First discussion haha
So I’ve already took 2 AP tests last year as a Sophomore, and I’m planning to do it again this year.
Our school limits AP subjects for students. In fact, I wasn’t allowed to take any APs last year.
I was quite disappointed, so I decided to just study by myself. I studied CS and Bio, mainly because those were the subjects I enjoyed.
I ended up getting 5’s on both, which was relieving. Now, my goals were:
- Not take these courses as junior/senior
- Get some college creds (prob not happening)
- May look positive for college app
Now, what exactly do AP scores without courses show about a student? Because I am aware that colleges are into the challenging coursework thing, and my “coursework” was outside of school and I don’t know if they’ll consider it that way. I’m studying the courses already for fun and arrogant enough to not change what I’m doing based on what colleges think, but I’m just really curious along with other fellow friends about this thing. Feedback/response would be great!
My son self-studied CS, Physics C, and Stat. He doesn’t think it hurt or helped his college application, EXCEPT that it reinforced his guidance counselor’s perception of him as a kid who liked to learn things, which presumably came across in her recommendation.
He did not use the 8 AP tests for college credit, although they probably helped him place out of Intro courses.
It really depends on the person, but people who usually do are pressured by other people, poor and won’t be able to afford a course in college/wants to reduce their payments in college, or they just simply don’t want to take it in college.
Answering to your goals anyways:
- It's better to take the class by far unless if you have one of the reasons I mentioned or some other valid one that I couldn't come up with right away.
- Depends on the institution, state (as in the schools that have the word "state" in them), will give you the credits. University of "U.S. State" depends and they somewhat give it. But for Privates good luck of getting credit, lol.
- No it doesn't. But if they are stuck on between you and a person and you took an AP exam (even if you didn't pass) and the other person didn't even consider taking that specific AP exam, then you have an advantage. They care more about you taking the class than the exams.
@elefish92
On the note on number 3: “care more about taking the class”
Would independent study not be considered as a class so much?
Well, it would show that you would know the material. But college sees it as “taking the class shows that you know more information about that subject”, as it seems, but that’ s just my point of view. Also, taking the class would show how rigorous your institution is. Example, say you get a C in the class both semesters, however you got a 5 in the exam, this shows that your high school is really rigorous. But if you got an A both semesters and didn’t pass the exam, they are going to wonder about the rigor of your secondary school.
All of the reasons I can think of now, there’s probably more.
I see.
I was looking around the CC forums and saw a lot of people took numerous APs (some in a quite formidable degree) so I was a bit concerned. But it’s understandable considering the unique setting of my school.
Perhaps these APs don’t have much meaning at this point besides course rigor…it seems less and less top tier colleges are accepting it as credit.
@BasedBioGod, perhaps it isn’t so much that fewer top tier colleges are accepting them as credits, but that students, having worked hard to get into those colleges, aren’t in a rush to get out of those colleges. 