High School AP Course Alternatives

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 which are currently offered at 88% of public high schools in the United States.  The curriculum for each course is written by College Board – the same folks responsible for the SAT – and 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.

The problem, for many local students, is lack of access to the AP courses of their choice.  Few, if any, high schools offer all 38 AP courses.  AP Psychology, for example, is a course sought after by many students who are considering the field as a potential college major.   But many local high schools do not offer this course.

 

Other times, even if the course is offered at a student’s high school, the prerequisites may be difficult to achieve. Students may need to be in a certain grade or have taken lower-level courses or a placement test to demonstrate proficiency.   

 

Students seeking to get AP credit outside of high school have several options. There are online courses, taught be College Board-approved instructors, that may be available.  Another option is to take AP classes virtually through another area high school. 

 

Students also have the option to self-study.  There is not a requirement that a student take an AP course in order to take the AP exam.  To prepare for an exam without taking a course, students should study the skills and content outlined in College Board’s “Course and Exam Description” for the relevant subject.  Students who sign up for AP exams also have access to free AP Daily Videos, which are short videos created by AP teachers. 

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