Is AP really worth it?

TXArtemis
Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:35:57 +0000

Although you indicate it’s challenging to make a good counseling connection at your HS, I encourage you to drop by this week, see if you can sit down and talk with someone on the spot or make an appointment to do so ASAP. GCs love working with motivated students like you! Unfortunately, many schools are understaffed in the counseling department, so help for freshmen and sophomores can seem nonexistent. If you look at it that way and realize you’re now at that point where they should give you the attention you deserve, you can go in with a fresh outlook and aim of establishing a positive connection with a counselor who’ll work for you!

Note, even though the school has implemented a new “no drop” rule, it seems reasonable to anticipate there is flexibility within the counseling department to work with juniors to insure they’ve developed the appropriate college prep plan for jr and sr years. And your recent receipt of a low AP score is compelling proof you need help and guidance.

You are not succeeding with AP testing so far, which means you need to figure out why. Do you need more support with testing performance generally? Is Honors-level a better fit for you than AP? Do the majority of your classmates make 4’s and 5’s, indicating the school’s AP courses adequately prepare students for the tests, or do most score 2’s and 3’s, indicating the coursework isn’t up to snuff? (The school will have this data, you just have to ask for it. Obviously, they aren’t going to readily admit the courses aren’t adequate if the 2’s and 3’s scenario applies; but if you learn that fact, it is a signal to you that you will have to invest money and time in outside AP test materials to get better scores.) Bottom line, as you’ve recognized, it’s critical you find the right balance between rigor and grades.

All in all, you really need an experienced, careful review of your transcript and what courses at your school are best suited for you the next two years, as well as assistance with the development of realistic college goals based on past/expected performance and curriculum choices.

You’re doing a great job identifying concerns and trying to figure out how to address them. Good luck!