Jumpstart Your College Career

Exploring the A.P. Option

What is the A.P. Program?

The Advanced Placement (AP) program is designed to assist students who are exceptionally motivated to prepare themselves for college. Those with qualifying scores are eligible to earn credit for course work before they even graduate from high school at the more than 90 percent of four-year colleges that provide credit for good scores. For students who are anxious to begin their college career, AP just might be the right option. Typically, the courses are rigorous. They demand the full attention of the students involved and 100 percent of their commitment to achieve success and earn college credit. If you do well though, you could be saving money by skipping the required courses you’ve tested out of, and freeing up time to do things like pursue courses in your major or even graduate early.

Where is the A.P program available?

One of the best things about the AP program is that students have access to it just about anywhere in the country. Many high schools offer a variety of AP courses, and any student who is interested in taking an AP exam is encouraged to do so. There are more than 30 AP courses to choose from across a wide variety of subject matter—from Chinese Language and Culture to Statistics—but be sure to make sure to do your research on the current list of subjects offered, as they are subject to change.

Are you a home schooled student interested in participating? Not a problem. Home schooled students can also take advantage of the AP program and are encouraged to do so, with some states even sponsoring online AP courses for the hundreds of home schooled students who take the tests annually. The right preparation and thorough instruction will leave any student well-prepared to succeed on the exams.

If you are interested in taking an AP course at your high school see your guidance counselor or talk with a teacher familiar with the coursework for more information. The cost to register for an exam is typically $86 per test, but some state and school districts may offer reduced fees to qualifying students. If you would like to take an A.P. exam and your high school does not offer the program, get in touch with an A.P coordinator by March 15. You’ll need to tell that coordinator that you are looking for a school willing to administer the exam you’re interested in. That coordinator, rather than your high school’s administrators, counselors, or teachers, will be your point of contact for questions on where you need to be, what you need to pay, and what you should be bringing to your exam.