@curiositycat333 We told our kids we expected 3 APs from them (lang, calc, any science). Sometimes I feel we should have pushed them for more, but I have enjoyed NOT having them melting down with their busy (band) schedules. I’ve been talking S out of taking too many more, but its hard. I think he will end up with 6 or 7 AP classes total (but probably wont bother taking the AP Lit test as many schools give the same credit for it as Lang?)
@flatKansas I told my son to only take AP classes he was truly interested in. As a junior he did not take any, but took all honors classes. As a senior he will take 2 APs and the rest honors. I think his head might melt from the extra homework required for the 2 APs. I don’t know how the children of the posters in here have the time and patience necessary to complete 8-12 APs. I find it amazing (in a good way). My kids definitely do not have the focus,drive, or motivation to even attempt something like that. There is no way my kids would be happy with 4-6 hours of homework every day. I guess that’s what separates the upper echelon of students from the pack, the real desire for acquiring knowledge/skills no matter what.
Our school offers 22 APs. Older son17 will finish with 2, and I’d guess Son19 will take 3-5 max.
Re: ACT writing…. son17’s score went up to mid 20’s from low 20’s on his 2nd attempt. Not great, but none of the schools he is looking at seem to care about those scores.
Well, that and wealth.
[/snark]
^^^^^^^^
@dfbdfb Ha, that is partially true I guess.
You can be a great student though with a burning desire to learn and go to a “normal” college that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
One thing I’ve learned on this site is how many truly great students there are out there. Tons!!! It’s given me insight to realize my kids are certainly not on that level and to seek institutions where they will fit in and hopefully thrive.
Few thoughts to share,
Son got AP results. He got 5’s on AP eng. Lang and Stats. He did not take Apush this year, rather Honors History. My S felt the honors teacher was better than the APush teacher, and wanted this more thought provoking class. He took the ap test and got a 4. Very happy. I guess he made the right decision.
I must admit, while I love the spirit of this thread, it does give me angst. S seems to pale in comparison to so many high achieving kids here. And on top of that, he is away for 8 weeks working at camp. Essays and applications are taking a back seat this summer. As I read all that is happening here, I feel anxious that he will be way behind…Then, my sane side takes over and says he will be fine…I know that.
MY S will apply ED, and if rejected, ED2 at his second choice. We need much help. Our financials have changed over the past years. Here is my thinking. Let him chase his dream schools. They are both need blind, meet full demonstrated need. If he somehow gets lucky, great. If we find that the money doesn’t work for us, he has the option to decline for financial reasons. In the meantime, he will apply Rolling and EA to a number of schools that will give him merit money and flexibility. Since ED increases odds, we should take advantage of the odds. I am hopeful, that these schools will come thru with what their EFC says. If they do, great. If they under deliver, we move on. We will turn in all these backups before we hear from ED schools. We will not withdraw, until we are financially satisfied…This is our approach. We will see.
In the meantime, Alabama app was done on Friday. He had a free period at camp, and filled it out. Got log in info yesterday. There appears to be problems with checking status. Also had problem loading scholarship app. I called Bama, and they said they were made aware of problems yesterday. They are trying to fix it. Bama with presidential, is our solid financial safety.
On another note, we are having problems with DE. Our local colleges are impacted. HS students can’t register until first day of class. Long shot the limited times available will have seats. This could be a pain in the ass. He wants to take Both intro Econ classes, as we don’t have AP econ at our school. Anyone have good idea for reputable online university that we should research. He has never taken an online class, and I have some concerns for how difficult material may be taught online…Thoughts?
@RightCoaster
I finally got curious enough to go see how many APs our school offers - 19. The one unfortunate thing about our school is that once AP begins there aren’t honors classes. You either took APUSH or APLang, or you took regular. I wish we had more honors options.
@flatKansas I think ours is even a little less. Picking APs has more to do with choosing the quality of the teachers and the interest of the students. We don’t have honors classes. So you either pick AP or IB or regular…there is absolutely nothing in between. D cannot stand to be in classes with kids who don’t seem to want to be there. She encounters that even in AP and IB classes sometimes but it isn’t quite as bad.
I think the fact that nothing exists between regular classes and AP speaks to what @dfbdfb was stating about changing the intention behind offering APs. I just looked at our local high school’s info. 8 APs are offered, 18% of students take them, but only 39% pass the exams.
@BigPapiofthree You DS appears a great student who know what he wants and pursues his passion. I don’t think he pale in comparison to any other high achieving kids.
My DD choose all AP classes because, like some others commented earlier, the teachers are better and class participation is better. She will choose AP CS over AP Bio because she said the teacher was great (he taught AP Calc). I am the first one concerned with her AP load. But she said she wants the rigor in junior and senior year. She has signed up pretty much all the other electives during Freshman and sophomore year, arts studio, independent living etc etc. Given the fact that she never really go to sleep past 11, often watches Netflix and YouTube, and bakes all the time, I believe she does have the juice to go further. So I signed off on her AP load. Most the challenging time is Fall when she has her varsity sport. So it is critical she finishes all essays before school starts.
Checking our HS profile, for 15-16 year, 21 APs are offered. total 622 AP tests taken, 81% with 3/4/5. AP Scholar:38; AP Scholar with Honor:28; AP Scholar with Distinction: 41; AP National Scholar:10
AP- My D17 takes APs for several reasons. One, the electives that she wants and feels are beneficial are only offered through AP (econ/ governement) and another is that she was trying to move into the top 10% in her school rank. She did not succeed but without APs she would have had no hope and would have moved down 30-40 spots. The rat race…
Our school does not allow you to take the AP test unless you take the class. So all the self study kids on cc shocked me
We also do not have honors Jr. Lang arts or history, only AP/ib language and APUSH. But not all the kids take the test.
@flatKansas S17 is also a band kid. Band eats up huge amounts of time particularly in the fall. But it’s been very important for his social & emotional growth so I don’t regret that decision.
On the AP subject…
20 AP exams offered, 96% score 3 or higher, and most classes are not available until Jr year. Some students do play the GPA game where they petition to be allowed to enroll in AP Econ as sophomores so as to receive the GPA bump. Historically, electives were only offered as non-honors, although with the introduction of honors band, chorus, etc, the non-musicians have been falling behind in the GPA race unless they manage to enroll in AP elective courses.
Humanities students are at a bit of a disadvantage GPA-wise as APUSH is the only humanities AP offered Jr year whereas accelerated math students can take BC Calc and all students can choose among AP Bio, Chem & Physics. APES is the less rigorous science AP, but I surprised at how many students take that class. Lowest passing rate but more students taking the course each year, perhaps reflecting this rush to AP exams.
Our school does not list the AP Scholar info, perhaps because many do not attain that designation until the end of Sr year?
@RightCoaster The kids who take 8-10 AP’s at DS’s school aren’t necessarily the ones with “real desire for acquiring knowledge/skills no matter what.” Junior/Senior year there are no ‘honors’ classes at our school only AP. Many of them are doing it to play the college acceptance “game”. It’s what they think they need to do to get into a top college. Many of them spend hours & hours rote studying for tests, leaving zero time for socializing or sleep. They take summer prep classes and have been tutored since they were kids.
And then there are the teens doing this because they have a real desire. It can be hard to tell from the outside. And i’m glad more advanced classes are available for those who want them. I personally know kids who had a personal internal drive & bright enough to take the max # of AP’s. But I see other kids are coming out the other end of this process exhausted, stressed and depressed.
From D’17 school’s profile: (Last years data)
30 AP courses offered.
Scores reported in 35 Subjects
2015 Advanced Placement Examinations:
Total 2014-2015 Candidates 1,765
AP Grades Reported 4,831
Class of 2015 Scores of 3 or higher 85%
Elsewhere on the school website, there is more score distribution information available. I will give credit to the school/district, they do a good job of reporting data
@CT1417 I was surprised to learn about honors level music classes and AP Music Theory at our school. Same thing, if you take regular CP electives you lose class ranking ground to those taking higher level music classes. My kids argued they should get to take AP lax and soccer to show their proficiency 
Same thing right? Ha.
It’s a total rat race if you want to be at the top.
It is good that our HS does not offer ranking. So there are less competitions to take AP classes. However with a 300 student/grade HS, I am surprised to see so many AP tests taken.
@novicemom23kids That rat race is why I gave S ulcers by talking him out of APUSH. He is already at a GPA “disadvantage” at his school due to 2 music classes. He’s not ultracompetitive, but it has really bothered him having to decide between making his class rank fall a lot or fall a little every semester.
@curiositycat333 I don’t regret S’s band decisions at all! It’s been amazing to watch him grow because of band.
QOTD
With regard to the question of how many APs (and how colleges to apply to), it usually comes back to judgement and individual circumstances. I don’t think you can make a blanket prescription. So much depends on the child, the teachers, the set of alternative high level course work etc. I agree that there may be some overemphasis on AP
While I agree that there may be some pressure to “keep up with the academic jones” that pushes some into courses where they will not thrive, many others do thrive. Also, for some, a rigorous AP schedule in high school might allow you to graduate 3-4 semesters early. Or change your major several times and still graduate on time. Or avoid huge introductory classes and go to smaller, deeper advanced classes where you get more interaction with a professor. There are many possible good outcomes, although I too loathe sending more money to the college board.
And as much as I think Jay Mathews may be misguided, I even think there is some value when a student signs up for an AP class, tries and falls short. I think this is a lower risk environment in which to experience a bit of failure. I hope that no students are pushed into this track with no option for recourse if they see they are in over their heads. At D’17’s school you can switch levels if you are struggling too much.
Like so much in this world, it depends. Quoting from the old Nordstrom 4 word employee handbook, “Use your best judgement.”