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Has anyone explored the AP International Designation or Capstone? I noticed the International Diploma on on University of Nebraska Online High School's web page. One of the things that has held us back from exploring online high schools is that we want dd to have research opportunities. I was surprised that there is an AP research option.

 

Anyhow, I know classes need to be AP approved, but the language for the diplomas refers to scores.

 

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-research

 

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/score_reports_data/awards/232781.html

 

http://highschool.nebraska.edu/academics/ap-international-diploma

 

Thoughts? Experiences? Ideas?

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Did you read this from College Board (AP overseer)? It explains that this is NOT a high school diploma, but rather a certification of high achievement in multiple subjects by a student taking multiple AP tests (student earns a score of 3 or higher in at least 5 of the required subject areas listed at that link), and as a result, a way to show high level of work internationally.

 

So, not an "alternative way to earn a high school diploma", if that's what you were thinking. ;)

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Did you read this from College Board (AP overseer)? It explains that this is NOT a high school diploma, but rather a certification of high achievement in multiple subjects by a student taking multiple AP tests (student earns a score of 3 or higher in at least 5 of the required subject areas listed at that link), and as a result, a way to show high level of work internationally.

 

So, not an "alternative way to earn a high school diploma", if that's what you were thinking. ;)

Nope, not thinking that. It would be a nice seal of approval on a mom-issued homeschool diploma.

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Has anyone explored the AP International Designation or Capstone? I noticed the International Diploma on on University of Nebraska Online High School's web page. One of the things that has held us back from exploring online high schools is that we want dd to have research opportunities. I was surprised that there is an AP research option.

 

Anyhow, I know classes need to be AP approved, but the language for the diplomas refers to scores.

 

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-research

 

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/score_reports_data/awards/232781.html

 

http://highschool.nebraska.edu/academics/ap-international-diploma

 

Thoughts? Experiences? Ideas?

 

Well, you've certainly piqued my curiosity.

 

If I understand this correctly, the AP Capstone is composed of two parts: AP Seminar and AP Research:

 

 
AP SEMINAR (Year 1)
Team Project & Presentation
Individual Research-Based
Essay & Presentation
End-of-Course Exam

 

AP RESEARCH (Year 2)
Academic Paper
Presentation & Oral Defense

(No end-of-course exam was shown on chart, but it's in the course description)

 

I am flying through this info, so correct me if I am wrong. You spend one year on the seminar class and take a two hour AP exam at the end. You need to score a 3 or higher or I would think there is no point in going on.  The Research class takes a year and there is a two hour AP exam at the end of it and again the student needs a score of 3 or higher in order to be awarded an AP Capstone certificate.  If the student has taken at least 4 other AP exams and scored 3 or higher, then they are awarded the AP Capstone Diploma.

 

What does all this mean and is it worth it? I can only tell you from what I am reading in the course descriptions and from my son's AP and college experiences.

 

The skill sets in the course descriptions look great; however, unlike every other AP course, this one is dependent on finding a school that offers the program. To make it worthwhile and on a college-level, you need to have an excellent teacher and motivated fellow students. I think the payback for skills could be there, but I don't know if the time spent is worth the return.

 

I checked my son's university and they will give 3 credits for a score of 4 or higher on the Capstone. I thought I saw that 35% of the Capstone score comes from the Seminar exam and 45% from the Research exam. I have no idea about the remaining 20%.

 

Chart for ds's university's AP equivalencies:

 

AP Capstone - min. score 4 - 3 credits - waive first of two university writing requirements (2 year time commitment)

AP English Language - min. score of 4 - 3 credits - waive first of two university requirements (1 year time commitment)

AP English Literature - min. score of 4 - 6 credits - meets 2 Gen. Ed. requirements in foundational areas1 and 2

          (1 year time commitment)

 

AP US History - min. score of 4 - 6 credits - meets 1 Gen. Ed credit in FA 2 and replaces HIST 206 (1 year commitment)

AP Biology - min. score of 4 gives 8 credits - meets FA5 requirement for science with lab and counts for BIO 110 and 210.

         (1 year time commitment)

AP Statistics - min. score of 4 gives 4 credits that meet the university requirement for math and replaces STAT 202

         (1 year time commitment)

 

From the example I've given above, I just can't see the payout.  If you want to hone good research skills, then dual enroll in a research class and that's only a year out of the schedule instead of two years.  Two years and 4 hours of testing to get 3  credits. No way!  You also have the opportunity cost of taking those two years of classes verses other challenging classes. My student took at least 4 years of English, Spanish, science, math, and social sciences. That's 20 credits right there and I don't think we would have sacrificed any of those for the AP Capstone.

 

The AP Capstone looks like it is designed to mimic the college experience ( I guess that's a "duh"), but your student is probably going to have to do those things anyway.  Many colleges now have a required freshman seminar to ensure that students are going into their other classes with similar research, writing, and presentation skills. This means professors in survey classes don't have to teach those skills over and over again.  So my son, would still have had to do do his seminar class even with a good score on the AP Capstone. His seminar is specific to his major so he definitely wouldn't have wanted to miss it. All students in his major are also required to take Research 206 and 306 which are consecutive semester courses. The stated purpose is to have "transition from being receivers of information to critical consumers and producers of knowledge." Again, there are no waivers for these classes.  All students in the major turn in a project for their Senior Capstone.

 

Again, speaking from ignorance (no personal experience with AP Capstone), I think there are easier and more efficient and effective ways to validate "mom transcripts."  Your student can take dual enrollment classes or AP exams.  If you go to the trouble to take AP exams, go ahead and take the SAT Subject tests in the same areas. My son did take AP Stats, but that is not an area covered by the SAT Subject exams. He went ahead and took Math 1 because our state schools required it of homeschoolers.  He was bummed to get his only 3 on the AP Biology exam, but he totally rocked the SAT Subject exam so he felt better about it.  His AP English scores matched his English Lit SAT Subject score, which matched his ACT English scores, which matched his grades. If your student is okay with testing, validating your transcript is easy. Otherwise, DE might be a better choice.  There are also plenty of board members here who took different routes and still got their kids into colleges that suited them well.

 

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We are a family that has taken an alternate route. My 12th grader was accepted with scholarship $$ to every school she applied to. She was awarded several large competitive scholarships. (And a few not so large, drop in the bucket scholarships like the one she received from URochester.) She had zero APs and the only DE class she has on her transcript is this semester, so it obviously was not important in the decision making process.

 

She has a lot of unique types of research in her transcript. Her sr English class is independent Shakespeare research..she translated a Russian fairy tale (that required cultural reference research). She had a fairy tale English credit where we spent time reading the psychoanalysis of fairy tale themes across cultures, etc.

 

Lots of ways of building a great transcript that universities respect without having a CB seal of approval.

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8Fill-

What you describe is very much what is working for my dd right now. Where I run into trouble is that she's the last one left at home. I'm finishing up some graduate work myself and working part time, which is why I'm able to be home during the day to some extent. However DH is in a job he really doesn't like, and after I graduate I we won't necessarily be tied to our current geographic location.

 

I'm trying to find balance for her between self study and exploration, interaction with real humans, and academic rigor. Not sure how that will all fall out, but as she comes up to the doorstep to high school I don't want to close any doors for her, either, now or for college.

 

 

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8Fill-

What you describe is very much what is working for my dd right now. Where I run into trouble is that she's the last one left at home. I'm finishing up some graduate work myself and working part time, which is why I'm able to be home during the day to some extent. However DH is in a job he really doesn't like, and after I graduate I we won't necessarily be tied to our current geographic location.

 

I'm trying to find balance for her between self study and exploration, interaction with real humans, and academic rigor. Not sure how that will all fall out, but as she comes up to the doorstep to high school I don't want to close any doors for her, either, now or for college.

 

I guess I am wondering what doors will you be closing if you don't opt for the CB AP diploma?  Kids are accepted all of the time with their homeschool transcript.

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I guess I am wondering what doors will you be closing if you don't opt for the CB AP diploma?  Kids are accepted all of the time with their homeschool transcript.

 

Well, maybe none. My thought process is that 2-3 of the AP's will be pretty early in high school (calculus) and/or in areas we just don't have good resources for locally (French). The others would be potential self study for her (history and maybe French).

 

Basically, if she decides she wants to go to a brick and mortar high school when she's in 10th grade because she's sick of being home by herself, I feel like it would be another avenue through which to advocate with a school if she has part of this done.

 

He three older sibs went to ps, and really because the school was so unresponsive, it was more work than schooling them ourselves. Since we both worked full time +, though, we didn't have the option to homeschool at that point. I guess that makes me skiddish of completely going our own way. I feel like the specter of B&M school is still hanging over us.

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Well, maybe none. My thought process is that 2-3 of the AP's will be pretty early in high school (calculus) and/or in areas we just don't have good resources for locally (French). The others would be potential self study for her (history and maybe French).

 

Basically, if she decides she wants to go to a brick and mortar high school when she's in 10th grade because she's sick of being home by herself, I feel like it would be another avenue through which to advocate with a school if she has part of this done.

 

He three older sibs went to ps, and really because the school was so unresponsive, it was more work than schooling them ourselves. Since we both worked full time +, though, we didn't have the option to homeschool at that point. I guess that makes me skiddish of completely going our own way. I feel like the specter of B&M school is still hanging over us.

I still don't see how the CB diploma makes a difference in those scenarios. Either way, it doesn't sound like those 2 courses are possible to do at home. The group project and presentation with oral defense are not likely achievable outside of a classroom.

 

Does your school system allow 10th grade entrance?

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The AP international doesn't require the capstone courses. So two different things i was talking about in my OP. Kind of confusing.

 

I'm not sure where we will be when dd is in 10th grade. That's why I'm so concerned about keeping doors open.

APs will not keep the doors open to ps's that do not allow entrance mid-high school. Some only allow entrance into 9th grade.

 

I didn't follow your original links. I just looked at the international link you posted. It looked like an AP version of IB. I looked at CB's site, and the criteria is more flexible than NE's options. http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/score_reports_data/awards/232781.html

 

You might want to read this article: http://blog.prepscholar.com/ap-international-diploma

 

You could just have her take the courses through various providers like PAH.

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