I’m not sure whether I’m misunderstanding you or not, but just to be clear— AP Env Sci (APES) is a lab science course (the labs are a ton of fun— I taught it one year!). 25% of the course effort is supposed to be labs. There are a lot of great labs homeschoolers can do that won’t require acquiring a bunch of weird or expensive materials or hazmat stuff, which makes it a really nice experience for students and parents alike 😉

Your experience will really vary with location and goals. The main thing to focus on now is your plan for the logic stage years, rather than high school or college; it is really important to let them enjoy learning, rather than thinking of it as some type of rat race, even (especially?) for those of us who are very academic homeschoolers. Do know that if your kids take classes in areas they enjoy in high school, they ARE still doing school to become educated and not to just check off boxes, yes, even in dual enrollment classes and definitely in higher quality AP classes (it’s a myth that AP classes don’t leave any room to explore— maybe in poorly designed ones, but good ones leave room to wonder, ask questions, and have some fun). And you don’t need to jam-pack your schedule with them or make them your entire schedule— pick and choose. One of my sons took a ton of dual enrollment classes in high school because he sincerely enjoyed them, and he focused on political science and economics, his passions at the time (he now majors in compsci lol). My other son took some dual enrollment classes, but not as many as his brother, but he did some really creative things on his own and took more local classes and online classes. Some classes I considered to be an excellent investment, because they were so motivating, and they learned so much. You will have time to figure all of this out as you get closer to the time. You can plan— know the general arc your homeschool should be taking. Have ideas for what things have wiggle room and what things are pretty much set. But the specifics are genuinely best left for later, because there will be options later that might not even exist today. I’m a big believer in planning— but there is an art to planning while remaining flexible enough to deal with life.

I promise not to get offended when folks talk about other AP Stats courses! But if you have any questions, I’m always around to answer questions about my courses! Jen AP Statistics/PA Homeschoolers Honors History of Science/PA Homeschoolers

I was not accusing you; I was clarifying for others reading the thread who might have found the instructions on the course description … ambiguous. I never assume the worst! My hope is that the intention of the instructor is to show students how to access prep materials in case they wish to prepare for the exam; the College Board has upped its game in recent years as far as providing better prep materials. My apologies for being unclear in my earlier response!

If the person teaching the course is not following the College Board CED (Course and Exam description) and approved textbook, then it would be kind of fraudulent to do a course audit and claim an AP course for a course that is not actually an AP course. If the course IS an actual AP course, following the AP syllabus, the instructor of the course should be registering it in the College Board ledger and issuing a course join code themselves. Individual parents can indeed get approved through the course audit process to claim an AP course on their student’s transcript— but in doing so, you are certifying that you are covering the CED and providing the student with an approved textbook and any other materials in the agreement for that course (for example, for AP Stats, I have to require my students to have an approved graphing calculator; I don’t know if there are any additional materials required for APUSH). I would be wary of claiming an AP course on a transcript that could be challenged later because the instructor is not actually teaching an approved AP course. That could cause the student all kinds of headaches.

It does not have intensive grammar program embedded; issues like passive voice are covered as needed for discussing writing for journalism, as are selection of various parts of speech.

My youngest used it a few years ago for freshman English. He really enjoyed it! It puts a journalism spin on academic writing, and involves doing some history-based research to write the articles. I felt it did a nice job of getting him to think clearly about sorting fact from opinion, cite sources as he took notes, keep a list of related questions that developed as he read and took notes, separate out his own thoughts and impressions from sourced material as he kept his notes, so he could, again, keep straight as he wrote the difference between fact and opinion, prioritize what was important, and really organize this thoughts well. It was more engaging than a run-of-the-mill writing course, and to him, it felt more creative. It meshes very well with an American History course going on at the same time. From Byline, he segued well into TWMA’s rhetoric series of writing courses. It’s newer than Cover Story and One Year Adventure Novel, but it has been out for a few years now, so you will be able to find a few people who have used it, very likely.

Yes, I still have room! Just be sure to cover linear forms (y = ax+b, and understanding how to translate that into the graph of a line), being able to solve for x, exponents, and the basics of logarithms (base 10 log transformations, what logs are, the ln), and working with fractions. If she can handle those things, she can handle the technical math prerequisites for AP Stats.

Yes, I do!

I take anyone into my AP Stats course at PA Homeschoolers as long as they have completed algebra II. I have students with preparation from algebra II through AP Calc BC in the class, and they all find a challenge— and support— in the class.

Yep. My oldest started with 44 credits, most of which were from DE at the local U. He was able to start with freshman status, freshman house, freshman eligibility for scholarships and programs, upper level access to priority scheduling— basically the best of all worlds.

On that last bit… don’t write off the state schools for being places where you can feed your mind. They often have some top faculty, fantastic resources, and great programs for motivated students. Both of my boys gained admission to highly selective private colleges. They got sizeable scholarships— often the largest the institutions offered— and then realized it would still cost $150,000 — $200,000 to attend, across 4 years. They looked at what the state U was offering and cost, and said, “Is the private school really going to give me a 5x or more better education? No.” They chose the state U. Honors programs can vary in quality, but can add some value. Undergraduate research is often very possible, as are a myriad of study abroad opportunities, as well as other programs. My oldest has had a couple of internships, the latest one a serious resume-builder. My husband attended a state U as an undergrad, and went on to get a full ride + living stipend at an Ivy for grad school, because he did well there (and did undergrad research). It will vary with where you live and where you have a chance to go— there is no one correct answer for everyone. But just keep in mind that a prestigious name and more $$ does not necessarily mean a better education or more opportunity. A very few professions can be a little snobby about it, but again— that’s a “let’s evaluate our specific situation” thing. Kudos to you for looking and planning ahead!

AP Statistics only requires algebra 2 as a prerequisite. It is a practical course with a big focus on putting statistics into context, communicating meaning clearly, and interpreting results, as much as it is about doing calculations. AP might sound like more of a stretch than she’s planning on, but a lot of kids are rather pleased to discover what they are capable of, and find the real-world problem solving to be interesting. Jen AP Statistics/PA Homeschoolers Honors History of Science/PA Homeschoolers

And we have the last decision in-- he got a yes from Gettysburg as well. The kiddo went 5/5 on college applications, and we are so pleased for him! Now he gets to make his big decision. An impossibly long year of waiting for these decision letters is over. And now the prep for sending my last kid off to college begins! Eek, is that actually any better? I'm not sure...

We are 4+/4 so far with news tonight that A was accepted into the iF&M program-- the international program at Franklin & Marshall with the first semester in Bath, England. He is over the moon, and so are we. We still have one more to hear from, then we are done, but with 4 in the yes column, he will have good choices to make.

I don’t think most places are going to require dual enrollment classes. College classes are for college students, so taking them during high school shouldn’t be an expectation.

Before my son was old enough for a state ID and a when his passport was expired, I used the College Board’s ID. You print it, from their College Board account, fill it out, and take a photo (instructions are on the ID form) and take them to be notarized at a local bank or wherever you can get a notary. This will serve as your child’s photo ID. It’s super easy!

Have you tried private schools? Our local districts are often really bad about working with homeschoolers here in Delaware, while across the border in PA they are often quite accommodating to anyone in their district boundaries. However, we have always had very good luck with a variety of local private schools. I think Farrar answered a lot of your questions already, but just in case… You pay the school, and the school orders the test for you. Most schools have a testing coordinator who handles everything and will communicate with you directly. Schools probably won’t commit to anything just now, but they aren’t out to trick you, either. But you will have a specific contact person to follow up with in the fall. At this stage in the game, it’s fair to line up more than one school that is likely to offer the test— just establish their registration deadline, and during their test registration time, you pick one school to register and pay. This year as in previous years, the College Board has had some special accommodations for homeschoolers, including a later registration deadline without incurring fees, so if something falls through, you may still be able to get your backup school to order you a test. But don’t order a test at more than one place; the school that orders a test for your student will also register them with an exam only code, and the College Board will notice (and get unhappy) if they try to register for the same exam in more than one school per year— from their perspective, that sounds fishy, rather than prudent. Your student will also have a College Board account for a classroom only code for the course (issued by the instructor of the course) and it will be super helpful. The College Board classroom area has improved dramatically over the past couple of years, with much better quality and much better organization to yearlong exam prep videos and questions and information. It’s a goldmine of information! If you are taking a course through PA Homeschoolers and have difficulty registering for an exam, you should definitely have your student communicate this to the instructor in a timely fashion; they might be able to help you locate an accommodating school (no promises, of course, but there is a fair chance). Good luck! Jen AP Statistics/PA Homeschoolers Honors History of Science/PA Homeschoolers

That will really vary from one institution to the next! Usually, Calc AB will give credit for first semester calculus, and calc BC will give credit for second semester calculus, if there is a 3-semester sequence. Some universities will give calc credit for a 4; others will only give calc credit for a 5. Many colleges publish a credit matrix in which they show what scores earn credit for each AP exam at their institution. The matrix will also show, exam by exam, exactly which class the student might receive credit for (I say might, because sometimes individual departments or college units will impose additional restrictions). For example, at our local U, nobody gets to get out of freshman English, period. My oldest earned a 5 on the AP English Comp exam, and was awarded 8 general 200-level English credits that he could apply to his general ed requirements in the humanities, though.

What are their goals? Getting in? Honors programs? Big scholarships?

It can help get some general ed course requirements checked off, freeing up space to either graduate early (depending on how many they took) or to take a course just because it's interesting, or to take a lighter course load one semester (which can be a real help sometimes-- my oldest son listened to his academic advisor instead of us, and we honestly do NOT know what that man was thinking-- our son started college with 44 credits already in the bag, and that guy loaded L up with 18 credits including honors courses, for his first semester of college. He managed, and he landed on the Dean's List, because he's L and wouldn't give up, but he lost at least 40lb in the process and had no time to eat, sleep, or make friends-- it was NOT GOOD). Sometimes just having a few extra credits in the bag is enough to get a higher registration priority to avoid those 8am sections 😉 It can also help stave off senioritis; it can be challenging, once those college acceptances are in and graduation is coming up in a few months, to remember why exactly you need to keep up good study habits 😉

I had my sons ask after the course was over, just to verify that the instructor is willing (it is not super common, but it is within the realm of possibility— for any of a variety of reasons— for someone to decline to write LORs). The second reason I had them ask that early is to have them ask the most important question: “What email address would you like me to use when contacting you for a letter of recommendation?” Some people (particularly coaches or homeschool instructors) have a specific email address they use for “official purposes.” This just also politely increases the number of contacts about the matter, so when it comes up again in the fall of senior year, it is more likely to stick. I also had my boys deal with the Common App in August as soon as it opened, and finish their applications before we started the school year. Not only did it reduce stress levels, but it meant that they knew before the year started exactly how many LORs or other extra details they had to wrap up before the deadlines rolled up on them, and allowed them to formally request the LOR (Letter of Recommendation) with instructions long before any actual deadlines. Know the deadlines. Verify the willingness to the recommender. Verify the preferred email address. Ask long before the deadlines when possible. Look at what the colleges are asking for; some will limit how many LORs they will actually read—. Pick the person/people who will have the most useful input vs using a shotgun approach. Feel free to provide your recommender with some bullet points; they will use them or not, but it could be helpful (ie what did you like most about they class/how did you grow the most on the team? Is this letter for the Common App— going to every school on your list— or for a specific scholarship or program or school? Why do you want that program or scholarship in particular?) and won’t hurt. Know that most of the time you will not see the letter, but MOST recommenders will either be writing a strong letter or will decline to write one. Good luck!

My 12th grader: Hits: Rhetoric III at TWTMA— he loves it (plans to head to college as an English major, and chose this course over AP English) Data Science with me— going fine with our eclectic approach, but I would not turn this into a repeatable curriculum Anatomy of Story— doing this with me. He’s been thrilled with this course (again, future English major) working his way through books on plot, dialogue, scene, questions for writers, tying in historical accuracy to writing (or not), and other writer’s toolboxes History of Science— small group class that I’m teaching— again, he’s really enjoying this one. I’m offering it next year as an honors class through PA Homeschoolers, because I’ve had 2 years of kids locally who have loved it. Independent History Research— he’s really enjoying this. He used articles from Smithsonian Magazine to identify some research questions, focused on 5, and in the process of completing about 5 weeks of work investigating and writing up his findings on each. He enjoys writing and the research, and finding new ways to discover information related to the questions he is asking. PE— he loves his swimming lessons. Get it Done: the basic life skill stuff— personal finance, health, nutrition, cooking, home maintenance, dealing with “the world” (doc visits, forms, taxes, organizing bills and important papers, etc). These things don’t bring too much excitement to his life, but he’s doing them willingly enough. What I wish we were spending more time on: I really wanted to follow up more with his photography this year, but we haven’t really sat down and spent the kind of time I’d like on photo editing or just heading out on more photo trips. Between me teaching and him doing other schoolwork, this one seems to fall by the wayside. 3 months and counting…. And we’re all done here…

I guess I don’t know how it works in today’s schools. When I was in high school, I had a “music major.” Every day my fourth period class was music, plus music home room (this was band, orchestra, and choir for me; other kids had Jazz band and chorale as well). Plus marching band. Plus participation n the musical. I played— and thus had additional practice time— and additional in-school lesson time (during time other kids had study halls) on clarinet, violin, and saxophone, as well as piano and voice, plus practice time and home, plus the after-school practices for marching band and the musicals. This counted for 1 credit for the year. So how else do you show the extraordinary effort she puts in? Do what you are doing— keep track of the hours. But even more so, keep the portfolio of work. In addition to the original pieces, there are websites where you can set up professional-looking student portfolios and organize them, either chronologically or thematically, and then for college admissions, this online portfolio can become part of the admissions package you put together; the volume of work, if it is of good quality, will speak for itself. Some of my son’s colleges included a spot in the application portal to include a url to an online portfolio, and I encouraged him to include his photography portfolio link there. There is also a place for this in the Common App, though anyone applying specifically in the arts will receive more specific direction from the places where they apply, I am sure.

Yep, that’s why I led with “it depends.”