be beneficial for highly-structured majors such as engineering. Although as said above, some, especially APUSH, have very high requirements to get credit at many schools.

5

@KSanders24 Pretty much! I know it’s really hard to know about the college credit part until junior/senior year, so don’t be discouraged to take an AP exam if you feel like you’ll do well, even if the current list of colleges you’re thinking about doesn’t accept it–your college list will probably change dramatically when you start looking/visiting senior year.

6

**What are AP Classes? **

AP courses are rigorous, college-level classes in a variety of subjects. AP (Advanced Placement) courses are challenging courses. You take the class, and at the end of the year you take a standardized test with students all across the country. Generally, if you get a 4 or 5 (out of 5), you will get credit for the class in College. A year AP class is the equivelent of a semester class in college.

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse

Does AP really help you in university? I’ve heard the ‘might get you credit/let you skip classes’ ?

Yes, you can get credit for classes. Each college tells you how much credit you get. Here is an example:
https://admission.case.edu/apply/ap-ib-and-college-credit/
Sometimes that means you can skip the class, or sometimes it means you move on to the next class. You have to look at each college.

Should I take AP Tests?

Yes, because if you do well you can get credit for classes. If you have enough of them you may be able to save a semester’s of tuition. Or you might be able to take a lighter semester if you have tough classes or do a study abroad or switch majors. If give you more flexibility. If you don’t do well, it doesn’t matter. You will have to take the course in college, if applicable. Senior year AP tests don’t come back until after you are admitted anyway.

**Do AP classes ‘look great on your transcript’? **

Yes, because you are taking the most challenging courses you can. Top schools want to see that.

For example
“Academic Excellence
The primary criterion for admission to Stanford is academic excellence. We look for your preparation and potential to succeed. We expect you to challenge yourself throughout high school and to do very well. The most important credential that enables us to evaluate your academic record is the high school transcript. Remember, however, that our evaluation of your application goes beyond any numerical formula. There is no minimum GPA or test score; nor is there any specific number of AP or honors courses you must have on your transcript in order to be admitted to Stanford.”
http://admission.stanford.edu/basics/selection/

What if my school only has 1 AP class?

Schools evaluate you in the context of your school. If your school has 20 AP classes and you take 1, that is different than if your school has 1 AP and you take it.

An example from Stanford again:
“Personal Context
Just as no two Stanford students are the same, each applicant to Stanford is unique. This means that as we review each application, we pay careful attention to unique circumstances. We take into account family background, educational differences, employment and life experiences. By focusing on your achievements within context, we evaluate how you have excelled within your unique school environment and how you have taken advantage of what was available to you in your school and community.”

http://admission.stanford.edu/basics/selection/

Should I self-study APs?

If you want credit in college, then yes it is okay to do that. If you want it to look good for colleges, then no. Colleges generally don’t take self-studied AP tests in consideration for admission. Colleges want to see how you do in classes… You should pick classes that are more likely to be accepted and you are more likely to pass and you are more likely to get credit for. An example would be AP Micro or Macro Economics. An example that would not work would be AP Biology because you are not taking the lab.

Are there alternatives to AP classes if my school doesn’t offer them?

Yes.
Dual Enrollment is taking classes at your local Community College while you are still in HS. You don’t have to pay for the classes. Other names might be: Running Start, PSEO, College in School, CollegeNow

CLEP: College Level Examination Program. You can take these tests to "place out"of a class in college. Check
https://clep.collegeboard.org/exam
For example: https://advisingresources.tcnj.edu/test-credit/college-level-examination-program-clep/