Are Advanced Placement Courses Really Necessary?

If last year’s numbers are any indication, some three million students will be taking five million Advanced Placement (AP) exams this spring.  These three-hour exams, offered in May of each year, mark the culmination of college-level courses offered to high school students. Currently, there are 38 AP courses in the Arts, English, History & Social Science, Math & Computer Science, Science, and World Languages & Cultures, although not all are offered at every high school. The curriculum for each of these courses is written by The College Board – the same folks who bring you the SAT exam.  Students who score 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) are offered college credits by many of the nation’s colleges and universities. 

Parents and students often ask, “Are AP courses really necessary?”  The answer is both yes and no –- depending on the student’s ambitions and college goals. When students apply to college, they are basically in competition with their peers.  Most colleges want a geographically well-rounded student body.  So, college admissions officers will compare all applicants from the same high school and favor those with the most impressive academic record based on SAT scores, GPA, and competitive course load.  While there is no college in the country that outwardly states a requirement for AP courses, students are well aware that these higher-level courses, which indicate an ability to successfully complete college-level work, are viewed most favorably by college admission staff.

College Board statistics indicated that more than 30% of New Jersey high school students scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam last year.  Locally, the numbers tend to be much higher.  The AP participation rate was reportedly 72% at Princeton High School, 64% at Montgomery High School, and 43% at Hillsborough High School. 

Students who participate in the AP program take, on average, three courses during their high school years.  The most popular are English Language & Composition, U.S. History, English Literature & Composition, U.S. Government & Politics, World History, Psychology, and Calculus AB.  Of course, there are some students who take ten or more exams, earning enough credits to potentially complete a year of college before ever stepping foot on campus.  Students with whom I work on college applications frequently list more than a dozen AP courses – often earning a “5” on each completed exam.  These students are definitely raising the bar for their classmates, making AP courses increasingly popular with the college-bound crowd.

Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review that, for the past 25 years, has offered PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362