I am currently a senior in high school, i enrolled into AP World at the beginning of the year. At that point I was on the fence about whether or not to join the Marines or not, college was still in my mind and I wanted to take an AP class. I also enjoy history and the teacher is one of my favorites, so it was another reason for taking it. Halfway through the year I joined the DEP for the Marines. So now I’m stuck paying $94 for a test that will not benefit me whatsoever. I tried talking to my guidance counselor but she has been unavailable and the receptionist told me I would have to, but she wasn’t sure. I don’t want to take a test that will have no benefit. Is there anyway I can get out of it? If I refuse to pay what will happen?
Who is making you pay for the test? Our school does not require students to take the AP test after the class. Ask your GC.
Questions to ask your guidance counselor:
Do I need to take this test in order to get my final grade in the class? Some high schools use the AP results to help determine the grades.
How long will the test score be valid? If you do go to college while you are in the Marines or later, you might be able to still use an AP score for credit or advanced placement.
How can I get my money back if I’ve already paid for the exam and I decide not to take it? Maybe you can’t get your money back.
If something happens and I leave the Marines before the end of my initial enlistment, do you have any suggestions for a Plan B?
You will notice that I’ve thrown in a question unrelated to the AP exam. I am the aunt of two Marines and one would-have-been Marine who didn’t make it through boot camp because of a previously undiagnosed medical condition. Surprises like that happen more often than people like to think. The two Marines landed on their feet pretty quickly after their terms of service ended. The one who was sent home because of his health (not life threatening by any means but one of those things that preclude military service) took a lot longer to figure everything out because he’d not thought through any other options before enlisting.
i would take it. You may decide to go to college later. If you do, and you do well in the AP test, you will get college credit. If you do poorly, it doesn’t matter…AP results aren’t used for college admissions.
If it is already paid for, you may as well take it. You may go to college later, so it may be useful for credit or placement then. For example: https://www.usna.edu/Academics/Candidate-Information/Course-Validation-Policy.php