Thank you for everyone’s responses. Yes our S’18 is taking pre-calc. Would that be enough for Math 2 or would he need much more preparation for a good score. He has a very good APUSH instructor and because of that I think he’ll do well on USHIS
@wrights1994 - We were just discussing about reporting the scores yesterday. We are not sure actually.
The only score that she would likely be using is the AP English Comp score from her junior year, which will cover one semester of mandatory English, but even then she is not sure she wants to use it because she thinks it would be valuable to take the english requirement so that she learns how Marquette wants things written. She could use WHAP to cover a humanities requirement but says that she would like to take the humanities class because she really enjoys history classes and it would be a nice break from her heavy math/science courseload. She found out she does not need the AP Calc for her major (she should have taken AP Statistics for Marquette BS/DPT, other schools she applied to wanted the Calc class). She is required to take the Marquette version of Physics they will not accept AP Physics score for her specific major (although they would if she was a humanities major). Because she is in an accelerated 6 year BS/DPT program there is very little room for electives so her other AP classes (Human Geo, US History, Econ, US Govt, Euro Hist, English Lit, Music Theory) really don’t cover much in the way of credit. She actually is not taking the tests for English Lit, Econ, US Govt and Calc because they are not going to count toward anything and there was not point in shelling out the $80 per test. She is taking AP Euro exam on Friday, simply because she wants too.
She did not take AP Bio or AP Chem, only honors Bio & Chem. She could have used those scores for credit.
We have recently been debating the value of AP Physics for D18 next year. She has no idea was she want to major in but we are 80% sure it will not be a STEM major. She is required by her school’s graduation plan (Multi-disciplinary 4 X 4) to take at least 4 AP classes and score a 3 or better on the exams and to take 4 years of English, Math, Science and Social Studies. She is also required to take on Physics. The question is whether she should take regular or AP Physics.
We learned a lot from D16. Knowing what you want to major in and what schools you want to attend early on can really help in determining what APs to take, unfortunately D18 is really not sure what she wants so she is likely to be taking lots of APs and like her sister several are probably not going to count toward much.
Of course if someone is targeting those top 1- 50 USNWR schools the value of AP courses and the corresponding score result matter…it is a whole different admissions ballgame for those schools.
@ak200008 - D16 took AP US History last year. I believe that she told me it was new course material and exam last year. It was apparently harder than the previous version according to her (and the teacher) She came out of it with a 3 without to much effort.
@labegg, I was just asking because my son was able to get so many credits with his AP scores and dual enrollment classes. Even if your daughter still wants to take a class the credit could not hurt. My son was required to take the freshman writing class and the economics class he needs, but was able to pass out of math credits. He knows more details than I do, but he went in as a freshman with 44 credits. He was junior status after one semester!
That really depends entirely on where a kid goes to college. Many schools accept AP credit depending on the score. At the more academically rigorous schools, credit will only be granted for 5s in a handful of APs and 4s for even fewer classes. Some schools, as @wrights1994 mentions, provide significant credit for AP scores. Dual enrollment classes seem to be trickier as the level of instruction is “lumpier” and some colleges won’t accept dual enrollment credit from out of state schools.
For good or for bad, my older son attends a college that will only accepts credit for 2 AP classes (pretty much any 2 AP classes, but 5s only I believe), regardless of how many have been taken or scores received. The credits count toward meeting the graduation requirement, but not toward any specific requirements (I guess you would call that Gen Ed). So, while the number of AP classes he took and tests he passed with 5s probably helped with admission, they certainly did not mean much once he got into college.
Just something to keep in mind as your child creates a list of colleges. We knew this was the case and were fine with it, others may not think so.
APs totally depend on the school. The more competitive schools only accept 5s and one can be of limited use. State universities are more welcoming of the duel enrollment classes. Both APs and duel enrollment credits can provide schedule flexibility, depending on where one ultimately matriculates.
And some schools only use the AP tests for placement purposes with no credit given. I got 5s on the AP French Language and Literature exams and a 4 on the Calculus test I took (too many years ago to remember which Calc it was or even if they had AB and BC back then!). I was informed during freshman orientation that I had qualified to take placement exams in French and mathematics. I declined the math placement as it was not an interest of mine and took the French exam and placed into the higher level classes. I didn’t get “credit” for the classes I was allowed to skip, just the ability to go directly into the appropriate classes.
And some schools, even though they will accept credit for a 4 in certain subjects, will urge students to nevertheless take the class again. For example at my DS’s school, kids who earn a 4 or 5 in AP Calc BC will be given credit for 1 year of calculus. BUT kids who score a 4 are urged to take Calc I and II freshman year anyway because the average grade for a student who goes straight to Calc III with a 4 on the AP exam is a C.
Not sure if this has been discussed but looking for help in choosing a test prep method for DS. Initially considered Kaplan test prep which meets on Sundays for 8 weeks of 3 hours for $749 for New SAT prep. Then after some online research we learned about Green Test prep system which is online for New SAT and ACT for $597 with unlimited access. Then there is Prepscholar online for $399 for New SAT. Any info you can share based on your experience is greatly appreciated. I would say $749 is budget ceiling for what we could spend. Any other prep suggestions welcomed.
My D15 just bought the SAT blue book (old test) and did practice tests and then compared what she did wrong and why.
It is my understanding that Collegeboard has free resouces for new SAT on their website. Maybe start there and see how he does.
Start with Khan, not only is it FREE it’s the officially recommended test prep for the SAT by the College Board. We did a local test prep company (More Than a Teacher) because my kids have no standardized testing experience before 9th grade because they are homeschooled until high school. In addition to the local test prep class, my D16 used Prep Scholar and it helped her move from a 2150 to 2310 on the old SAT. I liked the format of Prep Scholar and thought the program did a good job of identifying her weaknesses. Occasionally she’d have issues with some of their explanations but she could usually figure things out. She also liked that she could test out of sections that she wasn’t having problems with so that she didn’t waste do the problems that she knew and just focused on what she didn’t know.
D18 has been through the local test prep and has been using Khan but hasn’t completed all the exercises in level four yet. He took the March SAT and we’re waiting for the scores (May 10th!) to figure out where to go from there. My guess is that if he decides to take the SAT a second time, he’ll just self study for it. If he decides to take the ACT too we’d likely do PrepScholar again.
DS18 took the SAT2 Math2 and Physics today. He thinks he did well on the Math but there were a few question on the Physics test that he wasn’t prepared for. He’s generally a good guesser so I think it’ll be ok. Next week it’s the World History AP and then on to finales.
@dadotwoboys, yes different schools do give different credit… my son is at an academically rigorous school and was able to get 44 credits, but he said had he gone to another school that was less rigorous he would have had many more. I just think that it is good to try. It can’t hurt… he may graduate in 7 semesters with a triple major if that is the way he decides to go.
Having the credits for the triple major is a nice benefit for all the hard work on the APs. More power to your son @wrights1994.
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone (well, to all who are mothers anyway).
DD’18 has her first SAT in the rear view mirror!
Congrats to your daughter gildo! Same here with D18 - she took the May 7th SAT. She has been doing a lot of practicing on the weekends for several months & she thinks she did well on the test! I guess we’ll find out around mid-June?
Hello!! DD’18 has her first two AP’s (which she completely self studied for) on Thursday and Friday. Human Geography and World History. She is stressed beyond belief. She has 7 in school tests this week in addition to this, so I feel terrible. Any good ways to destress?
Any of your DDs or DSs celebrating a birthday in May? Today’s my 16th birthday, and time has definitely flown.
The fire alarm went off at S16 and S18’s school today during PARCC/AP. 16 wasn’t testing, and 18’s AP was at the church across the street. A student had put a metal container in a microwave.
Happy birthday to your S, @ak2018! My D turned 16 in November. She has had her license since then and it has been glorious!
Good luck to the kiddos with remaining AP tests. My D is finished with them for the year.
Yikes on the fire alarm, @mstomper!
@giraffe678, the only thing I would recommend is exercise and sleep.