Advanced Regents: Worth my time?

hudsonvalley51
Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:49:46 +0000

“There isn’t really that big of a difference between Regents vs .Advanced Regents”

I don’t agree with this statement. The basic Regents diploma only requires passing exams in Algebra, one lab science, English, Global History and US History with a score of 65 or better. It is stated NYSED policy that the goal of NYS public schools is to graduate all students with a Regents diploma.

The Advanced Regents diploma, in addition to the above, requires passing a foreign language exam (usually given after the third year of study), Geometry, Trig and a second lab science.

There is also a category called Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors for students who pass all required exams with a 90 or better average. Some schools, including our middling rural/suburban school, require a third year of lab science in order to earn the Honors designation.

Conventional wisdom in our community is that the Regents diploma prepares you for community college or non-selective SUNYs and private colleges. The Advanced Regents prepares students for the more selective SUNYs and private schools and students who want to apply to more selective schools are encouraged to shoot for the Advanced diploma with honors.