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What are AP courses?
AP courses, standing for Advanced Placement, are an educational program offered by the College Board (CEEB) in American high schools. The AP curriculum covers 19 academic disciplines and 34 courses, including calculus, physics, chemistry, economics, English composition, literature, environmental science, American politics and government, American history, European history, and foreign languages. The curriculum covers a wide range, with each course lasting one year. Students can choose one or more elective courses based on their school's requirements and their own abilities. High scores on AP exams can lead to direct college credit, a key benefit of taking AP courses.
Since this is a college course, how does it relate to high school students? Do I need to take the AP exam? What are the benefits of AP?
In short, AP has three major benefits: it helps you stand out when applying to college; it earns you academic credit; and it saves you time and tuition. So, how should you choose AP courses, and when should you start studying?
1. Three major benefits of learning AP well
AP is the abbreviation of Advanced Placement, which refers to college courses taught in high schools offered by The College Board.
Students who have spare time, ability and excellent grades in high school can first choose these courses, take the AP exam after completing the coursework, and obtain college credits after obtaining a certain score.
The rewards of AP exams are endless. Elite schools prioritize extracurricular activities and research, which includes AP.
Ivy League schools generally require students to take six AP courses, ideally with a perfect score of 5 in each. While AP courses are optional, if you haven't taken them, they won't be considered. This suggests you lack the resolve to take on challenging situations.
Data shows that the top 100 universities are more willing to admit students who have chosen a more difficult curriculum in high school, including at least a few AP courses.
At the same time, AP courses are also a very good way to explore what majors you want to study in college, such as economics, psychology, computer science, etc.
In addition to making you stand out when applying to college, AP can also be earned as credits and save you time and tuition!
Different universities have their own rules for how to use AP exam scores. Some universities allow you to use qualified AP exam scores for credit, which means that your high school work can earn credits towards your undergraduate degree. Other universities use AP scores to prioritize course selection, which means you can skip basic courses and go directly to more advanced courses.
As we all know, American university tuition is extremely expensive. Taking AP exams can not only help you save money but can even help you qualify for highly competitive scholarships. To earn a bachelor's degree, American undergraduates generally need to complete 120 credits, averaging 30 credits per year. With tuition ranging from $20,000 to $40,000, each credit is worth $600-$1,300. By taking AP exams to earn college credits or graduating early, students can save thousands or even tens of thousands of yuan.
2. How many AP courses can help American college students get extra points?
It is important to note that you do not need to "collect" all AP subjects. Colleges will not automatically favor applicants with many AP scores, especially those whose GPAs are lowered or who have failed AP exams.
In short, AP courses can be a catalyst on the road to college admissions, but taking too many can also backfire.
For applications to Ivy League universities, the College Board once said that there are 5 to 6 courses, but the situation is often flexible and changeable.
In addition, it is better to study AP courses in a focused manner rather than in a large number of courses. It is definitely better to get 5 points in 3 courses than to get 4 points in 5 courses. It is generally not recommended that students take too many AP courses because you may not be able to cope with them.
If you want to get into the most selective schools, you should take a difficult core of courses, including English literature and composition or English language and composition, calculus or statistics, American, world, or European history, and at least one science (biology, physics, chemistry).
You should also take some non-core AP classes that interest you, such as psychology, economics, or computer science.
We have also compiled the requirements for AP courses at different American universities.
Most selective schools (TOP 20) : All or most of the core AP courses, plus additional AP courses related to your goals, future major, or interests. The final total is 6-10.
Selective schools (TOP 100) : Most core courses + 1-2 additional courses. 4-8 AP courses total.
Less selective schools : Some AP core courses or courses related to the major. A total of 1-5 AP courses.
3. How do I select courses? When do I start studying?
AP exams are held annually. Registration begins in March and the exams are held in May. The exams last for two weeks and each course takes about 2-3 hours. Students will receive their transcripts by the end of June.
Students who are capable and have enough energy will start studying AP courses in the 9th grade, usually starting in the 10th grade. The largest number of students is in the 11th grade, but it would be a little late to start preparing to study in the 11th grade.
Grade 9: Choose one or two courses that have minimal prerequisites and build on middle school skills, including environmental science, human geography, and psychology. If possible, choose honors courses in your core courses to develop the skills necessary for AP courses.
Grade 10: Choose 1-3 AP courses. You may choose one more challenging AP course, such as World History or U.S. History, and 1-2 less demanding AP courses.
11th Grade: Based on your experience and grades in 9th and 10th grades, choose a core AP course, such as AP English, Calculus, or Biology. Try to take as many as you can without spreading yourself too thin, and ensure you have time to prepare for standardized tests. Ivy League schools may want 3-5 courses, but if you're targeting less selective schools, 2-4 is sufficient.
12th Grade: Take more AP core courses. Don't overwork yourself and leave time for college applications. It's not uncommon for applicants to highly selective colleges to take five or six AP courses in their 12th grade. Adding an AP course won't significantly improve your application, but if it significantly reduces the time you spend on your application, it will hurt your chances of admission.