How does a student "qualify" for an AP class?

[Whitneyz]

Are you supposed to have taken a "basic" course in the subject matter and then advance to an AP or is an AP open to whoever can do the work load?

[Laurie4b]

Are you supposed to have taken a "basic" course in the subject matter and then advance to an AP or is an AP open to whoever can do the work load?

 

A homeschooler can just take it. Various other schools have their own rules. There is no inherent reason why you can't take an AP course as your first shot at a subject.

[Whitneyz]

Thanks! I thought so, but my dd thought you had to have previous courses in a certain subject to take it as AP.

 

Thx,

Whitney

[distancia]

In our community my D was "invited" to take an AP class based upon her PSAT scores (this is when she was in public high school).

 

However, in another county where my friend is a high school counselor, even the ....how do you say, at-risk and underachieving minorities?--are encouraged to take AP!!!!! My friend (the counselor) tells me that her school receives additional funding for every student who takes AP, so her school gets extra funds from Title 9 AND from pushing students (unqualified as they may be) into AP.

 

I do not know what state you are in but most states have a "virtual" school, online instruction which is FREE to homeschoolers. [in our state it is called Florida Virtual School]. Through them one can enroll online in an AP class with the agreement the student takes the AP exam (for college credit) at the end of the year. http://www.flvs.net/areas/flvscourses/Pages/APCourses.aspx

[Whitneyz]

My daughter hasn't up to this point taken any AP courses. But a college coach told her it would be good if she could take some AP courses her senior year. I live in RI. I find it hard to believe that RI would have a virtual school for free AP courses, but I'm going to look into it.

 

I guess you can only enroll in your state?

 

Thx,

Whitney

[distancia]

I do believe in Rhode Island there is one and it is free. also http://www.nric-ri.org/virtual-learning-academy

 

There is a federal law mandating that each and every state offer one by 2011? 2012? for free.

 

My daughter has taken several Florida Virtual School online classes and they are as effective, if not more so, than traditional classroom teaching. The teachers are certainly better, IMHO!

 

Also you may want to consider dual-enrollment/ dual credit....my daughter is a h/s rising senior and she is taking online college classes through Clovis Community College in NM. it is fully-accredited and credits transfer easily to practically almost any other college/university. An out-of-state student can take up to 6 credits--2 3 credit classes--at a time for only a total of $234- which includes online fees, application, etc. that is $234- total for the both classes, not each class. A real bargain and the instruction is BETTER (again, my opinion) than our local CC.!

Edited July 7, 2010 by distancia

[Whitneyz]

Yikes...thanks

[Gwen in VA]

How to "qualify" for an AP class depends on the subject, on the student, and on the teacher.

 

Sometimes there is no "qualifying" subject material out there, so any good student can take the class. Examples -- Human Geography, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics

 

Sometimes students do better and/or the teacher prefers students who have had a prior year of study of the material, but prior study is not inherently required -- biology, chemistry, physics B, the history AP's, etc.

 

Sometimes the AP class really requires numerous years of prior study in the subject -- all of the foreign languages, calculus (obviously several years of math is required!), often English literature.

[Teachin'Mine]

I had no idea that virtual schools were available in so many states - I just hear about Florida and a few others. Here's the link:

 

http://www.onlinehighschool.org/Free_Online_High_Schools.html

 

Wish I had known about this a couple of years ago. The course offerings are amazing!

Edited July 8, 2010 by Teachin'Mine

[Hannah C.]

Based on my personal experience taking AP classes (at a public high school), the only AP classes which really *need* prior experience with the subject are the science classes. The AP science classes are more like year 2 of a subject, and could *not* be taken after one year. The AP foreign language tests require fluency in the language.

 

For the other tests, prior experience in the types of writing required are helpful, especially for the AP history and AP English tests. But you don't need any "inbetween" classes.

[Maryalice]

In PA, there are free online virtual public schools (aka cyber charter schools). They do not, however, allow students, including homeschoolers, to take classes a la carte. It is all or nothing.

[AnitaMcC]

Also you may want to consider dual-enrollment/ dual credit....my daughter is a h/s rising senior and she is taking online college classes through Clovis Community College in NM. it is fully-accredited and credits transfer easily to practically almost any other college/university. An out-of-state student can take up to 6 credits--2 3 credit classes--at a time for only a total of $234- which includes online fees, application, etc. that is $234- total for the both classes, not each class. A real bargain and the instruction is BETTER (again, my opinion) than our local CC.!

 

 

This looks great!!! Have you had credits transferred? I just wonder if the credits will transfer to our Jr College. Clovis CC It isn't coming up in u.select listing.

[SS in MD]

I do believe in Rhode Island there is one and it is free. also http://www.nric-ri.org/virtual-learning-academy

 

There is a federal law mandating that each and every state offer one by 2011? 2012? for free.

 

My daughter has taken several Florida Virtual School online classes and they are as effective, if not more so, than traditional classroom teaching. The teachers are certainly better, IMHO!

 

Also you may want to consider dual-enrollment/ dual credit....my daughter is a h/s rising senior and she is taking online college classes through Clovis Community College in NM. it is fully-accredited and credits transfer easily to practically almost any other college/university. An out-of-state student can take up to 6 credits--2 3 credit classes--at a time for only a total of $234- which includes online fees, application, etc. that is $234- total for the both classes, not each class. A real bargain and the instruction is BETTER (again, my opinion) than our local CC.!

 

Thanks for the information.

I didn't know every state has or will have free virtual high school class courses. Can you direct me to the federal law mandating this?? I'd like to read more about it. I checked the link (from another poster) for online high schools and unfortunately Marylands was in "progress"... oh well :-(

 

About Clovis Community College, how did you hear about them? It's amazing that their tuition is so low. I looked them up online and a 3 credit hour course is $125 (non residents). That's incredible our local cc costs $438 for 3 credit hr course!

 

I had a few questions about Clovis -

 

1) You wrote in your post, "An out-of-state student can take up to 6 credits--2 3 credit classes--at a time for only a total of $234- which includes online fees, application, etc. that is $234- total for the both classes, not each class." Where did you find this out. I didn't see it online.

2) Do you know why the cost is so low?

3) How can I find out if these credits will transfer to 4 year college? (Sorry our oldest dd is starting 9th grade in the fall, so we're new to homeschooling high school! lol)

4) Any online classes you would recommend?

 

Thanks so much!

Sangita

dd(14),dd(12),dd(9),ds(6)

[Renee in NC]

I had no idea that virtual schools were available in so many states - I just hear about Florida and a few others. Here's the link:

 

http://www.onlinehighschool.org/Free_Online_High_Schools.html

 

Wish I had known about this a couple of years ago. The course offerings are amazing!

 

I know FL's is free to anyone, but NC is listed on that list and it is only free to public school students. At this time, my ds's school (in NC) won't allow students to make up credits through them because the quality isn't up to par yet. They use Brigham Young University's program.

[JoanHomeEd]

http://www.onlinehighschool.org/Free...h_Schools.html might not be updated. I know for a fact that the schools mentioned in my state have either closed down or available for paying students only.

 

Joan

[In The Great White North]

Sadly, the NCAA does not recognize some online courses for "core courses." They are just starting to do this, so an online AP course in a non-core subject may be better for your dd.

 

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/ncaa/ncaa/ncaa+news/ncaa+news+online/2010/division+i/ncaa+decertifies+selected+nontraditional+secondary+education+courses_05_25_10_ncaa_news

 

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/27690180429bd7e693c3f3ca02535edf/2009-64+QA+.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=27690180429bd7e693c3f3ca02535edf

 

I couldn't find any list of approved online courses on the NCAA website.

[Teachin'Mine]

This is what I found available for Maryland in my link above:

 

http://www.connectionsacademy.com/what-is-connections-academy.aspx

 

I didn't click on how to register and all, but it sure sounds like it's up and running! :)

 

ETA: Sorry - you're right. It's still in development. I'd give them a call and see if it will be available for the 2010 school year. There is also the National Connections Academy. Is this available throughout the country, or is this also in development and part of the plan on national coverage within a couple of years?

Edited July 8, 2010 by Teachin'Mine

[SS in MD]

This is what I found available for Maryland in my link above:

 

http://www.connectionsacademy.com/what-is-connections-academy.aspx

 

I didn't click on how to register and all' date=' but it sure sounds like it's up and running! :)

 

ETA: Sorry - you're right. It's still in development. I'd give them a call and see if it will be available for the 2010 school year. There is also the National Connections Academy. Is this available throughout the country, or is this also in development and part of the plan on national coverage within a couple of years?[/quote']

 

Thanks for idea of calling the Nat'l Connections Academy - good idea. It would amazing if dd do do APs for free!!! I keep thinking APs will break the bank! lol and she isn't even in college yet!

[Teachin'Mine]

Thanks for idea of calling the Nat'l Connections Academy - good idea. It would amazing if dd do do APs for free!!! I keep thinking APs will break the bank! lol and she isn't even in college yet!

 

I hear you!!! I'm absolutely floored that I never checked into something like this before. Now I'm thinking I need to revise everything I had already planned. :tongue_smilie: I'm imagining that even the texts would be free through these free virtual schools, but I haven't seen anything in writing about that. I also need to find out how this works - can you just go on the computer and watch a lesson anytime you want, or are there specified class times. This opens up a whole new world I never thought about before. So far, the enthusiasm is only on my part - my dd isn't showing any interest. :tongue_smilie:

[SS in MD]

I hear you!!! I'm absolutely floored that I never checked into something like this before. Now I'm thinking I need to revise everything I had already planned. :tongue_smilie: I'm imagining that even the texts would be free through these free virtual schools' date=' but I haven't seen anything in writing about that. I also need to find out how this works - can you just go on the computer and watch a lesson anytime you want, or are there specified class times. This opens up a whole new world I never thought about before. So far, the enthusiasm is only on my part - my dd isn't showing any interest. :tongue_smilie:[/quote']

 

I PM'ed you...

[Teachin'Mine]

Thank you! :)