rishibhai

I'll be taking 2 AP exams (Euro and English Lit.) in a couple of weeks and it seems that Amherst doesn't grant credit or advanced standing for any AP exams. Should I bother to study for these tests? Also, my performance on these exams can't allow the school to rescind their offer, as in they don't fit into the "senioritis" clause, right? Thanks.

kwu

No credit or advanced standing, but you could place into higher level courses.
Consult the Prospectus to be sure.

You should do at least SOME studying, just to get a half-decent score.
It's about personal dignity and the fact that one doesn't need to get that many questions right to earn a 5.

And, since it's at your discretion to submit AP scores at all, they could never know about it at all.

It's up to you.

Catfish

Some AP exams are useful to have for placement into higher level courses, but I don't think Euro or English Lit are among them. They may be useful if you want to take a course which normally isn't open to freshman, but that depends on the professor and your interest. The English and History departments themselves don't have any set policy where a 5 on the exam will allow you to skip a certain course.

The more useful AP courses are in the sciences, math, and econ. They will all let you skip the basic intro courses if you do well on the exam. English and History don't have those sort of basic intro courses that everyone has to take.

So basically, do well on those AP exams for your own pride / to make your high school teachers look better, not because you think it might give you some benefit.

kwu

Ah, yes, what Catfish said: your school keeps track of these things for their own personal records, and to make annual reports to their district, state, diocese, etc. So, if you earn poor grades, it will reflect badly on your alma mater and teachers.

ejr1

Also in foreign language. Helped D's placement.

kinetix

As noted, AC does not grant credit for the AP scores. Placement is an issue but please do not rush in an effort to "move up" to the more advanced course. College will for most freshman pose a real change in lifestyle. Try to slide in as easily as possible. Second, I do not know your background but consider the possibility that there will be students entering or already at AC (rising sophomores) who are or will be at a more advanced level than you. My son (not a freshman) scored 4 and 5 on AP Calc AB and BC but was a world away from where some of the entering freshman were in math. Keep in mind that the AP exam tests the level of your preparation for the test and not merely your level of preparation for a particular course at AC. Some high schools teach to the test. Finally, there is a move underfoot to curb grade inflation (that mans A's will be tough to get) and to stiffen the requirements for majors. Check out the Amherst Student newspaper online (an article in late April on the econ department). There is or should be no rush to pass up the opportunity to assure you have a quality background designed to fit the AC level of expertise required and perhaps earn an A. After all, grades do count and anyone who tells you otherwise is not being very candid. After all, you did not reach this point because you had poor grades, and the process does not change when it comes to jobs or grad school.