Help Justify Advanced Placement

[DisneyFan25863]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

My son wants to take honors Chemistry as a High School Freshman. To get into the class he has to write a letter saying why he should be allowed to take it.

While I like the general concept of presenting the class as something you have to earn I'm coming up a bit blank with what to write other than highlighting his current excellent class work (all A's...)

Any suggestions?

Is it Honors Chemistry or AP Chemistry? They are two COMPLETELY different courses. Honors Chemistry is the same as regular chemistry except it goes at a slightly faster pace and goes a little deeper into the subject. AP Chemistry, on the other hand, is a MUCH harder course that pack an entire extra semester of material in the class. I took the AP Chemistry exam last year after only taking Honors Chemistry, and I had never even learned half the material on the test (they don't offer AP Chem at my school).

Chemistry is hard. REALLY hard. Lot's of math and abstract thinking, especially when you are just getting to learn it.

Can he apply for another AP science course instead? AP Biology is a good entry-level AP science course, as it builds upon what he learned in 7th grade. AP Enviromental Science is also considered an "easy" AP course.

What math is he going to be in next year? That should also impact his decision. If he is going to be in a more advanced math class (either Honors Geometry or Algebra II/Trig as a freshmen) then he could probably handle the AP coursework. Regardless, it is a BIG step up from anything he had in Jr. High. Lots of notes and writing, and if he falls behind it is REALLY hard to work back up.

[Strangler Lewis]

14 AP tests? There aren't that many subjects in the whole world. I took four, and I think our school might have offered AP chemistry. Or maybe the teacher was in jail by then. I don't remember.

I am ambivalent about the whole AP experience. I got four 5s, but, except for biology, I'm not sure I was better off having "AP'ed out" of various college requirements. Calculus was a joke. I got a D second semester of senior year because my mind was on other things and then taught myself the whole thing in the week or two before the test. AP history was mildly entertaining, primarily because the teacher generally showed up loaded, but I don't recall too many vigorous discussions. AP English was great. However, I can't say that the class, or my other English classes, prepared me for college. I got a lot of A's because I enjoyed the work and had clever things to say. When I got to Berkeley, I took a lot of beatings initially because I had not mastered the IRAC method of writing. That was a humbling, but probably necessary, experience.

[€uroMeinke]

IRAC? What the heck is that?

[€uroMeinke]

Oh and the combo of AP and credits from local uni taken in my senior year enabled me to graduate a semester early - when the money ran out, so I appreciated that.

[Ghoulish Delight]

He's on the east coast, "AP" and "Honors" don't necessarily correlate to the same thing as they do here. AP exams don't exist everywhere. I'm blanking on the name of the other popular one ("ACE"? "ACT"?).

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

IRAC? What the heck is that?

Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC)

[Strangler Lewis]

Introduction
Rule
Analysis
Conclusion

Hmm. Maybe that was from law school. But you get my drift. Thesis statements, organized paragraphs, orderly transitions. Not my strong suit at the time.

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Introduction
Rule
Analysis
Conclusion

Hmm. Maybe that was from law school. But you get my drift. Thesis statements, organized paragraphs, orderly transitions. Not my strong suit at the time.

Ah yes, and I've been unlearning it ever since

PS - I believe the arrest came after we graduated, I'm pretty sure we did the Chemistry AP Test

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

14 AP tests? There aren't that many subjects in the whole world. I took four, and I think our school might have offered AP chemistry. Or maybe the teacher was in jail by then. I don't remember.

Well, to be fair I include both the mechanics and the E&M versions of the physics exam (each really only half an exam), same with macro vs. micro econ. But yeah, 14. I passed 11 of them.

And it hardly got me out of anything in college due to the major I selected. It did however give me instant sophomore status which gave me priority in registering for my classes. Also, beyond that...I'm afraid of no test. After 14 APs, no test can be intimidating (except perhaps bar exams which I've seen break test-takers like me).

[DisneyFan25863]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Introduction
Rule
Analysis
Conclusion

Hmm. Maybe that was from law school. But you get my drift. Thesis statements, organized paragraphs, orderly transitions. Not my strong suit at the time.

You never learned that in AP English? I'm taking AP Language and Composition now, and that was drilled in from the beginning.

AP History is pretty much a joke, though. Our teacher just rants about how unconstitutional the Patriot Act is and how we shouldn't have gone to Iraq, then assigns us an essay on some historical topic that she never addressed.

GD, maybe he is talking about the SAT II Subject tests? Also...did you take all 14 courses or just take tests on subjects you never took a class in?