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.

[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).