With rising college tuition costs, many high school students are looking to get a head start on earning college credits through AP exams. Passing AP exams with qualifying scores allows students to earn college credits and skip introductory courses. This can potentially save thousands of dollars in tuition fees. When considering AP investment choices, students should focus on aligning courses with their intended college major, balancing course loads, and targeting exams with high pass rates. Strategic AP investment planning can maximize students’ chances of earning credits and accelerate their path to graduation.
Research AP Credits Acceptance at Target Colleges
The first step is researching which AP exams are accepted for credit at your list of target colleges. AP credit acceptance policies vary widely across colleges, so it’s important to tailor your AP investments to schools you are seriously considering. Review credit transfer databases for each college and create a customized comparison chart of AP credit policies. Focus on taking APs that are widely accepted for credits in your intended major – for example, Calculus AB for STEM majors or English Literature for humanities majors. Avoid investing effort in APs unlikely to earn credits at your goal schools.
Balance Course Load and Exam Difficulty
While you want to maximize AP investment returns through credits, take care not to overload yourself in any given semester. Comb through your target colleges’ AP credit policies and note exams with consistently high pass rates. For example, AP Psychology and Human Geography are considered less intensive courses with high pass rates. Fill your schedule with a mixture of easier and more challenging APs each semester to maintain balance. Don’t commit to exams with intensive reading loads or low pass rates unless you are very strong in that subject area. Pacing yourself will lead to better mastery and exam outcomes.
Leverage School Resources to Offset Investment Costs
AP exams cost $96 each, but your school may subsidize part of these fees for enrolled students. Also inquire if your school offers discounted or free prep books and classes to offset additional investment costs. If not, research respected exam prep books that align with the course curriculum and study independently or form study groups. For low-income students, College Board offers an AP exam fee reduction program. Reduce unnecessary investment risks by utilizing all available resources to keep your net AP exam costs affordable.
Invest Early But Be Strategic
Ideally, start AP investment planning as early as freshman year to spread out credits across multiple years. However, only take foundational courses that align with your academic strengths. Avoid over-investment or getting locked into unrelated AP tracks too early. Once you confirm your college major, strategically build up credits during junior and senior year that directly align with those degree requirements. Starting AP investments early maximizes your credits earned over time while strategic selections shore up important credits right before matriculation.
With proper AP investment planning, students can maximize chances of earning college credits, accelerating their path to graduation. Researching target college credit policies, balancing course loads, leveraging school resources, and investing strategically over time leads to the best AP investment returns.