How devastating @carolinamom2boys. I’m so sorry.
@carolinamom2boys I am so so sorry, that is just hearbreaking
@dfbdfb I tend to agree on placing out, not a fan. But it does vary on what that placement really means. If they can count as elective/general credits in a way that makes sense, great. If it removes the need for a math placement test, great. Looking at what those AP credits mean at each the schools on our list…is ALL over the board so I don’t plan to think too much about it without actual scores, actual colleges and actual curricula (this assumes an actual major though…) which, as freshmen…may see many many iterations between now and the application, acceptance, enrollment and actual attendance. And then they may still change their mind.
So sorry @carolinamom2boys Hugs.
It gives a whole different perspective.
@carolinamom2boys I’m so sorry. That is so sad.
Oh, @carolinamom2boys, what a sad day for your son and his community. Hugs.
@homerdog, those 19ers with older siblings haven’t been able to avoid talking about colleges…for years…poor kids. That being said, I believe that college talks should begin in eighth grade, because in ninth grade and after, everything matters. I think it’s good for high school kids to make their own choices about their future…if they have enough information to do so. And part of this information is what they do in high school matters.
I agree that it is important to remember that each high school is different. Some of those AP classes will be followed by IB (or dual enrollment) classes, so the subjects won’t be cold when they arrive at college. Also, it’s important to remember that each student is different. One thing I like about these parent threads on CC is that we offer advice and share experiences, but at the same time allow for differences. Thanks for all the thoughtful comments!
@carolinamom2boys I’m so sorry, that is heartbreaking.
@carolinamom2boys - so sorry for your son (and his classmate).
In the Dark Ages, I took a bunch of CLEP courses and started college as a sophomore. Is that what AP is these days; do you actually get college credit for them? Sorry to be clueless…
Taking AP’s when they are offered in high school shows academic rigor, which is important in the application process.
@Gatormama it really depends on the college. Some take them and some do not. D16 took 9 AP classes and she ultimately decided to attend a college where they don’t count other than giving her some additional credits towards graduation. They don’t replace any classes. Had she attended UCSB (for example) she would have gotten out of taking some of her general education classes.
@Gatormama you will only get credit, potential credit that is, if the child takes the AP test. Many kids take AP classes and choose not to take the test, which is a separate registration and fee. Others take it but do not score high enough for it to receive credit. As noted above the credit policy varies by college so it’s best to check each schools website to see what may or may not count.
For example, AP language. Some schools may offer credit for a score of 3 or better. Some for 4 or better. Some may offer 2 classes with of credits for a score of 4 or better. Others may offer nothing or simply use passing to “place” a child in a higher entry level course than would be standard.
@homerdog Our school tried to remove Honors English 11 & 12, US History and US Government offerings a few years ago, but there was an uproar over it and the classes were back on the schedule the next year. Juniors and seniors have three levels to choose from in these subjects. They recently added a non-AP calculus class too.
I’m very grateful for the options because S19 would never want to take AP English, history or government - he’s actually in regular English 9 because his 8th grade teacher didn’t assign any writing last year! The only classes he likes are orchestra and math, so he’s probably headed towards just AP Calc, Physics and maybe computer science, but that’s it. There are honors STEM engineering classes for juniors and seniors that he might want to take.
Obviously, he is never going to be posting on CC worrying about his GPA only being 4.5 (although it would be nice if he could scrape out a 4.0 and have a shot at Virginia Tech which seems to require this GPA from kids in our HS). I’m hoping to keep one kid in-state!
@Gatormama, S13 and D16 are also going to a college that doesn’t accept AP scores for credit hours (for the most part, that is. If you have high scores and a broad range of tests, you can skip a year of college or get an MA degree in some departments but you must be very sure of your major at the beginning of your first year. Neither option is widely taken). I agree with @Undercovermom1 that one very important reason to take AP (and IB) classes is to demonstrate academic rigor. Here’s another reason: I feel that the intensity, breadth, and depth of AP and IB classes and tests have helped prepare my kids for their college courses. Well worth it even if they didn’t receive specific credit for those courses and tests. S13 took Honors Bio (9th grade), Honors Chem & AP Bio (10th grade), AP Chem (11th grade), IB HL Chem (12th grade). He sailed through organic chemistry in college, and he attributed this to these high school science classes and some truly great teachers. (ETA: S13 took many other AP & IB courses–and those have also benefited him in other ways. A complete win in my book. Plus, he was very used to studying for and taking big/intense exams well before he got to college.)
At our school you have 2 choices; Regular or Pre-AP/AP. The gap between the two class tracks is huge. It’s my impression that good AP scores and SAT II scores can help get a child into a competitive major at a non-ivy/reach type school. I figure it’s good practice to at least attempt the appropriate tests when the opportunity arises. What do the experienced parents think?
@2019hope There is no right answer for every kid. Taking AP classes can help getting into more selective schools because it speaks to rigor which has become important in admissions . That being said, it can be detrimental as well, if someone doesn’t perform well. My oldest who will graduate HS next month will have 8 APs under his belt which he took over the last 3 years. Our school offers AP,Honors classes and College Prep classes which are the regular classes. AP offers increase with each year. At our school, if you take the AP class you are required to take the exam as our school system pays for them. My oldest did not take every AP offered. He only took the ones that he was interested in or that he knew he could do well in. Our AP classes are weighted and can help boost a GPA. For that reason , many students take them. That being said, if a student does poorly it can tank a GPA. One of my son’s classmates took too many difficult and time consuming APs at one time ( AP Psych, AP Psych and AP Physics) , overextended herself and tanked her Jr GPA ( the most important one)
In terms of my DS19, he was recommended for English 1 Honors in 8th grade , I knew he wasn’t ready , and that his GPA would be affected. I decided that he needed another year of middle school English to prepare him for HS. He was also recommended for AP Geography which I knew from a writing standpoint , he wasn’t ready, so he chose Honors instead . He did very well in Honors and will be taking his first AP as a Sophomore. We always discuss this before a decision is made to get his view on whether he feels ready for the rigor of a class. He has always come back after the fact and told me that we made the right decision . He has also learned to use his intuition to assess his options. When he was recommended for Chemistry Honors next year, he felt like he would be better prepared after completing Algebra 2. He stated his case to the teacher and me, and chose to take Earth Science Honors instead and wait for Chemistry in his Jr year.
I guess all of this to say : Know your child . Engage them in the decision process . Don’t get caught up in what everyone else is doing or what you are think they are doing. It makes things more stressful
than need be. That strategy has worked for my family . Find one that works for yours. Good luck.
^^^ This.
@2019hope ^^ I completely agree. Do what is best for your child, both in terms of ability and interest. Don’t get caught up in what anyone else is doing. We have 4 kids. Each has taken a totally different HS class schedule path but one that worked for each of them. What each college weights, cares about totally varies and it’s far more important for the kid to enjoy their classes, be challenged, and do well. Just to have the AP on a transcript, if the kid has zero interest in it and won’t do well, is not worth it at all and can actually have the reverse of the desired effect.
SS11. Zero AP’s or honors. Did Dual enrollment for 2 years. Graduated last spring, DE saved maybe 1-2 semesters off of his degree but he did have to take a few things “again” that didn’t transfer in correctly or at the right level for his private LAC.
SD14. 2-3 AP’s, maybe 1-2 honors. High GPA, strong EC’s. Did not take any of the AP tests. Current sophomore in a very competitive OOS public school. Strong trend of more difficult classes over time.
S17. Will have 3 honors and 6 AP’s at graduation. Solid B+ student and miserable test taker. Nice upward trend with GPA. Should have some good solid options base on his interests. He has taken all of the AP tests so far, simply b/c I thought it was mandatory. He may not take all of them next year (3). We won’t have scores for this years tests until July but the first one was a waste of my money and I suspect that the Physics one was as well. Not all schools give credit and credit varies on the score. There are both honors and AP classes he was recommended for that he chose not to take and we supported him. Conversely we’ve had 2 instances where he registered for the “mainstream” class and then changed his mind to AP either on the final day of registration or over the summer and had his schedule changed. We supported that too.
S19. Will likely have 4 honors and 7 AP Classes. He is the only one of the for that may take SAT II tests. Most schools do not require them (very very few actually) . Yes, if your child is exceptionally strong in a subject maybe it makes sense to show that, schools will look at them even if not required. But as to whether they really help when not required? That’s pretty subjective and no real way to know.
@eandesmom Suppose the SAT II’s won’t hurt
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19671678/#Comment_19671678
@payn4ward I think it depends. If the kid is doing well in the AP class (and especially if they like the subject) then yes, possibly it makes sense and can add to an application. But if a SAT II isn’t needed, or potentially even valued by the schools on a child’s list, why pay for and make kids take tests they don’t need? No, it doesn’t hurt the college app, you don’t have to report it. But does it hurt the child? I think that varies by the kid quite a bit. I don’t think there is one right answer, just that it really varies by child. We have discussed the Biology Sat II for S19 At the moment, strongly leaning against it unless he pushes for it…
We still have another month of school here. DD is doing well in all her classes. No APs this year just honors. She has requested two APs next year: Psychology and Art (Drawing).
In other news, DD’s boat (crew) won their event at “states” so all the girls got gold medals and the school gets to display the large trophy for the year. The team brought home a couple more 1st place trophies and some 2nd and third place medals also.
As far as college talk, hard to avoid when you’re the youngest.
@Dragonflygarden Congrats to your daughter and her crew! Now that’s a lot of fun!
Congrats, @Dragonflygarden on the fast boat. It is hard to avoid college talk when the kid is the youngest…and maybe we should talk about the pressure these younger kids feel when their older sibs have gone to places like Dragonflygarden’s kids.