Hi all! My son signed up for AP Research as his English class next year (his senior year). From what I understand, it counts as his English requirement at his high school. But I just had the thought that maybe colleges won’t see it that way—and I know that most colleges require four years of English.
He hasn’t taken AP Lang yet, so that’s an option, too. Do you think I should advise him to switch?
His English classes so far have been:
English I
AP Seminar/English II (that’s how it’s listed on his transcript)
AP Lit
Thanks so much for any help you can provide! 
For California public universities, AP research is generally considered an academic elective (category g of the a-g requirements, not category b which is English).
However, California public universities generally consider AP seminar as an English course (category b).
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My high school doesn’t count it this way so I’m not sure what the norm is
I don’t have much commentary I don’t think but as someone whose taken Lang and who will take Research Lang can help with being able to learn how to put down a rhetorical argument in an effective manner that can help with one’s research and maybe result in a higher score
I genuinely don’t know from a college standpoint though
I also know a lot of colleges don’t take Seminar/Research credit at all or it counts as an elective
I don’t know if any of this was helpful
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Is the end goal to get AP credit for an English course in college or to demonstrate high rigor for highly selective schools? If either of those things, have him switch to AP Lang. Just my opinion. Many colleges consider AP Research to be an elective rather than an English course so any AP credit would be as an elective rather than English credits. Maybe check what AP credits are given at a few of the schools on his college list.
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Will the transcript list AP research/English 4?
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Great question! I don’t think so. In sophomore year, you only have two options: regular English II or AP Seminar. But in senior year, kids take all kinds of things. Most take English IV, but many take AP Lit, AP Lang, or AP Research. Since each of those contain a mix of juniors and seniors, I doubt they add the English IV label.
Talking this out, I think I need to see if we can get his schedule changed! Thank you!
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This is helpful! We are not in California—but he’d love to be. I know he wants to keep his options open, so this will help me make a case for AP Lang.
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Thank you so much for weighing in! I think his goal is to keep a rigorous course load while fulfilling the “four years of English” requirement. It’s sounding like AP Research isn’t the best option for him. I’ll talk to him about it tonight!
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If he plans to apply as a Humanities/Social Science would-be major, AP research could be added to AP Lang.
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It definitely is helpful! Thank you so much!
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