At my kids school the AP exam is the final exam. Makes sense, because that is exactly what it is.
FYI, I just started a thread specifically on Spring 2019 visit itineraries and strategies here:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/2122580-spring-2019-college-visits-with-d20-s20-where-are-you-headed.html#latest
Our school pays for the AP tests. Everyone takes the test because you have to either go to school that day or take the test, and why not get credit?
As far as the AP test being the final exam, how would that work if scores arenât released until summer after grades are out? At our high school, AP courses are taught by some great teachers and some lousy ones who have poor pass rates. It wouldnât be right to base a studentâs grade on a test they werenât prepared for.
I believe students should be allowed to take a class solely for the rigor and education it provides without being pressured to take the test if itâs not wanted or needed. And I believe itâs the schoolâs obligation to do that (especially public school).
Interesting conversation on AP testing. Our school doesnât do weighted GPA so that doesnât factor in and we donât typically have honors classes. It is either AP/college in high school classes or core, nothing in between which can be tough. A few of my daughterâs AP classes so far they can choose the AP test or pay for regular college credit. She has chosen the college credit each of those times to avoid the stress of the AP test. Other classes she takes the test. I let her make the decision. I am not really worried about it either way. If she can knock off a few college classes that is great but I donât want her feel pressured about that.
AP and honors classes are weight 1 point. No pressure to take the AP class. In fact if you donât think you will do well there may even be subtle pressure to not take.
Hi all, sorry I opened a can of worms with my question, but got some good info here; will need to check with the school if skipping AP classes is ok.
Last year D got an AP Euro teacher who was rumored to give no Aâs. Turned out to be just a rumor, about a fifth got Aâs. She was a mediocre teacher, but her class got highest grades on the test because kids knew she wasnât teaching them well enough and self-studied more.
No one asked, but I am in the camp that you shouldnât have to take the test unless the school pays for the test. And since our kids will have diploma in hand by the time results are available, for next yearâs tests at least, why should it factor into the grade?
But then, I am quite jaded.
In my DS16âs case, he chose not to take 2 AP exams because his honors college would give no credit regardless of the score. He chose to put that time to the 3 exams for which he could get credit for a 4 or 5. I chose to put that $200 of exam fees towards other college expenses. They are so burnt out by the end of senior year and there are so many expenses to be covered. Choices need to be made.
@ShrimpBurrito Do you know anything about UOttawa or Carleton U? Just not sure what other Canadian Unis you considered/visited. My D20 was wondering about schools in Ottawa.
Hi @stencils
How did the McGill visit go?
D and I visited Carleton. D really didnât like it. She canât put her finger on why. I suspect it was the lack of enthusiasm from the students we encoutered that day. We saw very few smiles. No one seemed happy to be there. We were also the only visitors on campus that day. There are tunnels linking many buildings on campus, which is a great idea, but D found them dark and depressing (especially contrasted with the tunnels at URochester which were filled with artwork). Just overall it was a big NO. We had time to tour UOttawa as well, but after Carleton D just wanted to get out of town! I canât explain it, and we might have had a different experience on a different day.
She visited UToronto, twice, and really liked it. She LOVED UBC but I think you said that was too far from home.
As it turns out, my sister who lives in Seattle has asked me to help her with something in March - the same time as D20âs spring break - so I will be taking D with me. We will tour U Washington and hopefully can make the trip down to see U Oregon and OSU, as well. D is excited to see those schools!
Weighing in on the AP debateâŠ
D18 took five AP classes her senior year. She only took three of the AP exams. She had several reasons for skipping out:
-After the first few weeks of class, she realized the coursework in those two classes would not adequately prepare her for the AP tests and that she would have to do a lot of self-study.
-None of the colleges she was applying to would accept credit for AP Physics 1, so the test would have been a waste of money.
-The other AP test she didnât take was Chem. She doesnât grasp Chem the way she does most other subjects, and she knew that she would not want to claim the AP credit for it. She just wanted the education.
-She was a senior and didnât want the pressure of having to study for five AP tests!
At her HS there is no commitment to take the AP exam. The GPA weighting is different, and you have to take a final in class if you donât register for the AP test, but the choice is left to the student. I think she chose wisely.
Our spring break plans may need to change. We have a trip booked to South Carolina for a second visit to USC. Itâs very high on Sâs short college list. As S is picking out his courses for senior year, I looked at USCâs admission requirements to make sure he is meeting them. NOPE. They require a semester of Economics and a semester of Government. Sâs small private school offers neither. Iâve alerted our (awesome) HS counselor, and she has a message in to our regional USC admissions rep. Iâm hoping there is some flexibility and/or a simple resolution here. S just doesnât have the time or inclination to take these classes online or at CC, but he also really wants to keep USC on his list. Weâll be holding our breath until we hear something.
@ShrimpBurrito Thatâs weird. D17 looked closely at USC, and it was down to the wire between SC and her current school. We visited twiceâŠonce to admitted students day. She never took an economics class (personal finance, yes), and never took âGovernmentâ (US History, yes). Maybe those count, I donât know, but I believe there will be flexibilityâŠespecially if high stats. Hope so.
@ShrimpBurrito My daughter is in the Honors College at USC - I was surprised to see your comment re the economics requirement. She definitely didnât have that. Wonder if that is a new requirement? I would think most high school students donât take economics unless they take the AP Micro/Macro electives (at least around here).
@hgtvaddict âWe will tour U Washington and hopefully can make the trip down to see U Oregon and OSU, as well. D is excited to see those schools!â
D20 really liked UW, especially the Foster School of Business bldg (Dempsey Hall) which is very modern, juxtapositioned against the grand Denny Hall. If she gets a direct admit to Foster and some OOS merit (purple & gold scholarship) to make it more in line with the cost of our in-state UCs, it may be a top 3 contender? Let us know what you think once you visit?
@bigmacbeth and @MommaB123
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with USC. Itâs helping me breathe easier tonight! This is what I found on the USC website:
https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/undergraduate_admissions/requirements/for_freshmen/required_high_school_courses/index.php
I searched the USC forum here and found a two year old thread about this issue. Official response from USCâs admissions office back then was that they only have flexibility with the fine arts creditâother requirements are firm.
Hopefully I will know more tomorrow. Iâll share here when I have an answer.
@ShrimpBurrito I look forward to hearing what you learn! And please me know if you have any questions I can answer about USC - D17 is very happy there.
USC here is University of South Carolina vs. the one in southern California 