APAPAdvanced PlacementAdvanced Placement

What is it?What is it?

Why should I participate?Why should I participate?

Adapted from resource handouts available at www.collegeboard.com

What is AP?What is AP?

► The Advanced Placement Program—or AP—is a The Advanced Placement Program—or AP—is a voluntary program that offers students an voluntary program that offers students an opportunity to take one or more college-level opportunity to take one or more college-level courses while still in high school.courses while still in high school.

► AP isn’t just for top students or those headed for AP isn’t just for top students or those headed for college. AP offers something for everyone. college. AP offers something for everyone. Students can choose from several subject areas, Students can choose from several subject areas, including art, computer science, geography, including art, computer science, geography, government and politics, music theory, foreign government and politics, music theory, foreign languages, and more. (Course selections vary languages, and more. (Course selections vary by school)by school)

What’s the difference between AP and other college-What’s the difference between AP and other college-prep or Honors courses?prep or Honors courses?

►Many schools have created valuable honors Many schools have created valuable honors courses for their students, but AP courses courses for their students, but AP courses are the only ones actually designed by are the only ones actually designed by teams of college professors who work teams of college professors who work alongside expert secondary school teachers. alongside expert secondary school teachers.

► Plus, college faculty participate in the Plus, college faculty participate in the scoring of the AP Exam you’ll take at the scoring of the AP Exam you’ll take at the end of your course, comparing you to their end of your course, comparing you to their own college students, verifying your own college students, verifying your mastery of the same level of curriculum.mastery of the same level of curriculum.

Is AP right for you?Is AP right for you?

► AP is open to any student AP is open to any student from any background, not from any background, not just straight-A students, just straight-A students, nerds, or geeks, nerds, or geeks, but it may but it may not be right for everyonenot be right for everyone. .

► AP is the right choice for AP is the right choice for you if you have a healthy you if you have a healthy curiosity about a subject curiosity about a subject and are willing to work hard. and are willing to work hard. If you enjoy an academic If you enjoy an academic challenge and want to learn challenge and want to learn alongside classmates who alongside classmates who are enthusiastic about are enthusiastic about learning and growing, learning and growing, consider signing up.consider signing up.

What is special about AP?What is special about AP?

► Skills honed in AP classes can help you improve Skills honed in AP classes can help you improve your work in other courses and even in college.your work in other courses and even in college.

►Discussions are intense, probing, and demanding.Discussions are intense, probing, and demanding.► AP students are required to think for themselves, AP students are required to think for themselves,

not give answers that are intended to please the not give answers that are intended to please the teacher.teacher.

► AP homework involves thinking for yourself, AP homework involves thinking for yourself, expressing your ideas, and analyzing what you expressing your ideas, and analyzing what you read. Busywork is not a part of the course.read. Busywork is not a part of the course.

► AP classes teach students to analyze, reason, and AP classes teach students to analyze, reason, and understand the world from a unique vantage understand the world from a unique vantage point—their own.point—their own.

AP + CollegeAP + College

►Wherever you want to go to college, AP can Wherever you want to go to college, AP can dramatically improve your chances of getting dramatically improve your chances of getting in. It can also prepare you for the transition to in. It can also prepare you for the transition to college, knowing how to hit the books, get college, knowing how to hit the books, get ahead, and stay ahead of the class.ahead, and stay ahead of the class.

► These admissions officers also know a These admissions officers also know a challenging high school curriculum is always a challenging high school curriculum is always a great indicator of college success. So sending great indicator of college success. So sending AP Exam grades to college can only help your AP Exam grades to college can only help your chances of acceptance.chances of acceptance.

► Studies show that participation in AP and other Studies show that participation in AP and other challenging high school courses is one of the challenging high school courses is one of the most reliable predictors of success in college.most reliable predictors of success in college.

Stand out in the Stand out in the Admissions ProcessAdmissions Process

► Everyone Everyone wants to get wants to get into the into the college of college of their choice. their choice. Those who Those who make it take make it take the most the most challenging challenging courses.courses.

If you hope to go to college…If you hope to go to college…

► AP can prepare you for the AP can prepare you for the rigors of college, where rigors of college, where intense course work intense course work catches far too many catches far too many freshmen by surprise. AP freshmen by surprise. AP can help you improve your can help you improve your writing skills, teach you writing skills, teach you problem-solving problem-solving techniques, and help you techniques, and help you develop good study develop good study habits. In short, AP can habits. In short, AP can give you a clear give you a clear understanding of what it understanding of what it takes to excel in college.takes to excel in college.

Earn College Credits!Earn College Credits!AP students usually have more options than other students:AP students usually have more options than other students:► Your AP experience might exempt you from taking introductory Your AP experience might exempt you from taking introductory

courses in college. In fact, most of the nation's colleges and courses in college. In fact, most of the nation's colleges and universities have an AP policy that grants incoming students credit, universities have an AP policy that grants incoming students credit, placement, or both for qualifying AP Examination grades. placement, or both for qualifying AP Examination grades.

► Such exemptions can serve to broaden your educational experience Such exemptions can serve to broaden your educational experience by providing opportunities to pursue additional courses, independent by providing opportunities to pursue additional courses, independent study, internships, or study abroad.study, internships, or study abroad.

Learn more:Learn more:► AP credit might allow you to pursue a double major in college, move AP credit might allow you to pursue a double major in college, move

on to upper-level courses sooner, enroll in combined bachelor’s and on to upper-level courses sooner, enroll in combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, or complete your undergraduate degree master’s degree programs, or complete your undergraduate degree in less than four years.in less than four years.

Save money:Save money:► Course waivers earned for AP courses may also help cut your college Course waivers earned for AP courses may also help cut your college

tuition expenses. Savings can add up to $3,000 per course. So tuition expenses. Savings can add up to $3,000 per course. So whether you end up at a small liberal arts college or a large state whether you end up at a small liberal arts college or a large state school, AP is a good investment in your education.school, AP is a good investment in your education.

What is the difference between earning What is the difference between earning college credit college credit

and earning AP placement?and earning AP placement?Colleges and universities determine their own policies Colleges and universities determine their own policies

regarding AP Exam grades:regarding AP Exam grades:

► Some award “credit” for qualifying AP Exam grades. This Some award “credit” for qualifying AP Exam grades. This means you actually earn points toward your college degree.means you actually earn points toward your college degree.

► Others award “advanced placement.” This means you can Others award “advanced placement.” This means you can skip introductory courses, enter higher-level classes, and/or skip introductory courses, enter higher-level classes, and/or fulfill general education requirements.fulfill general education requirements.

► Many colleges and universities offer both credit and Many colleges and universities offer both credit and placement. At Princeton University, for example, students placement. At Princeton University, for example, students can use qualifying AP Exam grades to:can use qualifying AP Exam grades to:

• • Graduate in three or three-and-a-half years.Graduate in three or three-and-a-half years.• • Enter upper-level courses.Enter upper-level courses.• • Fulfill a foreign language requirement.Fulfill a foreign language requirement.

► *NOTE: Colleges and universities only give credit or placement for qualifying AP *NOTE: Colleges and universities only give credit or placement for qualifying AP ExamExam grades, not grades, not AP course grades. Without a corresponding AP Exam grade, they can’t verify that the AP courses AP course grades. Without a corresponding AP Exam grade, they can’t verify that the AP courses you take are true college-level courses.you take are true college-level courses.

If college isn’t in your plans…If college isn’t in your plans…

► AP is still a great choice. AP is still a great choice. Some AP students Some AP students graduate from high school graduate from high school and enroll in technical and enroll in technical school. Some enlist in the school. Some enlist in the military. Others apply for military. Others apply for a job and begin long, a job and begin long, productive careers.productive careers.

► AP emphasizes the AP emphasizes the importance of living up to importance of living up to your potential and doing your potential and doing your personal best.your personal best.

AP ExamsAP Exams

► AP Exams are taken in May at the end of the AP Exams are taken in May at the end of the AP course. They typically last three hours AP course. They typically last three hours and involve multiple-choice questions and and involve multiple-choice questions and essays or problems.essays or problems.

► An AP Exam grade of 3 or higher (on a scale An AP Exam grade of 3 or higher (on a scale of 1-5) can qualify you for college credit at of 1-5) can qualify you for college credit at most U.S. colleges and universities.most U.S. colleges and universities.

► The exams usually cost a fee, but are free to The exams usually cost a fee, but are free to Robinson students.Robinson students.

► These exams are optional, but students are These exams are optional, but students are encouraged to take them since there is no encouraged to take them since there is no fee associated with the exams.fee associated with the exams.

Is a lower grade in an AP course better than a Is a lower grade in an AP course better than a higher grade in a higher grade in a non-AP course?non-AP course?

► In our school, an AP In our school, an AP course is weighted an course is weighted an additional .08 towards additional .08 towards your GPA, which means a your GPA, which means a “C” in an AP course is “C” in an AP course is equivalent to an “A” in a equivalent to an “A” in a regular class.regular class.

► AP work usually is more AP work usually is more demanding, and college demanding, and college admissions officers know admissions officers know the expectations are the expectations are higher in AP classes than higher in AP classes than in regular classes. This in regular classes. This can make a crucial can make a crucial difference in an difference in an admissions decision.admissions decision.

Which AP courses are available to Which AP courses are available to me?me?

Robinson High School Robinson High School offers these courses:offers these courses:

► AP Calculus BC AP Calculus BC ► AP Chemistry AP Chemistry ► AP Computer Science AP Computer Science ► AP English Language AP English Language ► AP English Literature AP English Literature ► AP Environmental Science AP Environmental Science ► AP European History AP European History ► AP French Language AP French Language ► AP Human Geography AP Human Geography ► AP Latin AP Latin ► AP Macroeconomics AP Macroeconomics ► AP Music Theory AP Music Theory ► AP Physics B AP Physics B ► AP Psychology AP Psychology ► AP Spanish Language AP Spanish Language ► AP Statistics AP Statistics ► AP Studio Art 2-D AP Studio Art 2-D ► AP United States Government AP United States Government ► AP United States History AP United States History ► AP World HistoryAP World History

Look at all of these Look at all of these opportunities to opportunities to earn college credit earn college credit and/or advanced and/or advanced placement!placement!

For more information…For more information…

►Visit Visit www.collegeboard.com(Go to www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy to find out more (Go to www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy to find out more about the credit and placement policies of individual colleges about the credit and placement policies of individual colleges and universities—just type in the name of the institution or and universities—just type in the name of the institution or browse by letter of the alphabet)browse by letter of the alphabet)

►Talk to your school counselorTalk to your school counselor

Think About ItThink About It

►Does AP sound like a good opportunity for you?Does AP sound like a good opportunity for you?►Would you be interested in taking one or more AP Would you be interested in taking one or more AP

courses next year?courses next year?►Which courses would you be interested in taking?Which courses would you be interested in taking?►Do you have any questions about AP courses?Do you have any questions about AP courses?