One of the neighboring schools does something similar, but the kids choose if they want to just go AP or DE. Lots of people choose NOT to DE, either because they’re not confident the $300 is worth it considering the high likelihood of not going to that university or they do not want to create a college transcript - especially those thinking about med school.
@cshell2 - Our HS offers a class at school that is AP/DE. If you chose DE, you pay for the class ($250) and this includes the AP test. Maybe your situation is similar - here’s some thoughts.
Why do we sometimes chose DE over just taking the AP test for credits??
- The grade from the DE class can potentially transfer over from your DE granting college to your college of choice. For us, it’s a local state U that offers DE; and any grade transfer over to our state flagship. THIS CAN HELP with GPA for hard majors!! EG: AP CALC BC = 9 credit hours - so 9 credit hours of an A starting off college at our flagship is Very Helpful!
2)The AP class might give more DE class credits than just the AP test. EG: AP CALC BC = math 105 & 106. AP Lit = English 1010 & 1020.
We have researched thoroughly which way is better for different classes based on S20’s most-likely school. ONE thing that we’ve encountered: the DE class grade trumps the AP score. So when D16 took AP world as a DE, she had a B in the class, but a 5 on the AP test. We had to transfer over the B. 
I’d research to see if your DE class pays for the AP test, and if the credits will transfer over to the colleges you are considering. And look to see if the GPA transfers. And think which would be easier - the DE grade or passing the AP test. . . . .
@bgbg4us - I can see where having the grade might be helpful. He’s never gotten less than an A in any math class and is currently running at about 97% in the class with 2 weeks left in first quarter, but I don’t know if it’s worth $300 to me. Honestly, I’m kind of wondering if he won’t end up taking Calc I in college anyhow. I know ISU recommended it for engineering majors even if they had the AP credit. He hasn’t sat down and talked to any advisors at colleges about that though. I’m really kicking myself that we didn’t fight for BC instead of AB.
Anyhow, still waiting for a reply from the school. I feel like this has to be a mistake. Can they even enroll a minor in a university without parental permission? I would think there would have to be something I would have had to sign for this.
If the $300 fee includes the AP test fee it won’t be as bad, but I’m skeptical that’s the case after reading through the school’s brochure on PACC as some of the courses offered are not AP to begin with and they’re all $75/credit.
Typically AP Calculus students overwhelmingly get at least 3 on the AP test which is good at most state universities. I would be careful where the DE is accepted at. For example mu daughter took a Medical Terminology class taught at her high school but through the local CC. The credits would be good at Northwestern but not at U of I. It really isn’t a loss though. We didn’t pay anything for the DE credit.
At our HS Calc BC is automatically a DE course as well, the good news is that we don’t have to pay for it. If I wasn’t sure she’d get an A, I probably would’ve encouraged her to drop the DE since that community college transcript will stay with her wherever she’ll apply for grad school, long after all the AP’s are left in the rear view window.
I talked to DS tonight and he did sign something in class a while back. He said it was very vaguely worded asking if he was interested in getting college credit for the class, but he didn’t realize he was signing up for something. He is notorious for missing details in readings so I’m not convinced it wasn’t clearer than he’s stating, but he did say several other people in his class were confused by it as well.
We got an email today from a school inviting S20 to sign up for coffee one on one with our local adcom. S20 signed up for a slot. What would you expect from this sort of thing? It is on his apply list. Would you treat it like an interview?
@NYC2018nyc If it is a specific time-slot (one on one would seem to indicate this), then I would treat it as an interview. Google and look on CC for others who did this for some details. They are usually pretty casual. Is it with an adcom, or just an alum?
Yes, it’s one on one with our local adcom at a specific time slot. Good advice to google and search here! Thanks!
I would treat this kind of interview like a job interview and be very prepared as they are the ones that are reading and evaluating applications unlike alumni interviews which are more casual and don’t hold much weight at all unless there are extremes (ex. Alumni writes “this kid is amazing and you have to accept her” or this student is a complete psycho and should not be allowed within 1.000 feet of the campus”)
@socaldad2002, you’re right that any one-on-one with a regional or local rep will weigh more heavily than an alum interview. But - for the benefit of those having alum interviews - those aren’t actually the only sorts of alum responses that would count for anything (and the first one probably wouldn’t even make a ripple). Alum interview notes are reviewed for the same sorts of specific details that teacher recs can provide, and they can make a difference.
Particularly at schools working to level the playing field - and give students who don’t have the opportunity to visit campus or benefit from a regional rep visit the same opportunity to make a personal impression (and ask questions, which matters too!) - alum interviews can and do matter.
So it’s important to note the difference between this, as a one-on-one, and the other kind of regional rep visit (which is more akin to an info session), but it’s not helpful to basically discount the alum interview.
Hi there, class of 2020! S is narrowing list. Do you think we have safety, match and reach correct for these schools?
ACT 30, 10 Writing, UW GPA 3.6, 6AP/post AP, plus several Honors/Advanced. School does not weight or rank. 4+ years of all core subjects, rigorous curriculum though maybe not most rigorous in the school. ECs ok - work, sports, robotics, possible team co captain this spring. Recs and essay likely to be quite strong. Most likely full pay. Male.
Reach - Bates, Tulane, Pitzer (has visited all these)
Match - Skidmore, Dickinson, Denison, U of Miami (FL), Trinity (CT) (has visited Trinity)
Safety - Eckerd, U of Denver, Chapman, St. Lawrence. (has visited Chapman)
Naviance shows them in these categories for his school, which send a few kids to lots of colleges every year so the sample size is kind of small. Are we thinking about them in a realistic way? Seems like males have a slightly better shot at some of these, too. Do you think he needs any more safeties? We may encourage him to add a local school too although he insists he is getting out of town and trying somewhere new. Obviously, he is not too particular about region, just not here!
@chardonmn welcome ?wish i could help but I am unfamiliar with those schools.
@2FutureBSMDsMom what did the guidance counselor say about no available science teachers for recommendations? S winded up asking his college biology professor since his HS math and science teachers were no longer teaching at his school.
@cshell2 Some colleges won’t accept this kind of DE (some won’t accept any but that’s a different conversation). S20 takes classes at a local university, and when we’ve talked to AO and professors at college fairs/school visits they ask if they are college classes taken at the CC/university. I’ve been reading through more posts and see that this is a special arrangement at this university.
@chardonMN Sounds like you’ve done the right research. Nothing on your list jumps out. I don’t think you need more Safeties unless he doesn’t like any of the ones on your list, in which case you don’t need it. A couple of legitimate safeties that he likes should be fine IMO. Assuming they are all affordable, it looks like a solid list.
@chardonMN list looks good, I might move Chapman up to a “Match” or “Low Match” as they are becoming more competitive every year (e.g. this year they just made US News National Ranking previously had “Regional” designation).
And Tulane is BIG on demonstrated interest so it’s good you visited the campus!
DS texted me this morning that he took care of the PACC thing. I held off being relieved until I got the email from the guidance counselor a bit later saying he had been removed from the class. I’m assuming that means he’s just removed from the class within the class and not removed entirely. I texted DS to remind him that he still wants to take the AP test. Don’t they have to pay for them in the Fall already now? I think I read that somewhere in another thread.
Yes, many schools are having students pay the AP by November 1 or earlier to avoid a late fee. It’s ridiculous.
That’s what I thought. I’m going to email her back and make sure she knows we still want to take the test.
With the smaller schools, the supplemental essay is more important as they want a good fit for their student body. My D is a junior at Tulane now. She did not visit, but her supplemental essays demonstrated that she had done a lot of research on the school and explained how she would add to and benefit from attending Tulane. Additionally, she sent all her apps out by the beginning of October, which I think was an advantage as she got into many very competitive schools EA or RD.