The Value of AP Courses




 

 


If you ask college admissions officers how they make decisions, most will tell you the first thing they look at is the rigor of the student’s curriculum. For selective colleges, this means Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which give high school students the opportunity to do college-level coursework. With competition for college admission increasing every year, many students fear they won’t be accepted without five or six AP courses, and when it comes to the most selective colleges, they are probably right.


A student’s curriculum is evaluated in the context of that high school, so if 10 AP courses are offered and a student has only taken one, admissions officers at competitive colleges will wonder why. But if a high school only offers a couple of AP courses, students, who can’t be expected to take classes that don’t exist, would not be at a disadvantage in the admissions process.


Students earn an extra point in AP classes, making a "B" in an AP course equal to an "A" in a regular class when the high school GPA is calculated. Colleges normally give special consideration to AP and honors courses in admissions decisions, but the way they treat these courses varies. Many colleges recalculate the GPA, and some, including UC schools, limit the amount of extra credit for AP courses. Other colleges give the extra point for every AP course.


At almost every college information session, a parent will ask, "Is it better to get a "B" in an AP class or an "A" in a non-AP class?" The admissions officer answers, "It’s better to get an "A" in an AP class," and everyone moans. It’s true that students who are applying to the most prestigious schools need a stellar transcript, since the average GPA at those schools is over 4.0. But, as always, I want to remind students and parents that there are many fine schools that accept students who have just one or two AP courses and good but not great grades. I’ve also seen students admitted to some UC campuses without any AP courses.


Students who have successfully completed several AP courses often find they are well-prepared for a college workload. AP courses can also give students who do well on AP exams a head start on college credit. Most colleges award credit for scores of 4 or 5 on an AP exam, and some schools grant credit for a score of 3. A student who’s taken five AP courses in high school could start college with a semester’s worth of credits. In theory, that student could graduate a semester early, saving thousands of dollars in tuition. But most students stay in college the whole four years and use their AP credits to place out of introductory courses. Students also have the flexibility to double-major or take a lighter class schedule while doing an internship.


Clearly, there are benefits to taking AP courses—up to a point. Preparing for college is important, but so is preserving mental health. I advise students to take the most challenging curriculum they can handle without having a nervous breakdown. I suggest they take AP courses in the subjects they are strongest in and not worry about taking every AP course offered at their school. Someone who loves English and history but struggles with math and science doesn’t need to suffer through AP Physics.


Admissions officers like to see intellectual curiosity, but they also want to know that students will contribute to the college community. That means making time for extracurricular activities, community service or other interests. While it’s important for students to pursue academic challenges, learning to maintain some balance will make them attractive to colleges as well as enable them to create more satisfying lives.


Audrey Kahane, MS, is an independent college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or at audreykahane@earthlink.net.


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