AP Classes

[pantherLax]

I have a question about Advanced Placement classes.

It's always said to take as many APs as you can. However i am a junior and have/am not taking one, although i am going to take AP Psych next year. I get good grades (B's and A's, never got lower than a B-) but i am worried that i will not be able to go to the schools i want to, since i dont take any APs or Honors. I also am not involved in much extracurriculars except for the occasional builders club, some work experience, couple JV seasons, and Varsity Lax. Also, my best score for my SAT practice test has been a 1910.

Will I be able to get in to the colleges i want to? such as UConn, SUNY Albany, Stony Brook, Binghamton.

I know i should ask my counselor, which i have, but shes new and shes inexpeirenced, and shes only going to say blah blah blah and i also just wanted a few more opinions.

Thanks. I hope this is answerable.

[Longpole5435]

I have a question about Advanced Placement classes.

It's always said to take as many APs as you can. However i am a junior and have/am not taking one, although i am going to take AP Psych next year. I get good grades (B's and A's, never got lower than a B-) but i am worried that i will not be able to go to the schools i want to, since i dont take any APs or Honors. I also am not involved in much extracurriculars except for the occasional builders club, some work experience, couple JV seasons, and Varsity Lax. Also, my best score for my SAT practice test has been a 1910.

Will I be able to get in to the colleges i want to? such as UConn, SUNY Albany, Stony Brook, Binghamton.

I know i should ask my counselor, which i have, but shes new and shes inexpeirenced, and shes only going to say blah blah blah and i also just wanted a few more opinions.

Thanks. I hope this is answerable.

Yes to UCONN, if you score around there on your SAT's. My friend got in with about the same creds, but he was in state.

[ShockerAutc]

Honestly, I don't think they will hold against that much. How much would depend on the school. If you really feel you know a subject you can still take the ap exam if you want, depending on when deadline is. I know a guy who didn't take ap english his junior yr, he got the only 5(which is the highest) out of all juniors last year ho took the exam, which means 120 ap kids. But, it isn't a big deal anyways.

[pantherLax]

Thanks guys, very reassuring and a nice self-confidence boost!

[The Doors]

Honestly, I don't think they will hold against that much............ But, it isn't a big deal anyways.

It is actually a big deal...I don't know much about schools out east, but in the midwest, the classes you take are just as important as the grades you got in them. You don't see kids who took intro to foods and earth science rollin around the University of Illinois engineering programs.

Take as many honors/ AP classes as possible, and dont worry if you get a B, or even a C+. It will show you actually took a stab at the hard classes.

Also, if you score well on AP exams, it can get you college credits, which is uber important nearing the end of your junior and senior years. Graduating in 4 years is becoming more difficult than in the past, so each and every class you take or dont have to take can pay huge dividends in the end...sorry to discourage you, but I didn't want you to be mislead

[Garor]

Take as many honors/ AP classes as possible, and dont worry if you get a B, or even a C+. It will show you actually took a stab at the hard classes.


I would disagree. While colleges don't want you to sit back in easy classes and get straight As, they can hardly justify C+s across the line either. My point is that you can't say, "well I tried but I didn't do that great." Let's face it a C+ doesn't look great to many top colleges. Definately challenge yourself. Find a few AP or honors courses that you are intrested in and take them. Be prepared to work, and shoot for a B at least. It's a competative college world out there, and your GPA matters big time.

[lacrosseman192]

it also kinda depends on where you want to go

if you want to go to a school thats tough to get into like BC, Villanova, Amherst, UVA or any of the ivy league schools you should take AP classes.

But if you want to apply to schools that aren't as prestigious as these im not sure if it matters although it dosent hurt your chances to take them.....plus if you pass that course you can save a couple thousand per class for college

[The Doors]

it also kinda depends on where you want to go

if you want to go to a school thats tough to get into like BC, Villanova, Amherst, UVA or any of the ivy league schools you should take AP classes.

But if you want to apply to schools that aren't as prestigious as these im not sure if it matters although it dosent hurt your chances to take them.....plus if you pass that course you can save a couple thousand per class for college

BC isnt exactly an elite school......

[Lax101]

There's been 5 different opinions in here, and that reflects how there's no right answer.

Some will say that getting an A/B in a class is better than getting a C- in an AP class, while others will say the opposite. And there is NEVER a strict requirement to get into a certain school, and even if a college has one, they won't disclose it.

Talk to your school's college/career coordinator or your guidance counselor. We can't truly tell you yes or no, because none of us know enough (even me-I know, shocking!)

[pantherLax]

It is actually a big deal...I don't know much about schools out east, but in the midwest, the classes you take are just as important as the grades you got in them. You don't see kids who took intro to foods and earth science rollin around the University of Illinois engineering programs.

Take as many honors/ AP classes as possible, and dont worry if you get a B, or even a C+. It will show you actually took a stab at the hard classes.


I see, thanks. You kind of seem to contradict though. You say to take as many AP classes as you can, but you say that "You don't see kids who took intro to foods and earth science rollin around the University of Illinois engineering programs." So do you mean to take as many APs as you can that involves the major you want to do?

I would disagree. While colleges don't want you to sit back in easy classes and get straight As, they can hardly justify C+s across the line either. My point is that you can't say, "well I tried but I didn't do that great." Let's face it a C+ doesn't look great to many top colleges. Definately challenge yourself. Find a few AP or honors courses that you are intrested in and take them. Be prepared to work, and shoot for a B at least. It's a competative college world out there, and your GPA matters big time.

What do you think is better, an "A" in regular or a C+ in AP? I thought C+ would be better and more beneficial once you get in to college, and thats also what The Doors seems to say.

[Clipperblue]

BC isnt exactly an elite school......

BC is ranked the 34th best undegraduate college in the country according to U.S. News. Its tied with NYU, and Lehigh ranked 33rd, right ahead of BC. They accepted only eight percent of those who applied early action this year (I have several friends who applied).

According to U.S. News, Villanova is not even one of top schools in the country. So maybe you should be contesting that Villanova isnt an elite school (although they have the best graduate programs in the U.S.)

BC may not be Ivy League, but you certainly need very good grades (A average taking Honors and AP classes) to get in. Some of my friends who fit this description were still deferred or rejected by BC.

[Lax101]

BC is ranked the 34th best undegraduate college in the country according to U.S. News. Its tied with NYU, and Lehigh ranked 33rd, right ahead of BC. They accepted only eight percent of those who applied early action this year (I have several friends who applied).

According to U.S. News, Villanova is not even one of top schools in the country. So maybe you should be contesting that Villanova isnt an elite school (although they have the best graduate programs in the U.S.)

BC may not be Ivy League, but you certainly need very good grades (A average taking Honors and AP classes) to get in. Some of my friends who fit this description were still deferred or rejected by BC.
Umm, according to USNews, it was 52% early acceptance for BC. Ivies don't even accept as low as 8% for early admission.

BC is a good school, and you have to be a snob to not think it isn't (i.e. me.)

[wolfie8914]

How many APs does your school offer? My school offers a boatload, so there are "easy" APs to choose from.

AP Psych is easy
AP Environmental Science is easy

Take AP US or World or something...challenge yourself. But just dont take anything simply because it's an AP.

[pantherLax]

All of the APs are hard at my school, there are maybe about 10 in total. The most popular ones are AP Bio and AP Comp Sci. However it is still very hard to get an A even with the curve. The average grade in the class is about a C, maybe low B. AP Psych at my school is supposedly hard for the first month but then smooths out; which is what i am going to take next year.

And i also go to supposedly one of the best public schools in the nation, ranked in the top 100 by some sources, so i know that definitely helps.

[LAXMomx3]

Just an observation... While there are no generalizations here, I would think that if you are truly capable of getting a solid A in the regular class, the C+ should not be the expected result in the AP. But only you know how hard you are working for that A in the regular classes. USUALLY, the comparison is the B in AP is better than the A in regular classes. And if you're getting B's and C's in regular classes, you shouldn't really be considering AP.

At my kids' school, there are prerequisites for taking AP. Usually that is a B+ or better in the accelerated curriculum (as most sciences and math have two tracks all along) OR you have to have already taken or are concurrently registered in some courses (for example: Accelerated Pre-calc for taking AP Chem - having earned a B+ or better in Accelerated chem). Or you have to have a teacher recommendation -- the hardest route.

On the other hand, and I know I've said this somewhere else before, a lot of kids at our school take the AP US history exam after taking US History their sophomore year, which kinda proves that even the "regular" classes are pretty challenging regardless of whether or not it states it's AP or Accelerated. HOWEVER, there is an unspoken rule about who should take the AP exam and it's usually by recommendation and again, a B+ or better throughout the first three quarters of the year, including the midterm at the end of first semester.

Oh.. a lot of schools don't let AP exams take the place of having to take a class, but only allow you to "test out" of certain intro courses for advanced placement. Elite and Ivies come to mind on that one. College and University websites usually address what they will and won't accept or what it gets you or doesn't, as the case may be, pretty clearly.

[ShockerAutc]

It is actually a big deal...I don't know much about schools out east, but in the midwest, the classes you take are just as important as the grades you got in them. You don't see kids who took intro to foods and earth science rollin around the University of Illinois engineering programs.

Take as many honors/ AP classes as possible, and dont worry if you get a B, or even a C+. It will show you actually took a stab at the hard classes.

Also, if you score well on AP exams, it can get you college credits, which is uber important nearing the end of your junior and senior years. Graduating in 4 years is becoming more difficult than in the past, so each and every class you take or dont have to take can pay huge dividends in the end...sorry to discourage you, but I didn't want you to be mislead


Getting a "c'' in an ap class doesn't show a whole lot. AP isn't Uber hard or anything, unless its chem, but still. I think you should only take an ap class if you expect you can get an "a'' in it or 'b' if it is a hard subject for youu. No pluses where I live but same concept. But, if you take foods and earth science your junior/senior yr I wouldn't expect that you would be heading to an elite engineering program in the first place. Whats the deal with graduating in 4 years, you go to college to learn in the first place, who cares if it took you 5 years??? If its being done to save money thats logic, but doing it so you can say, "I graduated in 4 yrs" is kind of a stupid reason in my opinion to pass ap exams. I did it for the challenge and to avoid being bored out of my mind in history and english.

[SweetLaxer14]

Alright. Just to add some insight- It is very important to enroll yourself into the most challenging courses you can. You can only get out of what you put into your education. Yes AP psych is a very interesting class. I'm currently taking it right now. It is a lot of work, however, interesting. AP classes are manageable. Although, you want to make sure by the end of the year exam you can get a 4 or higher. (excuses you from college credit).

My freshman year I completed three collegiate, two advanced, and two honors classes with B average I thought it was tough.. However, sophomore year I enrolled in all advanced classes and felt it was just as “tough”.. Now, this year I am taking one AP and five honors classes with an A average. I could blame my motivation to do well in school because I, like most other people want to matriculate to a "good" college. What I'm trying to say is... No one is born dumb. The higher level classes review the same material just more in depth. Granted you will actually need to use your brain but it is not as impossible as you may think it is. One could correlate harder level classes to better SAT scores. I know that if I remained in Collegiate English I would not receive a 6 on my SAT essay, 700 on writing, and 760 on the reading. Also if I stayed in collegiate math I would not have received a 780 on my math section.
Moreover, to the debate about BC being a “good” college. It is a college, a place for higher learning beyond high school. Think about what defines a "good" school? It can’t be justified to tell you what is a good college or what isn't. Whether the school is UMASS or Harvard, more or less you're going to get the same education. You make it seem as if you don't go to the top 100 college in the country then you're going to be unsuccessful in life. However, in reality a person with a degree from UMASS is just as capable as a person with a degree from Harvard. Although I could argue the same for both sides of this debate do not feel discouraged that you may not end up in a top 100 college in the country. I have a friend at Plymouth State University in NH and he’s transferring to Brown next year a “good” school. Many feel that the name on their resume will make them stand out and it is true. Especially in the college selection process similar to job applications, colleges like:
- At least 3.0 GPA (preferably harder classes)
- Around 1200 SAT’s (math, reading)
- Something that makes you stand out from the rest of the pack (sports, band, clubs)
Also, you can look on the schools website under admissions they usually have a piece of average SAT scores students get and their GPA. If you haven’t gotten lower than a B- then your GPA sounds like it is decent. Haha well… You’re welcome for my life story.. Um, hopefully this helps?

[LAXMomx3]

<B>Although, you want to make sure by the end of the year exam you can get a 4 or higher. (excuses you from college credit).</B>

This is not true. It MAY count as college credit. OR It MAY simply count as a step to advanced placement in a course within their curriculum. It truly depends on the school. Many elite schools do not accept AP exams for credit or advanced placement, but do use that you took them and did well in their offers of admission.

Truth is.. you could put student A against student B in a college admission's office. Everything about their transcripts -- from grades, to clubs, to athletics could be identical. And still.. it's a crapshoot which one will actually get the offer. And they both could be hugely qualified and neither would get in.

A college should never define you. There are only a few schools who don't accept transfers (Princeton comes to mind). And some students will find that where they end up is where they should have been all along.

Contrary to the above posters opinion, however: Yes, Virginia. Some people ARE born "dumb." :drool: Personally, I don't like word dumb and would probably prefer academically challenged. But I like to think that even those who don't excell academically, have other very real gifts that straight A students couldn't dream of having. EVERYONE has talents; It's just a matter of finding them. Still.. we have IQ tests, SAT tests, AP exams, Advanced, Honors and the rest for a very good reason: varying natures and levels of intelligence. It is a very real reality that, for some, the nature and discipline of "school" fits very well with their learning style. Others, not so much. Sure, some are lazy and others have learning disabilities that fog their true abilities. But intelligence IS a variable.

[pantherLax]

Moreover, to the debate about BC being a “good” college. It is a college, a place for higher learning beyond high school. Think about what defines a "good" school? It can’t be justified to tell you what is a good college or what isn't. Whether the school is UMASS or Harvard, more or less you're going to get the same education. You make it seem as if you don't go to the top 100 college in the country then you're going to be unsuccessful in life. However, in reality a person with a degree from UMASS is just as capable as a person with a degree from Harvard. Although I could argue the same for both sides of this debate do not feel discouraged that you may not end up in a top 100 college in the country. I have a friend at Plymouth State University in NH and he’s transferring to Brown next year a “good” school. Many feel that the name on their resume will make them stand out and it is true. Especially in the college selection process similar to job applications, colleges like:
- At least 3.0 GPA (preferably harder classes)
- Around 1200 SAT’s (math, reading)
- Something that makes you stand out from the rest of the pack (sports, band, clubs)
Also, you can look on the schools website under admissions they usually have a piece of average SAT scores students get and their GPA. If you haven’t gotten lower than a B- then your GPA sounds like it is decent. Haha well… You’re welcome for my life story.. Um, hopefully this helps?

Yes, it does, and thanks for your lengthy response.
Also, there is a discussion about the good school/bad school thing in this thread:
http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=71662

[pantherLax]

There's been 5 different opinions in here, and that reflects how there's no right answer.

Some will say that getting an A/B in a class is better than getting a C- in an AP class, while others will say the opposite. And there is NEVER a strict requirement to get into a certain school, and even if a college has one, they won't disclose it.

Talk to your school's college/career coordinator or your guidance counselor. We can't truly tell you yes or no, because none of us know enough (even me-I know, shocking!)

:OMG: wHaAt? haha ok. You posted the answer to the question while i was typing it my post.
Yea im going to talk to my counselor again

[Garor]

What do you think is better, an "A" in regular or a C+ in AP? I thought C+ would be better and more beneficial once you get in to college, and thats also what The Doors seems to say.

I'm saying balance the load so that you only take a few APs and regular classes. Don't throw yourself to the sharks so quick, only take a few APs so you can manage. And don't assume you won't do well either, shoot for the A.

[ShockerAutc]

I'll amend my answer. If you wish to enter a selective school, selective being defined as a college which turns away more students then who enroll, you should take ap classes. But there is only 70 or so selective schools, (Stanford, Harvard, MIT) come to mind,

[Project X]

My older sister is a high school counsoler, and she gets asked these questions all the time. I talked to her last year about it and she basically told me, colleges look at over all grades before they look at your strength of schedule, but to get into the higher end colleges where admission is very competitive, take some AP classes, but don't overwhelm yourself. Personally, I think now colleges are looking more towards people who don't get the 4.0+, but people who get good grades, take classes that give them a challenge, and have an afterschool life.

Essentially, in my opinion, I'd take 1-2 AP classes next year, and you should be okay. Although you didn't take any AP your soph/junior year, that's all in the past and you can't do anything now, so don't let it bother you too much. Colleges will look and see you have solid grades, and although you didn't go way out into tough courses, you still put out an effort in school and you also did some extracuricular activities. You may or may not get into the colleges you want, but if you don't, don't beat yourself up over not taking enough AP/honors courses, for all you know you could have overwhelmed yourself and been set up for failure.

[CoachK]

Guys, everyone is different. You shouldn't go through your live wasting your time, you need to challenge yourself. That's what you're trying to discuss. If you're a top varsity player, should you play JV? Sure you can score 8ppg, but it's a waste of your time. You won't improve.

If you have the ability to succeed in AP Classes, take them. Challenge yourself.

The only drawback is if you're not able to succeed & your GPA drops. If you're a qualified candidate, you'll get in. If you know you want to go to Stanford, & you're GPA is borderline, challenging yourself may not be the best way to complete your goal. Adding some extra activities may be a better bet, run for student office, etc.

[laxstar003]

Personally, I think now colleges are looking more towards people who don't get the 4.0+, but people who get good grades, take classes that give them a challenge, and have an afterschool life.

I hate the notion that you can't have a 4.0+ AND those other things. That's exactly what the best colleges are looking for - kids with outstanding grades in tough classes that can balance the workload with other activities and a social life.

[pantherLax]

I'll amend my answer. If you wish to enter a selective school, selective being defined as a college which turns away more students then who enroll, you should take ap classes. But there is only 70 or so selective schools, (Stanford, Harvard, MIT) come to mind,

In my original thread opening post i said that I'm planning to apply to UConn, SUNY school level selectivity; also Rutgers, Penn State, Lafayette, Union.
I dont think they are the very selective 70 or so schools you mentioned, but pretty selective..

[laxmiddie11]

I asked a similar question to my counslor and she told me this: Colleges look for the difficulty of the class, your grade in the class, and how good of a school your highschool is.

[tshea]

Hi there

I have daughters ar Penn State. Like many larger state schools, it is suprisingly hard to get into, especially for out of state students. What happens with many students is that they get accepted to a satellite campus then can transfer to the main campus after their first two years.

If you go to most schools to play lax, though, you will have less to worry about. The coaches mostly have a certain number of waivers to waive a borderline student athlete onto campus.

But that begs the main question - do you want to play lax in college?
If you plan to play collegiate varsity lacrosse, you can contact the coach at each of the schools that you list, let them know your grades/scores and ask directly what you would need, and about APs. If you do not have plans to play at these schools, then you can call the admissions office at each and ask to speak with an admissions counselor. I have found most all schools to be very helpful in answering questions exactly like the ones that you pose. You can find the right contacts under each school's web site, "prospective student" link.

It sounds like you have good grades, and SATs as well. You are certainly on the right track to go where you want. But, you need to speak with an admissions counselor or coach at each school to know for sure. Good luck!

[pantherLax]

Hi there

I have daughters ar Penn State. Like many larger state schools, it is suprisingly hard to get into, especially for out of state students. What happens with many students is that they get accepted to a satellite campus then can transfer to the main campus after their first two years.

If you go to most schools to play lax, though, you will have less to worry about. The coaches mostly have a certain number of waivers to waive a borderline student athlete onto campus.

But that begs the main question - do you want to play lax in college?
If you plan to play collegiate varsity lacrosse, you can contact the coach at each of the schools that you list, let them know your grades/scores and ask directly what you would need, and about APs. If you do not have plans to play at these schools, then you can call the admissions office at each and ask to speak with an admissions counselor. I have found most all schools to be very helpful in answering questions exactly like the ones that you pose. You can find the right contacts under each school's web site, "prospective student" link.

It sounds like you have good grades, and SATs as well. You are certainly on the right track to go where you want. But, you need to speak with an admissions counselor or coach at each school to know for sure. Good luck!

Thanks. I've never heard about calling college admissions counselors so ill check up on that, sounds great. I'm not sure if i have the skill to play lax, but my goal is low DII, DIII level, so i will check up on the schools that have that also. I'm also planning on contacting schools that have club and emailing their coaches...if i can find it.

Thanks all.

[wolfie8914]

<B>Although, you want to make sure by the end of the year exam you can get a 4 or higher. (excuses you from college credit).</B>
.


uhh a lot of schools accept 3's too...

[Farny]

uhh a lot of schools accept 3's too...

Not many good colleges do.

[pantherLax]

Not many good colleges do.

Well that isnt very true. For example, the following colleges accept 3's on APs for credit: Penn State, Colgate, SUNY Albany, Binghamton, Stony Brook, Syracuse, Union...Unless you don't consider them 'good' colleges.

My friend, who i go to school with got accepted into SUNY Stony Brook, with solid B grades, 1 AP class, a little extracurriculars other than Varsity Bball, and with a 1700ish SAT. I think it shows how much going to a great HS with a great reputation can be favorable.

[mstrylaxdad]

There sure is a lot of information and questions about AP Classes. From a personal conversation with a very senior member of Notre Dame admissions here is what I have learned.
1. The growth / dilution of honors classes is pervasive. Many schools offer several honors classes, increasing the number of students,and in essence inflating grade point averages (assuming an extra point is added to an honors class).
2. It is necessary to take a look at the high school and understand what type of programs they are running. Do they have 1 A/P, 1 honor, and X regular, or are there several AP's and Honors with few regular. Regional admission officers are tasked with knowing the school the student is applying from.
3. It is getting very difficult to differentiate all the honors and AP programs. The leveling factor is the AP test. Everyone takes the same test. You either know it or you don't. In "some cases" the school looks at your AP test scores, not the fact that you took an AP level class.
4. Anyone can take an AP TEST. Some schools have honors or even regular programs that exceed another school's AP class.

It seems that the AP is just one more factor to pile on young students. Ultimately, each student should be challenged to succeed, not fail. For some that means honors classes, others AP. A the end of the process if a student has been challenged then the results will be there for a college to evaluate.

More interesting than the AP conversation, was that I was told that top level schools are looking to create a specific student environment. They look at the total package, not just grades. A student may not be perceived as a good fit - no matter the grades. Sounds a lot like social engineering, but what else would you expect from the college world!

[pantherLax]

More interesting than the AP conversation, was that I was told that top level schools are looking to create a specific student environment. They look at the total package, not just grades. A student may not be perceived as a good fit - no matter the grades. Sounds a lot like social engineering, but what else would you expect from the college world!

Thank you for your response. Although it is off topic, can you explain a little more what you mean by a specific student environment? Like what was ND looking for in a person?

[LAXMomx3]

I read somewhere that Princeton's professors were becoming baffled with the admission choices and so there was year where the admissions offers were put together totally by them. They obviously picked who they felt met the academic standards of the University best. What they discovered, however, was that it was a very homogenous group. You needs all kinds of people to make for a well balanced community. The "experiment" was a complete and utter failure and professors have a better understanding of just how valuable a good mix is. Seriously, Can you imagine an entire school of complete and utter brainiacs who possibly lacked social skills? Didn't know how to cheer at a football game, let alone wanted to even go? How about an entire graduating class who only wanted to major in accounting? That's what it means to have a balanced student environment. You need big leaders and you need some great followers. You need Econ majors and Drama majors (if the school offers this concentration). When it comes to leadership, a kid may not have been the president of their class, but perhaps they organized the clothing drive or whatever. It's true what they say, It takes all kinds. It's not social engineering. It's good business (without drama majors the department would die).

And that is why I pointed out earlier that you could have two absolutely identical students and one might get in over another, they both could get in, or neither.

[Farny]

My school (private) has A LOT of AP classes, and as opposed to other schools, everyone takes a few throughout high school. I mean, like, I'm taking 3 this year as a sophomore (which is a HARD schedule) and I'll probably have taken 12 or so when I graduate. They are legit AP classes and the majority of those who take the AP exam get 5's and 4's, but will having that many kind of make them question their credibility? Or will it just be really good if I back every one up with 4's and 5's on the AP?

[faceofflax15]

My school (private) has A LOT of AP classes, and as opposed to other schools, everyone takes a few throughout high school. I mean, like, I'm taking 3 this year as a sophomore (which is a HARD schedule) and I'll probably have taken 12 or so when I graduate. They are legit AP classes and the majority of those who take the AP exam get 5's and 4's, but will having that many kind of make them question their credibility? Or will it just be really good if I back every one up with 4's and 5's on the AP?
What classifies as a real AP class..

Because, As hard as it is for me to admit, Odds are I'll only be in Social Studies type AP classes, because Math is my hardest subject, and Then it's science, and being in physics next year, theres no way I'll be taking AP in that or Pre Calc.

Does Honors World Lit 1 and 2 count, because I'm going to be in that next year..

But my social studies ones that are for sure next year are

Econ, Government, Street law [if they don't get rid of the course, schools short on money, new school opening, cutting classes]

[LymanLax28]

A 1910 on the SAT is a good score. Just join a couple service clubs, take an AP next year (like you said you are), continue to get good grades, and you should be fine.

[MeTHLax18]

yea 1910 is a really good score but the writing section isn't as important as the math and verbal parts
you should find out the how the AP classes are weighed on your gpa scale
for my school you multiply your grade by 1.2 and thats what you really have.

[duck]

My school (private) has A LOT of AP classes, and as opposed to other schools, everyone takes a few throughout high school. I mean, like, I'm taking 3 this year as a sophomore (which is a HARD schedule) and I'll probably have taken 12 or so when I graduate. They are legit AP classes and the majority of those who take the AP exam get 5's and 4's, but will having that many kind of make them question their credibility? Or will it just be really good if I back every one up with 4's and 5's on the AP?

I think as long as you back it up with solid AP test score you should be fine. At the end of this year I'll have taken 9 AP tests, and I know for a fact the college I'm going to accepts 3s, so I'm good. Plus your school is private, and, at least in my area, private schools are expected to have more AP classes offered, taken, and generally better scores on AP tests. I don't think you can question the legitimacy of a class simply because alot of kids are taking in, unless you believe there are a always a limited number of intelligent kids at the school.

[livinglegend]

is 1910 a bad SAT score? thats a great score from what i heard thats should be high enough to get you into anywhere i would think. maybe be low range on the ivy leagues but still manage to fit

[lacrosseman192]

is 1910 a bad SAT score? thats a great score from what i heard thats should be high enough to get you into anywhere i would think. maybe be low range on the ivy leagues but still manage to fit

its a good score but you dont get into a college on SAT's alone

[lilaxgurl23]

My school (private) has A LOT of AP classes, and as opposed to other schools, everyone takes a few throughout high school. I mean, like, I'm taking 3 this year as a sophomore (which is a HARD schedule) and I'll probably have taken 12 or so when I graduate. They are legit AP classes and the majority of those who take the AP exam get 5's and 4's, but will having that many kind of make them question their credibility? Or will it just be really good if I back every one up with 4's and 5's on the AP?

To be quite honest, I don't know of too many colleges that will even look at your AP scores until you're accepted and are looking at getting credit. Most look at the difficulty of your classes, and your grades, but usually never your AP scores (I certainly didn't send any in for admissions). Like mentioned earlier in this thread though, schools will reasearch the high schools that kids are applying from. So if you truly go to an elite private school that is thought highly of, a college is going to know that and they're not going to dismiss the fact that you have taken so many APs.

is 1910 a bad SAT score? thats a great score from what i heard thats should be high enough to get you into anywhere i would think. maybe be low range on the ivy leagues but still manage to fit

I don't think you would be in the 50% range of most Ivies with a 1910, or even some of the more competitive colleges. Most colleges don't use the writing portion when deciding on applicants though (just for a writing sample), so if there was a really high verbal and math, but really low writing, it might be in the 50%.

[mstrylaxdad]

I think LaxMom's comment (posted after yours) summarizes what schools are looking to achieve. Perhaps social engineering is a harsh term, but they are looking to sculpt a student body. Forum of discussion was with both ND and University of Chicago Admission officers and both acknowledged that they are looking for a particular type of student (whole package) to fit into what they feel their University environment should be.

Back to AP and recent posts. The AP test score is the equalizer among all schools.

[pantherLax]

And that is why I pointed out earlier that you could have two absolutely identical students and one might get in over another, they both could get in, or neither.

Oh i see, I understand it now. And thanks to you too mstrylaxdad.

is 1910 a bad SAT score? thats a great score from what i heard thats should be high enough to get you into anywhere i would think. maybe be low range on the ivy leagues but still manage to fit

Thanks. However i dont think its good enough for Ivies, but i dont plan on that.

A 1910 on the SAT is a good score. Just join a couple service clubs, take an AP next year (like you said you are), continue to get good grades, and you should be fine.
Yup, exactly what i plan on doing. Thanks!

[wolfie8914]

Not many good colleges do.

well not everybody here is going to a good college, lets be honest with ourselves.

And most state school do anyways, which is where a lot of people end up going...

[wolfie8914]

My school (private) has A LOT of AP classes, and as opposed to other schools, everyone takes a few throughout high school. I mean, like, I'm taking 3 this year as a sophomore (which is a HARD schedule) and I'll probably have taken 12 or so when I graduate. They are legit AP classes and the majority of those who take the AP exam get 5's and 4's, but will having that many kind of make them question their credibility? Or will it just be really good if I back every one up with 4's and 5's on the AP?

I was listening to this interview from some admin at Penn, and basically he said the most APs a kid should have when he graduates is 5, any more, and it doesnt prove any thing more than taking 5.

Thats good that you want to challenge yourself, but 12 APs? That might be a little bit overboard.

[Farny]

Do they look at your weighted GPA? Because my school doesn't do class rankings, so I heard they look at weighted GPA instead. (Honors classes are +.5 and AP classes are +1.0)

[lilaxgurl23]

Do they look at your weighted GPA? Because my school doesn't do class rankings, so I heard they look at weighted GPA instead. (Honors classes are +.5 and AP classes are +1.0)

Most schools will unweight your GPA and recalculate it to how they want it (puts everyone on the same scale).

[LAXMomx3]

I don't think you would be in the 50% range of most Ivies with a 1910, or even some of the more competitive colleges. Most colleges don't use the writing portion when deciding on applicants though (just for a writing sample), so if there was a really high verbal and math, but really low writing, it might be in the 50%.

At our Sophomore College Night, the college counselors said that at this point in time, the most colleges use the writing section for is a comparative analysis between that and your college essay. i.e., it somehow confirms if you wrote your essay or had extensive help. My opinion, however, is that the writing portion of the test is no example of how well an individual actually writes. A good writer will write, edit, rewrite, and edit some more. This is not the format of the SAT test and so I can't see how it proves anything except how you construct a point of view. However, I can see how it might indicate voice... which should be consistent in an individual's essay. :-)

[toey2516]

All I can tell you is what I am doing now. I get A's and B's (don't get anything lower) and I started taking honors classes my junior year (still have A's/B's) and I am taking one AP course this my senior year and I have a full schedule as a senior. Challenging yourself is important, but if you take an AP course and get a C it could be bad cuz colleges will look at it and say "oh he took a college course in high school and struggled. He prob won't do that well in college." AP is kinda one of those high risk, high reward kinda deals. The best part is if you do well on the AP test you get college credits which saves you a ton of cash. Basically do what you know you can do, but as long as you challenge yourself and do well, most colleges will take you even if you don't have spectacular SAT or ACT scores (unless you are trying to get into Duke or Yale or some school like that).

[lilaxgurl23]

At our Sophomore College Night, the college counselors said that at this point in time, the most colleges use the writing section for is a comparative analysis between that and your college essay. i.e., it somehow confirms if you wrote your essay or had extensive help. My opinion, however, is that the writing portion of the test is no example of how well an individual actually writes. A good writer will write, edit, rewrite, and edit some more. This is not the format of the SAT test and so I can't see how it proves anything except how you construct a point of view. However, I can see how it might indicate voice... which should be consistent in an individual's essay. :-)


Pretty much what I was told/what I was getting at. Really, my SAT essay was complete crap, nothing compared to when I sit down and write (although I did get a 10 on it I think). With only 25 minutes, I don't really see how it could be anything like a well written college essay, so I completely agree with you. In the end though, I don't think it would have mattered much, had I been applying like a a regular student (not an athlete who is qualified to attend the school grade wise anyways). When I was on college visits last year, I distinctly remember all the counselers saying how they didn't really take them into that much consideration because they were still trying to figure out the meaning/significance of the essays, but that they were required (assuming the school even wanted SATs).

[LAXMomx3]

Pretty much what I was told/what I was getting at. Really, my SAT essay was complete crap, nothing compared to when I sit down and write (although I did get a 10 on it I think). With only 25 minutes, I don't really see how it could be anything like a well written college essay, so I completely agree with you. In the end though, I don't think it would have mattered much, had I been applying like a a regular student (not an athlete who is qualified to attend the school grade wise anyways). When I was on college visits last year, I distinctly remember all the counselers saying how they didn't really take them into that much consideration because they were still trying to figure out the meaning/significance of the essays, but that they were required (assuming the school even wanted SATs).

This is exactly consistent with what we've been told as well. They just don't know how to quantify the results. Plus... writing is pretty much subjective beyond spelling and grammar. Let's just say, I don't think those at SAT are reading them for context. Can you imagine??

[pantherLax]

When we say writing, are we talking about only the essay part? Or also the other two sections on Writing (which are multiple choice)?

[SweetLaxer14]

It's cumulative. I never understood how they integrated the writing essay portion with the other sections. "college credits which saves you a ton of cash" Not unless you are excused from enough college classes to be excused from a semester or something along those lines. My cousin had some ridiculous number of AP classes and entered Harvard with sophomore status. Which could save a lot of money.. However, if you are only excused from two classes you still need to pay for that semester nonetheless. Maybe other colleges are different, however, the ones I’m familiar with it is not a pay per class.. It's pay per semester. Two classes or ten classes, AP classes (if excused) would save one a lot of TIME not necessarily money. My brother, a graduate of Tufts, said try and get excused from a language because if you pass the AP exam.. You do not need to take a whole year of the language. (Unless you would want to, I’m just using it as an example). If you pass AP psych you do not need to take introduction to psychology again. Ect..
Overall man, I don't think you should be too worried; the schools you're looking at will take into consideration and be more lenient with class levels. Although the process overall is a mystery. All you can do now is improve. If you received a B first term work for a B+ or A- . It will help you that much more and will be worth it in the long run. ALSO now that you are a junior, you might want to consider what your major will be in college because then you can select your classes around that field. For example, I would love to major in biology (or any science that would be beneficial for medical school). Subsequently, I hope to take AP bio, Anatomy, AP chemistry, Honors Calculus and Honors Physics next year because one it will only help me in college and two it is something that I find interesting.

Hope this helps..... Again?

[Riot]

Directly from a student that works in the admission office at Brown:
It's funny, because it reminds me of a question that parents often ask at information sessions: "What's better, an A in an honors/regular level course or a B in an AP level course?" The admissions officer that I work with always says "an A in an AP course." In other words, work really hard to get that A or B! I understand that Spanish is far from the most intuitive subject and thus requires a lot of studying and memorization, but it is certainly possible to be successful with it. Overall, though, be aware that a single C does not at all offset your chances of getting into a top school. Admissions officers are more forgiving when that C is either in AP Calculus or an AP foreign language. That being said, still aim for that A!

To be quite honest, I don't know of too many colleges that will even look at your AP scores until you're accepted and are looking at getting credit. Most look at the difficulty of your classes, and your grades, but usually never your AP scores (I certainly didn't send any in for admissions). Like mentioned earlier in this thread though, schools will reasearch the high schools that kids are applying from. So if you truly go to an elite private school that is thought highly of, a college is going to know that and they're not going to dismiss the fact that you have taken so many APs.
Yes, that's pretty much right. I've heard from several admissions officers that they use your scores on AP tests to verify your grades. For example, if you get a perfect score on an AP test, but a C in the class, they'll know you just had a tough teacher. But, at the same time, if you score poorly on an AP test, but get an A in the class, it will be looked down upon, because they'll assume you had an easy teacher.

[pantherLax]

It's cumulative. I never understood how they integrated the writing essay portion with the other sections. "college credits which saves you a ton of cash" Not unless you are excused from enough college classes to be excused from a semester or something along those lines. My cousin had some ridiculous number of AP classes and entered Harvard with sophomore status. Which could save a lot of money.. However, if you are only excused from two classes you still need to pay for that semester nonetheless. Maybe other colleges are different, however, the ones I’m familiar with it is not a pay per class.. It's pay per semester. Two classes or ten classes, AP classes (if excused) would save one a lot of TIME not necessarily money. My brother, a graduate of Tufts, said try and get excused from a language because if you pass the AP exam.. You do not need to take a whole year of the language. (Unless you would want to, I’m just using it as an example). If you pass AP psych you do not need to take introduction to psychology again. Ect..
Overall man, I don't think you should be too worried; the schools you're looking at will take into consideration and be more lenient with class levels. Although the process overall is a mystery. All you can do now is improve. If you received a B first term work for a B+ or A- . It will help you that much more and will be worth it in the long run. ALSO now that you are a junior, you might want to consider what your major will be in college because then you can select your classes around that field. For example, I would love to major in biology (or any science that would be beneficial for medical school). Subsequently, I hope to take AP bio, Anatomy, AP chemistry, Honors Calculus and Honors Physics next year because one it will only help me in college and two it is something that I find interesting.

Hope this helps..... Again?

Thanks. That helps alot. I'm considering majoring in Psychology so I'm taking that as an AP next year, and also i find it interesting too.

[richlax5]

As a former college lacrosse player and one who took AP and UHS (University in the High School) classes my junior and senior year I can tell you that many colleges like to see that you are challenging yourself even if you don't get that B or A. I know this because I took AP US History my junior year, and did well, but then took AP Calculus (C+), UHS Spanish (C+), and UHS Sociology (A-) and still got into every school I applied to (like Syracuse and Hofstra, not difficult schools to get into but I thought it might help to give examples). The UHS classes were through U-Albany, which is why I thought I would reply.
I am currently a High School teacher and can tell you that the strength of an AP class depends on the teacher, but I also know that New York State students score the best, according to a recent study (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/education/07ap.html?ref=education). The article points out that "23 percent of all high school graduates last year scored a 3 or higher on an exam, a proportion higher than in any other state."
I hope this helps and feel free to ask me any other questions.