Should Your Child Take AP Courses in High School?
Pros and Cons of Advance Placement Courses
Pros of AP Courses
College bound high school juniors and seniors are eligible for AP courses. Underclassmen can take them too, but it is highly unlikely that they will meet the prerequisites that most public high schools have. Students who take Advanced Placement courses and take the exam receive some college credit for the high school course.
Taking harder courses always looks good on college applications. AP courses are weighted so having an A average in an Advance Placement Biology class adds more than 4.0 to the students overall GPA (grade point average).
Cons of Advanced Placement Courses
There is a downside to taking advanced classes. Although the student earns college credit for the course, it is up to the individual college to determine how much credit will be given. If a child fails the AP exam, they are not eligible for college credit, but they still receive high school credit.
There is a fee to take the AP exam. Parents are responsible for paying the exam fees. Most public school systems do not have the funds to pay for your child to take the exam.
Even if a student takes an Advance Placement course and passes the exam, they may be required to take a similar course in college. This will depend on their field of study.
Other Options
There are other ways for students to receive college credit while in high school. Many areas allow high school students to dual enroll in a local community college or university if they meet a certain GPA requirement. Dual enrollment has advantages over AP courses.
Full college credit is given to college courses taken by students who dual enroll. As long as they maintain a 2.5 GPA in the course, the college will give full credit. Many school districts have agreements that allow academically eligible students to take college courses on campus for free or at a greatly reduced tuition rate. Students who dual enroll as juniors may be able to enter college with a full semester of college already completed.
Homeschoolers
Homeschoolers can take AP courses. Parents should check with the local high school or college to see which exams are offered. The exam fees and registration are the responsibility of the homeschool parent.
Free AP courses are available for homeschoolers from HippoCampus.org. They offer a good selection of courses for homeschoolers.
Home school students can also dual enroll in college courses. There are limits to how many courses a dual enrolled child can take at a college. This is a great way to prove that your homeschooled child can handle college level work.
Deciding to take AP courses is a big decision. Parents and students should weight their options carefully and determine the best options for their child.
Published by Lynda Altman
Lynda Altman is a freelance writer, blogger and researcher. Her experience includes published print articles in Family Chronicle Magazine, writing and researching for private clients, and writing online cont... View profile
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- A.P. High School Courses: What Can They Do for You?
- Choosing the Right Classes Your Freshman Year of High School
- Top 5 Advanced Placement Courses to Take for College Credit
- Benefits of Dual Enrollment and Taking College Courses During High School
- Are AP Classes Right for Your High School Student
- Are Advanced Placement Courses Overrated?
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3 Comments
Post a CommentThanks for the input Becky! I love hearing about what helped get kids into college.
it cut off the end of my comment. my last line should have said " Over four years that translated to $28,000 for something she did as a hobby and $56,000 for her ACT score
Nice Article! Both my kids took these classes as they were pushed heavily at their high school. We had to pay extra for them to take the tests and neither of them got college credit for any of them. The school sells these classes as a sure way to get extra college credits but each school is different. I can't say they were a complete waste of time though because they both scored well on their ACT,SATS and got into great schools. My daughter ended up with a 3/4 tuition scholarship. half of which was from her ACT score. The rest was from an interview/ essay contest. One thing she found that helped her out was that she took drama in HS which is different than actually being in the big productions. In the class each day they get experience standing up in front of people and speaking in character. She felt this experience made her very good at interviewing and I agree. Here is a class she took just because she enjoyed it and it ended up helping her to get 1/4 extra tuition. Over four ye