<p>I just opened the pamphlet and it’s $89 to take an AP exam. I don’t recall seeing a spot on Naviance that lists if colleges give AP credit. Wondering if numerous tests are worth it, especially if not all colleges give credit.</p>
<p>DD plans on taking the APUSH test because she did so well in the class. She’s interested in STEM so that means at least one math and one science test. Sigh.</p>
<p>Agent 99–then I agree with Seattle that CB wants to make more $$.</p>
<p>By school ranking, I did not mean the student’s ranking in the class (our school does not rank either), but the school’s own ranking compared to other high schools in the state or country. I thought I recall reading that % taking AP was one of the many factors that went into that ranking. </p>
<p>I assume that your school’s Guidance dept issues a school profile each year that is submitted to colleges along with the guidance piece of the app. (Have not been through this process yet so may be using incorrect terms.) Our school profile shows GPA distribution, AP scores, SAT scores, % college bound, lists names of honors and AP courses, etc. So, a HS may want more students to take the AP exam both for the sake of the school profile and nat’l rankings.</p>
<p>Our school system requires all students enrolled in AP courses to take the exam, but it also pays all fees. There are also a fair number of kids who self study for the tests, but then they pay the fees themselves.</p>
<p>Our kids take the courses for free (public high school) but then we have to pay for the tests… I just realized that between the two boys this year, it will be $89 (is that this year’s cost?) x 10!!! Holy ____ ! I had not done the math prior to this… my niece’s high school had a program where the students could earn points throughout the year and if they had enough, they wouldn’t have to pay for their AP exams…</p>
<p>Birth order - Yes and no here. Firstborn definitely does not fit the hardworker category! He’s fit the “very bright and didn’t have to work very hard” model. Barely did any homework in high school. Tried hard enough to get excellent GPA and SAT, got into good school ED, and now has some senioritis going on… Second is the peacemaker, and third is outgoing and friendly. The latter two are hard workers, so I almost look forward to the year that eldest starts college, and I will have two hardworkers at home who also are not aruguers. Is that bad of me? </p>
<p>2014novamom - Have you looked into WPI? If your son likes robotics and project based, that is the school for him! </p>
<p>We got the same AP email yesterday. Maybe it’s based of PSAT scores?</p>
<p>Any idea what extra boost to give a kid who is not a natural leader? He’s already 1/2 way through junior year (duh!) and doesn’t have leadership stuff yet, though more than likely he will be captain of mock trial next year. His sport is outside of school, so no opportunity to be captain… For him, real leadership would be just to look good on a resume or application. Not everyone can be a leader, right? He won’t be applying to tippy-top schools, does that matter? If I use our school’s naviance, there are schools that he should be able to get into on GPA and test scores alone. It’s not that he has no EC’s, just that he’s not a leader in them. He DOES have passion, esp. his sport, so if THAT is what they want to see, then we should be OK… Thoughts?</p>
<p>It is a money making machine - $90/test, $8 for an “early” result and extra $$ for score report to schools . Some Us let students skip some courses if they have a 4 or 5 though.</p>
<p>Percent taking AP is in the rankings for high schools more than colleges. Like we don’t have enough problems caused by the obsessive need to rank schools in numerical order…</p>
<p>As to how AP credit is counted by colleges, in general public colleges grant much more AP credit than do private ones. You can search “AP credit” at the college websites to see how they count each specific test. In some cases, a student is better off not taking the credit - for example, if they can place out of calculus but are majoring in engineering, it might be better to take the more rigorous college course so they are well prepared for more advanced curriculum.</p>
<p>At D’s school, students would get a 5% boost in grade by having a 5 in AP tests. D usually stays up past midnight to study for all the AP classes. Besides the ranking, do schools receive any other compensations?</p>
<p>Back in the old days, most kids in my class with a greater than 3 GPA had no trouble getting into Cal or UCLA. The best parts were after graduating, I owed a whopping $300 and had multiple job offers. D will not be in this situation for sure.</p>
<p>Most schools give credit for good scores on the AP exams (the more selective the school, the higher the score needed for credit). A good score in Junior year can also be a boost to their applications.</p>
<p>So many questions here… CT: I wasn’t aware that high school were ranked like colleges. D is attending a private school in the city as our local rural high school was not a good fit for her. Surprisingly there are numerous private high schools in Portland so we did have our pick. Never thought about ranking per se. Mostly word of mouth and fit. Is there an internet ranking for high schools like Forbes et al?</p>
<p>Am I right in assuming that the only difference between AP & Honors courses are college credit? I understand that Honors course at school A may be lacking compared to school B, but AP courses are not created equal and I think test scores show that.</p>
<p>I’d rather see DD focus on courses that further her learning and provide a strong foundation for college classes rather than canned knowledge based on a test compiled by the college board.</p>
<p>DD’s school pays for the AP tests as well. The student has to sign a form saying that they agree to take the test in May, if they don’t sit for the test, then they have to pay the test fee & don’t get the quality points for the class. It will be considered a college level class. Which is the beneath honors. </p>
<p>As far as the College Board making $$$.,…don’t teachers have to take classes to become AP certified(not sure of the proper term) to speak? I know teachers have to take courses before teaching… how much do they charge for that? I’m sure it isn’t free.</p>
<p>College Board is all about making $$$ thats why they agree to providing the SAT test to different school districts on “off” SAT dates. You would be amazed at how much the district is paying to have the kids test on these days.</p>
<p>NewHaven – You’re saying that some school districts have SAT dates that aren’t widely available to the public?</p>
<p>99–here is one ranking. There may be others…I don’t follow it closely but have heard it mentioned throughout the years. Did not know your state so I chose mine.
[Top</a> Connecticut High Schools | Best High Schools | US News](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/connecticut]Top”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/connecticut)</p>
<p>Re: non-standard SAT dates. I could NOT believe that when I NewHaven posted that earlier this week, but confirmed with the SAT tutoring company we used. The rep said that seven schools in CT will be holding the test the last Sat in Feb. I would guess private schools since the March 9th test date is the first week of private school break in the NE. (But, I do not know that to be a fact.) I am still at a loss for why this is allowed as it seems so preferential when the SAT already fights the rep that families of means can pay for tutors, etc. (Being one who paid for a tutor…glass houses and all that, I recognize the irony…)</p>
<p>I am still a bit confused about the curve being built into the scoring of the test even before it is administered, so I cannot intelligently explain why I am so troubled by this special test date that is not open to the general public, but I am. The date would not work for my son at all (sports championship week), so this is not a case of sour grapes, but it just strikes me as wrong.</p>
<p>Curve? Huh? Are you saying that the SAT is curved?</p>
<p>Yes! All juniors in New Haven are required to sit for the SAT during late winter/early spring. This began last year when the new supervisor of the guidance/TAG took over. She is also a life long friend and confided that she saw that the district is woefully inept at preparing students for college. Most students weren’t sitting for it until November of senior year. Which we all know… is far too late. </p>
<p>Last years juniors were the first to take it on this “off” date so to speak. They take it during the school day and dd just received her confirmation this past week. I am sure if your school district paid the hefty price, CB would play ball. As the saying goes, money talks.</p>
<p>I know of a member here on CC whose dd takes the AP test this way. I believe she is from DC.</p>
<p>LOL CT… trust me, I never lie. I would have no reason to. I could tell by your post this past week that you had questioned me…such is life. I guess it takes a professional to confirm what I had said to be the truth. ;)</p>
<p>Ps its on 2/27 not on a Satuday… and we are not a family of means by any stretch of the imagination… if your school district wanted to pay what New Haven is paying, they would do it for your kids as well I am sure.</p>
<p>Back to the curve – is this just for the math portion?</p>
<p>Yes, the SAT is curved by design. 500 is supposed to be the 50% mark, with 200 and 800 at either end. That is why you can get the same “raw score” (number right minus guessing penalty) on two different tests and get slightly different results.</p>
<p>It is not just for math.</p>
<p><a href=“http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/SAT-Percentile-Ranks-2012.pdf[/url]”>http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/SAT-Percentile-Ranks-2012.pdf</a></p>
<p>Hasn’t there always been a curve? I am no professional at this, but its been discussed here on CC for a very long time!!</p>
<p>Thanks for the rankings CT. I didn’t see any private schools on there, so couldn’t find DD’s school. Not that we’d transfer if it didn’t “measure” up, but it’s fascinating to look at how others rank schools.</p>
<p>Interesting tidbits about the SAT, Seattle and NewHaven. Special dates for districts who pony up the big bucks certainly isn’t equitable. Not sure what I think of the curve. Just want this $%^& testing to be over.</p>
<p>My first impression on hearing about the special dates was that it was an attempt by College Board to address the inherent inequity in using a test where scores are so highly correlated with income and race. So I thought this was a way to level the playing field.</p>
<p>AgentyNinetyNine (do you know 007, by any chance?) – I’m with you – I can tell after just one sitting poor S’14 is wishing he has darkened his last oval. These tests are the things nightmares are made of.</p>