In the previous blog AP*/DC....not AC/DC; Part 1 we looked at the option of Dual Enrollment courses for your high school
student who is considering college. In
Part 2 of this blog we’ll look at how Advanced Placement is another option
to consider in the academic mix for your home school, public or private school student.
Advanced Placement is a program created by the College Board
which offers college-level curriculum and examinations to high school
students. Public and private high
schools offer courses which meet certain standards set by the College
Board. As far as home school curriculum,
you should check with the publisher to see if the content meets standards set
by College Board. Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) also has information regarding online Advanced
Placement classes. Based on exam scores, which are taken in May of the academic year that the student takes the course,
a student can receive college credit for many introductory college
classes. Each college sets guidelines as
to what score a student has to receive in order to receive credit for that
course. To find out more information about
these courses try College Board.
As in the previous
blog, let me share a bit of personal reflection on the different choices we
made for our daughters. When it came to our youngest daughter, circumstances were
different in terms of her college selections due to her career interests. She did take dual enrollment courses at the
local technical college. Additionally, during her senior year she wanted to take Advanced
Chemistry. After talking, we decided to
make it an AP* course. Before beginning
this process, I looked on the College Board website to make sure to follow
their instructions on finding an exam site.
College Board lists high schools that will allow outside students to
come in and take the exams which are taken nationwide on specific
dates/times. I expected to pay for the
exam ($89), but what I didn’t expect was the level of difficulty I faced in locating
a high school that: 1) gave the chemistry exam 2) would allow my daughter a
seat for the exam. I called six
different high schools, even calling my alma mater. Half of the high schools weren’t giving the
chemistry exam. Of the other three, only
one allowed my daughter a seat for the exam.
I started making phone calls in January because the schools order the
exams as late as March.
For those who home school I offer some words of
caution. Before you start the
curriculum, begin making phone calls and make sure your student can take the
test at a high school that is giving that particular exam. There are 22 different tests and most high
schools don’t offer all 22 courses. Of
the six high schools I called, only three were giving the chemistry exam. I also
ran into the issue that the school wouldn’t allow outside students to take the
exam. Even the school that did allow my
daughter to take the exam did have to “check” and see if it was permissible for
her to take the exam. If she hadn’t been
allowed to take the exam, I was resolved to count the course as honors. Also,
keep in mind that if your student makes the appropriate grade on the exam(usually
a 4 or 5) and gets the college credit, some graduate schools will not accept
college credits gained through taking the AP* exams. I know of a student who graduated from a prestigious university and began the long process of getting prepared to apply to medical
school. She discovered that she had to retake two
undergraduate biology courses for which she had received AP* credit because
medical schools do not accept those college course credits. Again, check with an admissions counselor at
your student’s preferred college if in doubt.
*AP is a registered trademark of the College Board
Until Next Time,
Johnna
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