Remember feeling like you had to take every single AP known to man to end up in a good college?
I know a lot of kids today feel the same. But few are given the tools to make the most of these higher-level classes so they actually help for college.
So read on to learn:
- The truth you need to know about APs
- Where they should fit in your kid’s priorities
- What colleges do and don’t care about with APs
Here we go.
What are AP classes really for?
There’s nothing particularly special about AP classes, and colleges know it.
Plenty of schools offer classes that are even more advanced and rigorous than APs, they just don’t have that label. It’s like how plenty of farmers follow organic practices, but don’t pay for the certification. And yet the food is still “organic.”
So the point of “AP” is to signal to colleges: this was a rigorous class.
The label puts a student’s grades into context. It gives admissions officers insight into exactly what your classes demanded of you, assuming they followed the curriculum and goals set by the College Board.
But in practice, teachers have a lot of discretion over what happens in class.
And that’s where the exam comes in, and things get messy.
What colleges look for when it comes to APs
Colleges don’t just want to see good grades.
They want to see alignment between the grade on your report card, and your score on the AP exam. When they see an A in class but a score of 2 or 3 (out of 5), admissions officers wonder if there was grade inflation and whether the student didn’t actually learn the material. And this kind of discrepancy happens a lot…
Every year we work with smart kids who are getting A’s in class, but are far from prepared to do well on the exam. And it’s not their fault.
In most classes, teachers design tests and finals based on what they cover in class.
With APs, teachers don’t even get to see the exam, and few manage to cover everything that will show up on it that year.
Meanwhile, there’s rarely enough time to teach students about all the strange new types of questions APs use, or share examples of what a good “Free Response Question” answer looks like. And of course, even when they do, studying for an exam is not one-size-fits all…
Each student has different strengths and weaknesses, and often the best a teacher can do is teach the content.
Why more APs isn’t always better
The good news is, in the grand scheme of things, AP scores don’t matter THAT much.
Not as much as the big-picture story that your kid tells with their college essays, overall transcript, and activities list. As with all things, authenticity is your kid’s true competitive edge — not taking the most APs.
And once you know how much work really goes into studying for all those exams, you can see why the “more is more” approach usually backfires.
What’s a better approach?
Here are 3 strategic rules for making APs worth it for college:
- Prioritize only the APs that are of genuine interest. Whether or not you might apply to a program that’s related, or it’s just a passion – both count. The important thing is being intentional and selective.
- Stay on top of the material from day one. The most common mistake is cramming a week or two before the exam. Real prep means consistent review throughout the year so there are no gaps in your knowledge.
- Practice with College Board rubrics and past exams. Students need to understand what earns points and how the exam actually tests thinking—application, synthesis, timing. Memorizing alone isn’t enough.
Ultimately we tell our students: if you want APs to help with your applications, the exams can’t be an afterthought.
That’s why we have our students start the study process at least 8-10 weeks in advance. That’s what gives us enough time to assess strengths and weaknesses, practice with rubrics, and fill any gaps that aren’t being covered in class.
If you want help figuring out your kid’s study plan, and how APs fit into their overall college strategy, start with a free consultation.
We’ll help you:
- Assess your student’s current course load and goals
- Create a realistic AP study plan that doesn’t lead to burnout
- Connect them with a tutor they’ll enjoy working with
