High school students across the country are often encouraged to enroll in Advanced Placement courses. These classes not only appeal to many schools because students have the potential to earn college credit, but because studies show the courses also better prepare students for college.

At Syracuse University, AP credits are accepted in place of a variety of required courses across all eleven colleges. SU does require a minimum score on the exams, but the number varies from test to test, according to the SU website.

Last year, SU received more than 25,000 first-year applications, almost double the amount received in 2001.

‘I think my AP courses were definitely worth it,’ said Rachel Bowers, a sophomore illustration major. ‘They helped me understand the course load of each class.’

AP classes are courses sponsored by College Board and are usually recognized for college credit upon receiving a certain score on the final AP exam. At the end of a course, a student takes an exam and can receive a grade anywhere from 1 to 5.

About 541,000 public high school graduates across the nation reported AP scores of 3 or higher to the universities and colleges they applied to, according to College Board’s eight annual AP Report to the Nation.

Each AP exam costs $87 and is nonrefundable once the exam begins. By earning college credit during high school, students can potentially save money and graduate with a degree ahead of schedule.

‘I was able to place out of writing 105/205, and a lot of my credits counted toward academic electives,’ Bowers said.

But Jessica Pupkin, a freshman philosophy major, said she disagrees and thinks AP courses did not significantly prepare her for college.

‘My AP courses haven’t really helped me too much in college,’ she said. ‘I really only see a difference in my math class.’

Almost 38 percent of first- and second-year undergraduate students need remedial courses, according to the AP Report. College Board’s goal is to prepare students for the rigor of college coursework by training high school students in the essential skills they need for success.

SU also accepts International Baccalaureate credits from IB courses, which are not as common as AP courses. IB courses focus more on practical preparation and thought processes for specific subjects, according to the International Baccalaureate Organization’s website.

Bill Coplin, director of the Public Affairs Program at SU, said he thinks that IB courses are better than AP courses. AP courses could be further improved to prepare students for college even more, he said.

‘AP courses are a good way to get out of the liberal arts core,’ Coplin said. ‘But the AP courses themselves could be greatly improved. IB courses are better.’

jbundy@syr.edu  

Published on February 13, 2012 at 12:00 pm