Advanced placement (AP) is a program of college-level courses and exams that gives bright, motivated students the opportunity to get ahead by earning advanced placement and/or credit for college while they are still in high school. There are many benefits for students who take AP courses ... studying interesting and challenging things, discovering new interests, and getting a head start on their future.
| Art AP Art History |
English AP Literature |
| Mathematics A.P. Calculus |
Music AP Music Theory |
| Science AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Physics AP Environmental Science |
Social
Studies AP Psychology AP US HIstory |
I'm not sure how well I would do in an AP course or exam. Even if I did get a good grade I'm not sure that I would use it. So why should I get involved with AP?
This is a concern of many high school students who are considering which courses to take in their upcoming academic years. Remember that you risk nothing by taking the AP Exam, since you determine which, if any, colleges will receive your grade. But, more importantly, there are many advantages to getting involved with AP:
You'll study a subject in greater depth and find out what you can really do...
If you are interested in a particular subject and want to learn more about it, your best course of action is to take an AP course with other students who have similar interests. If you don't challenge yourself, you'll never know what you're capable of achieving. Prove to yourself that you can master college-level material, and discover the satisfaction of reaching your goals and knowing you have been successful.
You'll be taking the best step toward academic success ...
AP courses and exams represent the beginning of the journey through college-level academic challenges. Once you're used to being challenged, you're more likely to continue with advanced studies. AP students are twice as likely to go into Ph.D. programs such as medicine or law. AP is not just a test; it's an experience. AP courses motivate you to
work hard, and you can improve the quality of all your courses based on the skills you
gained AP course. Students who were unsure about their future plans say AP helped steer
them toward college or advanced studies.
AP prepares you for college work ...
The work you do in an AP course will help you develop skills and study habits that will be vital in college. For example, you will learn how to analyze problems effectively, improve your writing skills and prepare for exams. Students who take AP courses and exams are more knowledgeable about the demands of college work, and they understand what is needed to succeed at the college level. Your learning experiences are likely to be positive ones, "from the start".
You will improve you chances of getting into a competitive college...
Colleges and universities recognize that applicants with AP experience am much better prepared for the demands of college courses. AP students are viewed as:
"Motivated self-starters who are willing to work to get ahead."
"Better prepared academically: they perform better on all college admission measures of
ability and achievement."
"Less likely to drop out, and
more likely to go on into advanced study programs.
Admissions officers are well aware of the difficulty of AP courses and exams,
and sending AP Exam grades can only be a positive step toward potential admission
into competitive colleges.
You'll be prepared for the unexpected ...
You never know what the future
holds. Plans change,career choices change, family circumstances change, usually
when you least expect it. Once you have taken an AP Exam, your grade is a
permanent part of your transcript. The vast majority of colleges and universities
in the United States, and many outside the United States, grant either academic
credit advanced placement, or both to incoming students with AP grades
You'll be making an investment and getting good value for your money...
By taking an AP Exam, you will be investing in yourself and your future. If
you receive a qualifying grade on an AP Exam, your $74 exam fee investment
can translate into major savings. The cost of an AP Exam is a concern for some
students. But put this into perspective -- how much do you spend on the latest
fashion trend, a new video game, or a couple of CDs? You work hard in and out
of school -- isn't it time you put something into yourself and your Future?
Sophomore Standing
More than 1,400 institutions award a full year's credit to students presenting
enough satisfactory grades on AP Exams. However, advanced placement is awarded
by the college or university, not the College Board or AP Program, and some
institutions specify certain courses or other requirements for sophomore standing.
The best source of specific and up-to-date information about an individual
institution's policy is its catalog. Information is also available at College
Board Online in
a searchable database organized by state.