I think I read somewhere we can't call our courses AP, so how about honors?

[Hunter's Moon]

For Chemistry, and a lot of my other courses, I want to call them AP, or at least Honors. I don't just 'want' to. I do plan on doing the work to prove it.

 

I am getting Zuhmdahl for Chemistry, but I also got the AP testing book for Chemistry and plan on using the questions and tests for my course. It won't be the spine, but the supplement.

 

Can I at least call the course honors if I do enough work for it to be considered honors? I am assuming we aren't allowed to call it Pre-AP or AP?

[DebbS]

I believe an AP class has to be approved by the College Board to be called that. But, if you call it 'honors' and you pass the AP test, it reflects on your transcript that you did AP level work. Also, an AP class isn't worth much if you don't pass the test. The proof is the test and that's what really matters to the universities.

 

Another question back at you: I see that you're doing(or did) Zumdahl Chemistry w/lab. I plan on doing The Spectrum using Zumdahl as an additional reference this year for 10th grade chemistry and then doing Zumdahl to prepare him to take the AP test in 11th grade. Is the lab work with Zumdahl doable at home?

[Hunter's Moon]

I plan on doing Zuhmdahl for next year as I am still in public school but I don't plan on using Zuhmdahl's lab ideas (not sure if the book even has any).

 

I plan on doing experiments that are doable at home. Just simply surfing on Google. We plan on making a snow crystal, rock candy, root beer, and other fun experiments. I know they don't seem high school level, but they are. They're just fun, something not usually in a high school Chem. lab course. I will still do the normal lab reports and keeping an observation journal.

 

I hope I helped. Also, we will be buying the Apologia Chem. lab kit because they have everything that would generally be needed for a standard Chem. lab.

 

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/chemistry-science-kit/p/AM-KTCHEM/

 

And here are some links with ideas for home Chemistry lab experiments:

 

http://homechemistry.blogspot.com/

http://chemistry.about.com/od/demonstrationsexperiments/u/scienceprojects.htm#s2

http://chemistry.about.com/od/homeexperiments/tp/homeprojects.htm

[DebbS]

Welcome to the homeschool world! My son has already started reading Zumdahl, so it's actually possible that we will do both The Spectrum and Zumdahl in depth this year...we'll just see how it goes. The Spectrum has basically the same stuff as the Apologia kit along with lab experiments.

 

Thanks for the links. I'll look into them.

[MamaSheep]

This is a kind of pricey option, but if you're looking for a pre-packaged honors/AP level lab component, you might check out some of the kits over at Lab Paq. We haven't used them, as we're not at that level yet, but they look intriguing.

[Jan in SC]

I don't usually visit this board, but I was surfing around this evening. I was on the Oak Meadow website the other day and it offers and AP Chemistry course.

[J-rap]

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Edited March 1, 2023 by J-rap

[EKS]

I plan on doing Zuhmdahl for next year as I am still in public school but I don't plan on using Zuhmdahl's lab ideas (not sure if the book even has any).

 

I plan on doing experiments that are doable at home. Just simply surfing on Google. We plan on making a snow crystal, rock candy, root beer, and other fun experiments. I know they don't seem high school level, but they are. They're just fun, something not usually in a high school Chem. lab course. I will still do the normal lab reports and keeping an observation journal.

 

I hope I helped. Also, we will be buying the Apologia Chem. lab kit because they have everything that would generally be needed for a standard Chem. lab.

 

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/chemistry-science-kit/p/AM-KTCHEM/

 

And here are some links with ideas for home Chemistry lab experiments:

 

http://homechemistry.blogspot.com/

http://chemistry.about.com/od/demonstrationsexperiments/u/scienceprojects.htm#s2

http://chemistry.about.com/od/homeexperiments/tp/homeprojects.htm

 

Have you looked at LabPaqs? They contain everything you need for AP chemistry labs.

[Hunter's Moon]

Have you looked at LabPaqs? They contain everything you need for AP chemistry labs.

 

We have, and they're too expensive for us.

 

Thank you for the suggestions though.

[Blue Hen]

I believe an AP class has to be approved by the College Board to be called that. But, if you call it 'honors' and you pass the AP test, it reflects on your transcript that you did AP level work.

 

Any homeschooler can take their proposed course syllabus through the College Board audit process. Once successfully through the audit, the course can then be designated as an AP course on your transcript.

 

Carole

[Hunter's Moon]

Any homeschooler can take their proposed course syllabus through the College Board audit process. Once successfully through the audit, the course can then be designated as an AP course on your transcript.

 

Carole

 

How do I go about doing that? Send them course descriptions in the mail? Meet with them? Is there a specific site/link for that? Thanks.

[FloridaLisa]

The colleges my son looked at used AP for two distinct purposes: admissions and college credit. Admissions (apparently) weigted the GPA for AP courses and looked only at the course grade. AP exam scores were used after admissions to determine college credit. Different universities handle AP differently, so, always, check with your colleges. :001_smile:

 

I say all of that to ask, do you need the GPA bump from an AP-approved course or are the colleges you are looking at interested in the exam score? No sense going through the audit process if the exam score is what matters. For ds, the AP course grade ended up being more important, but that's not universal.

 

Apparently now you have to be taught by a certified teacher in the specific AP area.

 

College Board requires that a prospective teacher submit the syllabus for audit and AP course approval each year. There is no requirement (fortunately) that the course be taught by a certified teacher.

 

 

 

 

How do I go about doing that? Send them course descriptions in the mail? Meet with them? Is there a specific site/link for that? Thanks.

 

Go to AP Central at College Board and you will find information on the audit process, with specific information for homeschoolers last I looked. Now, technically, I'm not sure a student can submit a syllabus for auditing. If you have any questions, I've always received quick and friendly help from the AP helpline.

 

Lisa

[madrekts]

You may need to call the AP Course Audit Help line to get the "Homeschool Code" for your state. You sign up on-line using this code, and then submit your syllabus via upload (they prefer a pdf). They evaluate each course based on very specific criteria, which are listed on the website.

 

Don't know if you've looked over the criteria, but AP Chemistry is intended as a 2nd year Chemistry course, not just an advanced Intro course. Be sure to look over the criteria...