<p>This year, I'm supposed to take the AP exams for English Literature, English Language, Psychology, and Calculus AB. However (unfortunately), none of the first three counts for Stanford.</p>
<p>Is there any point in taking them at all? Ever? Any benefit. I'm not paying ~$250 just to "see how I did." Thoughs?</p>
<p>if you're still potentially considering other colleges, look at their policies regarding ap as well. </p>
<p>at my school, some teachers want to see ALL their students take the ap exam while other teachers couldn't care less. for example, my euro teacher has a policy such that if you take the ap exam, your class final is 'trivial'; on the other hand, not taking the ap means that the student must take a released ap as a final. his reasoning: while the ap exam really doesnt model college tests (multiple choice?) it does "have essays that require a great deal if information with a dearh of time"...</p>
<p>if your teachers don't care, i wouldnt take them...if they do, make life easy on yourself=).</p>
<p>I agree...Stanford seems to be particuliarly stingy regarding giving AP credit. I'm also taking Englit and Psych, and I got kinda mad when I read that there's no credit for those APs. I'm not sure on what your Stanford status is (whether you're already in or if you're RD or deferred or what). If you're already in and you're 100% sure that you'll go to Stanford, then it's up to you whether or not you take them; at this point they're of little importance. If you're in but you're still considering other schools, then you SHOULD take them because other schools have different AP credit policies from Stanford, mostly likely more generous policies. If you're RD, DEFINITELY take it, even though they don't offer credit; it shows your expansive knowledge of that subject and that's always a good thing to show. It also shows that you're readying yourself for college-level classes, and that's also always a good thing to show.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I'm assuming you're a senior.</p>
<p>Firstly, taking the AP exams will no longer benefit in terms of letting your colleges know that you're taking the AP class and test. That no longer applies.</p>
<p>Secondly, if you've taken the AP exams as a junior or sophomore even, I would suggest you refuse credit, especially if the AP test was in a science or mathematics. The reasoning lies in the fact that the AP Class and AP test does not prepare you for the science classes at the university. I've heard horror stories of student taking Calculus AB and skipped the first quarter/semester of Calculus. They had a difficult time following in the second semester/quarter because the AP Calculus prepared them for the test. The same is applicable with science. Unless your school is adequately outfitted with labratory equipment (we're talking not just scales, but spectrometers, a stock room of necessary chemicals, centrifuges, etc.) then you will fall behind in upper level science classes. I am fortunate that my school as a partnership with CSUSB where our class takes Chem-215 at the university as well as AP Chemistry; we also do the labs regular students take.</p>
<p>The AP exams should be taken for distinction. Some scholarships like applicants with lots of AP exams on their academic resume.</p>
<p>to follow up to the lab portion of science classes, i believe a great deal of colleges seperate their courses into lecture and lab courses. from what I've heard, to get credit for a lab course, a lab notebook or similar compilation of labs completed in high school must be shown. i think such a policy is reasonable...while most students wont have adequate lab experience, students who DO (i.e. eiffelguy) won't waste time repeating something that they already have mastered.</p>
<p>not sure how much this applies to stanford, however...</p>
<ol>
<li>I am a senior.</li>
<li>I got accepted EA. : )</li>
<li>I've previously taken US and Euro, which don't count either.</li>
<li>I'm going towards the humanities-based classes, AB Calc will be for fulfilling credit requirements (Score of 4 = 5 pts., score of 5 = 10 pts.)</li>
<li>Thanks!</li>
</ol>
<p>since you're in, are you considering any other schools? if not, there's really no point.</p>
<p>Mmm, not really. I only applied to Princeton and Duke. Since Princeton has a 4% acceptance rate RD, I doubt I'll get in, but if I did, I'm 90% sure I'd still choose Stanford. I'd only go to Duke if I got a merit scholarship (in-state), but that's also unlikely since A) They tend to be community service based and B) A girl from my school won one last year.</p>
<p>Yea, i'm an EA acceptee and I called Stanford about the whole AP thing because I am only gonna get credit for 2 of my 6 APs this year. So I called to ask them (cuz my some of my teachers were afraid that my admission would be jeapordized if i didnt take the exams)...but the admissions office was pretty kool about it. They told me to take the exams just to make my teachers happy and end my last year in high school on a good note with all my teachers. </p>
<p>So, I think I might just take like 5/6 of them (I really dont feel like studying for Calc BC).
Plus, if you're a Stanford acceptee, you must be brilliant..so take the exam, pass it, and make your teachers happy (cuz all teachers love to have high passing rates).
Anyways, that was just my lil two cents...hope it helps</p>
<p>Yeah, well, I understand your point, but um, my parents aren't the kind of people who exactly have an extra $350 on hand. It's totally a money issue rather than a work issue.</p>
<p>I definitely have the same issue with AP tests. I'm 90% sure I'm going to Stanford, and they would only accept 3 out of the 7 tests I am scheduled to take this year (Chem, Calc AB, French). Luckily for me, my school system has a policy where if you take and pay for one test, they pay for the rest.
My issue, on the other hand, is, IF I do well on the Chem and Calc tests (which is a BIG IF in Chem), should I accept the credit? I saw one person say that I should deny it, and I've heard that before, but are there any current Stanford students who have any insight on the issue? I'm not really sure what my major would be...</p>
<p>jellybean, check with your school's ap coordinator. the way it works at my school, if you can demonstrate financial need, the school will waive the fees for your exam...see if a similar system exists for you!</p>
<p>=)</p>
<p>If you get a 5 on calc BC, you will be fine in math 51.</p>
<p>Well, it's not that I CAN'T afford it, it's more of a priority issue: I can definitely afford to pay for an exam that helps me in college. I'd rather not ask my parents for that much money, however, if I derive no benefit from taking the test.</p>
<p>yea i understand...it is hard to ask parents for so much money esp after all this college app stuff...but try to get a waiver...then maybe you wont need to ask your parents for money</p>
<p>just ask each teacher what they think...since it doesnt benefit you much, your teachers should be understanding. then, you can end hs on a good note AND not pay $ for an exam which wont help you =).</p>
<p>yea i like karthikkito's advice...if you dont want to take it..talk to your teacher and ask them if they'd be okay with you not taking the exam...most of them should say yes...and that way the teacher will know you care about his/her class</p>
<p>if no credit/course advancement, just don't take it. it's quite simple.</p>
<p>i took 5 APs this year but only 4 of them will put me in higher level courses at Brown (if I get a 4 or 5, that is). But I'm only taking AP chem and AP psych because I feel I need to review a lot of the calculus and physics I learned in their respective AP courses.</p>