Taking AP Courses with Pacific Preparatory
INTRODUCTION TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)
Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide ambitious high school students with a unique challenge. Students who choose to take an AP course have the opportunity to experience college-level courses while in high school, which can prepare them for success in their post-secondary education. They’ll better understand the type of workload to expect, the class structure, and how to expand their critical thinking skills.
Taking an AP class might seem like a big step for a student, especially for students who already pursue various extracurricular activities and specialty classes. But taking an AP course can change a student’s life, and it’s worth consideration.
WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD ENROLL IN AN AP COURSE?
There are some courses available to underclassmen, but most students have their first chance to enroll in an AP course starting their junior year of high school. The AP curriculum is administered by The College Board and consists of standardized high school courses that are roughly equivalent in workload and complexity to undergraduate college courses. Students take the placement exam in the respective course’s subject in May or June of that school year for the potential to earn credits and accelerated placement in college.
Students may struggle with the decision to take an AP course. It is a big decision, but typically, a student can consider the following to see if they want to take on the challenge of AP:
Are your high school courses hard enough? AP courses give students intellectual stimulation they may not get from regular high school classes.
Are you looking to “wow” your top colleges? If you want to stand out to admissions counselors, prove that you can do well in AP-level courses.
Do you want to prepare yourself for college courses? AP Courses are a great test run for college courses.
Do you want to skip college basics classics? AP exam scores of 3 or higher allow students to receive course credits, advanced placement, or both upon arriving at college. This often means students can skip out on introductory required courses of the same subject (EG an AP English Class may allow you to skip a required introductory college English course). AP policies vary from school to school, but most colleges in the US (as well as colleges and universities in 40 other countries) grant credit or accelerated placement for AP exams.
Do you need to get scholarships? The College Board highly recommends taking AP courses to get the best financial aid, as scholarship boards often look at AP course load in high school when considering applicants.
Do you want to graduate in four years or less? Students have a much easier time graduating in four years when they can start their college course load in high school.
If your child answered yes to most of these questions, it could signify that they would be a good fit for an AP class. However, before encouraging your student to take an AP course, be sure to consider your child’s skills. AP courses are best for advanced students who are:
Equipped to take honors classes in high school.
Independent workers and critical thinkers who are ready for the challenge.
Have room in their regular schedule. (Students should have approximately 2-4 hours per week between class time and homework).
HOW DOES IT WORK FOR MY STUDENT TO TAKE AN AP COURSE WITH PACIFIC PREPARATORY?
Pacific Preparatory does offer AP courses, with the requirement that our students need to follow the standard timeframe for fall enrollment when considering AP courses. The rationale behind this is that The College Board has guidelines and recommendations to ensure students receive the whole AP experience to be as prepared as possible going into the exam in late spring.
Although students may generally enroll in PacPrep courses on a rolling basis, with AP courses, it’s important to start at the correct time, so that they get the full experience and also so that their teacher is able to receive material from The College Board. This material includes sample test questions, essay prompts, and essential tips for the exam process. In general, if a student is looking to receive college credit for the course, then our recommendation is a full-year course, advanced preparation, and college board approval with teacher vetting.
HOW DOES PACIFIC PREPARATORY HELP MY CHILD PREPARE FOR AP COURSES AND COLLEGE?
Pacific Preparatory thoroughly prepares your child for the AP exam, as well as helping them excel in high school classes to get noticed by prospective colleges.
Course Grade Replacement. Pacific Preparatory offers course grade replacement at any time. Course grade replacement allows students to retake a course they did poorly before. Even if their high school does not accept course grade replacements, they can submit their alternate transcript from Pacific Preparatory (an accredited school), and most colleges accept the replacement.
Pre-Exam Support. Pacific Preparatory offers support in the spring leading to the May/June AP exams. The targeted 1:1 support they receive can often make a difference in scoring well on tests.
IS THE AP EXAM REQUIRED?
Students are not required to take the exam at the end of their AP course. The course itself is set up like an accessible college class, and if all your student wants to do is challenge themselves, that is more than enough reason to take the course. However, they are strongly encouraged to try their hand at the exam at the end of the year. Students who take the course will receive test prep regardless of whether or not they want to take the test, and taking the test could open up additional opportunities.
WHAT AP COURSES DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR MY CHILD?
Every child is different, so it is important to take your child’s preferences, interests, and schedule into account. Pacific Preparatory recommends focusing on one area of interest at a time based on your child’s wishes. For example, if your child is interested in pursuing a science track in college, you might encourage them to take an AP biology course in high school. Some students might be able to take more than one AP course at a time, but since grades are just as important as taking an AP course, allowing your child the freedom and flexibility to take their time with coursework might help them succeed.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AP COURSES?
The College Board manages AP Courses. For more information about the subjects students can take, the yearly test dates, and more, please visit https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/course-index-page.
For information regarding AP courses with Pacific Preparatory, including regarding how classes work and school tuition, please schedule a phone call or Zoom meeting with our Admissions Manager, Molly Tweten.