Parents of the HS Class of 2024

Yes - thanks - if a kid graduates in 3 or 3.5 years, they saved money for little up front expense. That was my point.

Kids have a choice - where to apply, which have costs, which will take AP credits for actual credit, etc. People don’t have to take the tests or apply to certain schools. That’s a choice they make. It’s all I said. It may not be fair but like is about choice in regard to economics. Where to live, what to drive, where to eat etc.

As I noted, especially if you are chasing cost/merit, the up front cost pales in comparison to what you’ll pay later. And is often worth it in the form of finding a cheaper home - because you cast a wider net to find better aid.

I can’t find it but someone said their COA on need aid was $1500. While I’m not in that economic category, I would imagine that is the kind of family that could get upfront financial assistance.

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That is crazy, most of the S24s arts supplements have an extra week or two before they are due, but yes it adds an annoying layer to getting everything done. Congrats on the progress!

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Well maybe you are talking about someone else, but I am still trying to say that you are incorrect if you believe that such families would automatically get upfront assistance. I’m not sure why you are so certain they would when you are not in that economic category.

As I said, my D22 receives need-based aid only. Her college does not provide merit aid at all. Her COA is about $700 per semester (=$1400 and some change per year for tution + room + board + books & fees). I also pointed out that our family would not get financial assistance for AP fees if the criteria for receiving assistance is being eligible for a free/reduced price lunch (or any of the other items on the list that others mentioned like public housing, upward bound, being a ward of the court and so forth).

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And if you paid for such tests, you made that choice. You didn’t have to.

And if that helped you get into the school your child chose, then that expense was worth it for you.

The school chose to invest in you. It’s their choice. And it’s great for you.

Many are seeking the lowest cost college after variable merit. And for those kids, the extra upfront costs hopefully will pay off later.

I was trying to note that (for most), these costs aren’t much vs what’s to come and in many cases pay off handsomely through either less time in school and/or better scholarships. Like everyone, I don’t want to have to pay up front but I realized it’s little overall vs what’s to come. And it could help reduce what’s to come.

I think we’ve all made our points.

What I am saying and the person you are responding to is that we do have to pay for the tests. Or our HS does not give credit for the class. And at our school there is no other choice for calculus or other honors level history or English classes after 10th grade so it impacts rigor. I can afford the tests but since they won’t help my S it is an annoyance.

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Except several posters said that they do have to pay for the tests because their children’s schools will not allow students to take AP courses unless the family register and pays for the exams. One poster even said that children are dropped from AP classes that they are already attending unless the whole fee is paid on time. That does not sound like a choice to me. It sounds like a mandate (or at least a mandate if there aren’t equivalent non-AP versions of the same class being offered). Why should a school district require students to take AP exams just to take the course? What happens to a family that can’t scrape together the whole fee at once?

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Our district has that policy; if you do not register and pay for the exam, you cannot take the course.

To your first question, Why should a school district require students to take AP exams just to take the course? = in our district, most AP courses are oversubscribed and there is a waiting list to get into them. I suspect (but have no direct knowledge) that the administration wants to fill the class with students who want/need college credit and therefore will take the course more seriously, as opposed to students who are taking the class primarily for a GPA boost.

To your second question, What happens to a family that can’t scrape together the whole fee at once? = in our district, aid is available. We have not pursued that, so I don’t know how arduous the task is, but my understanding is that no student is kept out of a class because of their inability to pay. However, if you choose not to register/pay, you will be dropped.

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As someone who has an EFC of about 1k, that was not true for my family. We make just above the income to qualify for federal or state programs to waive the fee for AP/ACT/SAT. It very much was a burden, yet I was required to take the AP exams and yet my family qualified for no assistance. SAT I was lucky because I was able to take it in school twice, which meant there was no cost.

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It’s a choice.

You don’t have to take AP classes. It’s opinion but I personally agree with the test requirement.

The student made the choice. Do they get more rigor ? Yes. Might they get credits from their college ? Yes. Or might they get to skip courses in college ?

Yea. If they make the choice to take the class, including its required tests, they made that choice. Whether they take the test or not, they will still have access to an education.

I ate at a Mexican place this week. I was aghast they charged for chips and salsa. But they did. I had a choice - chips and salsa with my meal or not.

Applying to a more selective school or taking a more rigorous schedule - it’s a choice.

When I was a kid. We didn’t have these choices. College was four years. Life was easier.

The college board or whoever makes APs is a business. If customers want to partake in their business, it’s a choice they made. They can go to college whether they take the test or not.

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If a high school is going to require AP students to take the AP exam when enrolled in an AP class, then the school should pay for the AP exam fee.

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I don’t disagree in theory but the rules are stated up front.

And there are alternative classes offered.

Would it be better for the school to not offer the AP? That’s another option.

Or should they raise property taxes so they can afford to pay for the AP.

Again each person has a choice.

This is no different than choosing to stay at a fancy hotel vs a comfort inn or eating a $10 ice cream scoop vs a gas station fudge bar or getting SAT prep or not.

If someone can’t afford the class, they shouldn’t purchase.

School is a right. Elite schooling / coursework is not.

The tests are not required here and we could pay if they were. But, it’s not always a choice. My 10th grader is in AP Calculus. So if I couldn’t pay, but was required to, I guess no more math after 9th grade for him? What would be the choice there? We have no other alternative classes offered.

He’s actually choosing not to take the AP test in May because he’s in AB and next year will do BC and will test then. I’m thankful we have that choice, personally. What would spending that $100 gain him?

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This week alone, I have recycled what must be 5 pounds of college mail and unsubscribed/deleted hundreds of emails from the college email account. This aspect of the admissions process alone is overwhelming and D24 just can’t keep up with it all alone.

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If the schools are meeting the minimum state law for course offerings - then that’s all they have to do. I don’t know what those rules are.

He doesn’t need to be in calc. He could take standard math.

It’s a choice that was made to advance him.

It’s getting silly. The point is we all have choices. The tests are not free. Why should the school pay ?

If not the school then who ?

No one, unless they chose to.

The school can teach the class, include in the transcripts, without anyone taking the AP tests.
If beyond their job of teaching, the school wants to direct revenue to the College Board by mandating the (entirely optional) tests, they should do so from their own marketing budget and justify it to the tax payers.

The most “rigorous coursework” is not “elite” - it’s the most suitable for many students, just as special education coursework might be most suitable for others.

Otherwise, why not just stop entirely after elementary school once they mastered multiplication and division. At what point is any added academic depth “elite”?

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OP said there’s no more math at their school. I’m sure there is 10th, 11th, and 12th grade math. There are now off campus ways - although maybe at a cost.

Trust me, i’m for schools offering more, not less.

But everyone wants lower taxes. The governments are coming in and trying to “equal” everyone - and guess what - that’s dumbing everything down - so we may be headed there anyway.

My point is - if the school requires an AP test and you don’t want to pay for it - then don’t take the class.

Lots of schools charge for things not everyone uses - heck, most every college does.

Again, if you know up front - then make the choice - or replace your school board.

S24 submitted the first application (EA) this morning. Things are moving ok for the remainder ED/EA application. I can’t wait until this is all over.

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Glad the first one is in!

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College tours officially over! Made one last 4 day trip during fall break to solidify ED choice.

D24 has made the decision that she has a clear #1 and she will ED to get the possible admissions bump. We are not doing ED 2, as none of her top second choice schools offer it.
Totals:
1 - ED (Nov. 1)
2 - Already accepted safeties (need to apply for Honors colleges by Nov. 1)
3 - EA (Nov. 1) (2 Likelies, 1 low reach)
3 - RD if ED doesn’t work out (even if EA apps are accepted -All high reach schools)
2 - MAYBES to add to RD. (Reach schools)

Now…it’s on her to finish those apps!!! Her Travel/ Research/ Finance assistant (ME!) is done…until decisions come in!

S24’s SCEA app has been in since Oct. 1, as he is a recruited athlete.
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel…

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so I am way too amused by the ability on scoir to see where kids are applying. Does not seem that anyone from our school is applying to S24s ED choice (not suprising) but so many are applying to the same schools. So interesting.

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