America's Top Public High Schools

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by JesseK

AP classes, IMO, are great if one wants a harder class or wants to see what college classes are like. They're TERRIBLE for replacing a college course. Don't do an AP Calc, Chem, or Physics class in high school and expect that you'll know even half of everything you'd get out of a good college's Calc I, Physics I, or Chem I class. As an engineer or scientist, this really only sets you up for failure in the follow-up courses.

In the world of No Child Left Behind, test results are all we have to rate education these days . If only someone were able to get past the red tape and implement a Taxonomy on Education Objectives -style program in an entire school system. Then we'd have measurable results for a non-subjective article that aren't based upon funding or 'status'.

I have to agree that tests are a pretty crappy way to measure education but to say that AP classes don't teach you what you need to know is outright wrong. (based solely on my experience so take it with a grain of salt) I took Calculus AB in high school, passed the test and took Calc 2 my first term at Kettering. Throughout the class I was bored because I had already learned 95% of the material. I did eventually struggle with Calc 3 but I believe that was more due to my being sick through roughly 20% of the class. About AP classes, they MAY teach you the material (this is up for debate) but they will NOT prepare you for college. Too many times I heard teachers tell me that AP classes are like college classes, now after 2 years in college I can safely tell you that none of my classes have been like any of the AP classes I took. Don't go into college thinking you are going to be fine because you got A's in your AP classes.

Originally Posted by dtengineering

I just want to make sure that everyone is taking this list about as seriously as when the National Enquirer runs a story on "Hollywoods Hottest 100 Stars".

They are both judged by equally scientific comparisons and are both equally as meaningful.
Jason

WAIT! Those lists aren't serious I thought they were, isn't that what we vote on every couple Novembers?

[RMiller]

Originally Posted by JesseK

AP classes, IMO, are great if one wants a harder class or wants to see what college classes are like. They're TERRIBLE for replacing a college course. Don't do an AP Calc, Chem, or Physics class in high school and expect that you'll know even half of everything you'd get out of a good college's Calc I, Physics I, or Chem I class. As an engineer or scientist, this really only sets you up for failure in the follow-up courses.

I am sorry, but I have to agree with

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

... but to say that AP classes don't teach you what you need to know is outright wrong.

Again, this is from my experience.
I took AP Calc BC as a sophomore, then went on to take linear algebra as a correspondence course junior year, Calc 3 and Diffy Q as a senior at a local college. I took stats in college. I had no problem whatsoever.
I took AP Chem as a sophomore then analytical chem as a senior at a local college without any issue. I got a degree in chemical engineering and chemistry without too much difficulty (other than late nights because I would fall asleep too much in lecture )
I took AP Bio as a junior. In my second year at college I took the required biomolecular engineering class (for ChemE) and was bored to sleep (literally).
I took AP Physics B (non-calc based) as an online class junior year. In the honors calc-based physics I did struggle some, but in the non-honors class second semester, I was bored enough to rarely come to class.
I took AP Micro and Macro econ as an online class senior year. In my fourth year at college, I took intermediate microecon. I worked more often on Senior Labs than listened in class and breezed through.

So, AP Classes can definitely replace college classes. If you put the time into it in high school, it can be of value later.
Are there people who struggle with college classes, even if they took AP Classes? Absolutely.
There is no across the board answer. If you are the least bit unsure, it might be wise to retake the class (and risk an easy A).

Note: I do not advise sleeping, skipping, or working on other classes in college.

Side Note: I do agree with others that [(#AP (or IB) Tests Taken in a year)/(students graduating)] is not a very indicative measure of a school.

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