Giving AP exams ensures your placement, rigour and credit for most US colleges

Giving AP exams as Placement

AP exams can be a valuable addition to your college application, and they may help you get into your dream school (it takes some serious efforts/reporting to evaluate pros and cons and then decipher a dream school, or like MOST parents would do just see US college rankings which are based on a debatable formula from which Columbia opted out from – https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/06/us/columbia-university-us-news-rankings.html and make quick and easy decisions).

Most US colleges consider AP exams for college admission. However, the weight they give to AP scores varies from school to school. Some colleges may require AP scores for admission, while others may only consider them as a factor. Additionally, some colleges may only accept AP scores for certain majors or programs.

Many colleges recognize that your AP scores demonstrate that you already know the material in certain courses they offer. So they’ll let you skip those courses. These could be introductory courses required in your major, or core courses that the college requires all its students to take. Letting you skip these courses (so you can go right into advanced courses) is called granting you advanced placement.

Some students use the advanced placement earned through AP to free up space in their schedule so they can pursue a double major or take part in an internship or other special program.

Giving AP exams for Rigor

They demonstrate your academic rigor. AP exams are college-level courses, so taking them shows that you are capable of handling challenging coursework. This can be a major factor in admissions decisions, as colleges want to admit students who are prepared for the rigors of college academics. 

They can help you stand out from the competition. Many students take AP exams, but not all of them score well. If you score well on multiple AP exams, you will be showing colleges that you are a high-achieving student. This can give you an edge in the admissions process. Especially if you know deep inside (starting 9^th class that 90% aggregate is going to be risky for you). IMPORTANT TO NOTE – RIGOR + GPA are the two most important aspects for admission in US universities. Proof – Check Common Data set for any university, section C5 – C7.

Giving AP exams to earn credit

They can earn you college credit. If you score well on an AP exam, you may be able to receive college credit for that course. This can save you time and money on your college education. For example, consider the following:

Most colleges require that you earn a certain number of credits before you can graduate. Credits are a recognition of the academic work you’ve done—the classes you’ve taken and passed. You’ll usually need 120 credits to get a bachelor’s degree.

Many colleges offer credit for AP scores. Suppose you earn a 4 on your AP Biology Exam, and your college grants you 8 credits for that score. That means you walk into your college with 8 credits under your belt—before you even take your first class there.

Some students graduate from college early because of the credits they earn in high school through AP. This saves them money in tuition.

Here are some specific examples of how AP exams can be used in college admissions & how colleges interpret AP scores

• Harvard University only accepts AP scores of 5 for course credit. If you have 4 scores of 5, you can opt to obtain Advanced Standing. You can use AP credits to opt-out of lower-level classes. Harvard has general academic requirements that all students must take. Food for thought – even if you do not get into Harvard, but a life learning lesson would be that you worked for it.
• The University of California system allows students to receive credit for AP exams with scores of 3 or higher. This can save students time and money in college – however they do not require AP for admission. Question – Does this mean to say we should not work from 9^th class onwards for them? If Yes – If you are too lazy and are not willing to put effort and earn credit [of course if you have HL subjects and are in IB Board then you do cover this aspect], If No – That means you wish to do more than just classes during college and have high commitment towards saving your parents money! Note – Middle Year program in IB does not offer HL’s like how under IBDP, so 9^th and 10^th AP exam really can give you advantage.
• The University of Michigan requires all incoming freshmen to have taken at least two AP courses. This shows that the university values students who are prepared for rigorous academic work. Note – If you only take one AP then you reduce your chances towards being competitive at U Michigan and or you have decided to aim for universities who do not require AP [there are some good ones], then you are looking for just admission into some branded college.
• Stanford University: Stanford does not require AP courses for admission, but they do consider AP scores as one factor in the admissions process.
• University of Southern California (USC) considers AP scores for admission. AP scores are not required, but they can be used as one factor in the admissions decision. USC may consider your AP scores when evaluating your academic preparation and potential for success in college-level coursework.

Giving AP exams teaches value of parental money

The amount of money you can save by giving AP exams and getting decent scores in them for US universities depends on a number of factors, including:

1. The cost of tuition at the university you attend.
2. The number of AP exams you take and the scores you earn.
3. Whether the university you attend accepts AP credits.
4. Whether you receive financial aid or merit funds.

In general, you can save thousands of dollars by taking AP exams and getting good scores. For example, if you take five AP exams and earn a score of 3 or higher on each exam, you could potentially save up to $5,000 in tuition at a public university.

However, it’s important to note that not all universities accept AP credits. Some universities only accept AP credits for certain courses, while others may not accept them at all. It’s important to research the AP policies of the universities you’re interested in attending before you take the exams. Hence you must have a very strong good match colleges list. Most kids want great so called ranked universities but it DOES not necessarily mean that they would be BEST FIT for academics and career purposes.

But if you started your college counseling from 9^th onwards (college board allows kids to take AP exam in 9^th class, what does this mean?) and you were made aware of potential benefits of AP (for US colleges & some UK ones too, namely – Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburg, kings and Manchester), then why would you opt out for it? 

Possible reasons may be – You just do not want to put these efforts, you want easy admission, or some one (counselor or family friend) that tells you that there are universities in which you do not require AP for admission or may be you just give 1 AP (Chances are that your universities have been fixated upfront itself and non tangible college matching wont be done with you). [this is highly subjective and such recommendation depends upon student to student].

If you do decide to take AP exams, it’s important to study hard and do your best to earn good scores. The higher your scores, the more money you’ll save. You can also save money by taking AP exams early in your high school career. (9^th 11^th are best classes for Indian & overseas boards) This will allow you to split your course load evenly and give exams without stress.

Overall, AP scores can be a valuable asset to your college admissions application. However, it is important to remember that they are not the only factor that colleges consider. By taking challenging AP courses, doing well on the exams, and being prepared to discuss your AP scores in your application materials, you can maximize the impact of your AP scores on your college admissions process.