Alternative Options Weren't Mentioned in High School (now I'm a little mad)

[rebel100]

The high school counselor may not suffer a loss of money for their school. But think past the opportunity to earn three credits for $100. Say our little student doesn't study well or doesn't test well, Mom and Dad Spend $100 on the Guidance Counselors advice and the student fails the exam....how long will the Principal hear that complaint before they pull the plug? Heck I recently read an article where the kid and her parents complained that the dual enrollment course they passed didn't transfer (to the private out of state school the kid chose). Suggesting alternative credit by the guidance counselor could be career limiting.

You have to complete your own due diligence, spoon fed adults don't do well anyway.

[cookderosa]

Yes, homeschoolers are allowed to take AP exams, but good luck finding a high school who will let you test "out of district". I must have called 50 local high schools in the last week, and always get the same response.

very frustrating. Ask around in your local homeschool groups for leads. There are times when an AP is the better choice, if that's true here, you should push it. Also, always ask for the AP Coordinator and directly say "I'm a homeschool parent and want to register my teen to take the ___AP exam with your students" I wouldn't mention anything about where you live if they don't ask. I'll also add that you may get more luck targeting private high schools, specifically academic-magnet ones or religious based.

I can't remember if it was here or on FB, but a parent just shared with me that her public school district covered the cost of 2 AP exams as well as all testing materials- so there are really excellent districts out there, you just have to keep trying. And bring cookies. Cookies help.

[cookderosa]

The high school counselor may not suffer a loss of money for their school. But think past the opportunity to earn three credits for $100. Say our little student doesn't study well or doesn't test well, Mom and Dad Spend $100 on the Guidance Counselors advice and the student fails the exam....how long will the Principal hear that complaint before they pull the plug? Heck I recently read an article where the kid and her parents complained that the dual enrollment course they passed didn't transfer (to the private out of state school the kid chose). Suggesting alternative credit by the guidance counselor could be career limiting.

You have to complete your own due diligence, spoon fed adults don't do well anyway.

Yes. And here's the thing, every student has to be educated from scratch. So every year, you have 300, 400, 800 new students that you're going to educate one on one all the alternative options to a point that is sufficient for them to a) make an informed decision b) pursue on their own? We forget that people away from this board are completely in the dark.

College Board since the 1970's has been very clear with their target- AP is for high school and CLEP is for adults. They're not going to start advertising CLEP to high school students, plus I think that tramples the boundaries between secondary and postsecondary education. CAn you imagine a public school pushing one college over another because of CLEP policy? Yeah- out of a job.

[musictester]

Thanks for your suggestions. I think the last one would work! I'm a homeschool senior, and I only need one exam, so it is not a huge deal, but it is worth eight credits at my college if you can get a 4 or 5. So, I will keep trying.

very frustrating. Ask around in your local homeschool groups for leads. There are times when an AP is the better choice, if that's true here, you should push it. Also, always ask for the AP Coordinator and directly say "I'm a homeschool parent and want to register my teen to take the ___AP exam with your students" I wouldn't mention anything about where you live if they don't ask. I'll also add that you may get more luck targeting private high schools, specifically academic-magnet ones or religious based.

I can't remember if it was here or on FB, but a parent just shared with me that her public school district covered the cost of 2 AP exams as well as all testing materials- so there are really excellent districts out there, you just have to keep trying. And bring cookies. Cookies help.

[OakLakeNC]

I hope you guys keep pushing the AP tests. It sounds like it is something someone needs to make a fuss about before anything gets done. You were entitled to go a public school in the first place- taking a few tests shouldn't be a be deal.

Lots of good points made in this conversation! Sounds like politics kind of go into college/career high school counseling. No one wants to deviate from the standard advice - go to a university, college, community college or enlist in the military. No one wants to be the person who gives off-beat advice and the student fails.

[TrailRunr]

I hope you guys keep pushing the AP tests. It sounds like it is something someone needs to make a fuss about before anything gets done. You were entitled to go a public school in the first place- taking a few tests shouldn't be a be deal.

I disagree, but I'm sympathetic. Sometimes you have to pick your battles in life and let go of those you're not going to win anytime soon (like this one). That negative energy making a fuss is better spent preparing for the exam. I like cookerosa's advice to go to homeschool groups for pointers on locating friendly AP sites and alternative methods of credit that might work for the same topic. It may be necessary to travel further, but it may be worth it for 8 credits in something that's hard to substitute. Looking for friendly sites is better than trying to change the politics in the closest school district.

[cookderosa]

I hope you guys keep pushing the AP tests. It sounds like it is something someone needs to make a fuss about before anything gets done. You were entitled to go a public school in the first place- taking a few tests shouldn't be a be deal.

Lots of good points made in this conversation! Sounds like politics kind of go into college/career high school counseling. No one wants to deviate from the standard advice - go to a university, college, community college or enlist in the military. No one wants to be the person who gives off-beat advice and the student fails.

it all boils down to being your own advocate. If you don't expect to have your hand held, you'll do so much better.
I think the schools use this as a pathetic attempt at flexing their power- because in all 50 states they have none-zero- over homeschoolers and they don't like that. This gives them a chance to say screw you to us. (as if the reason anyone homeschools is to stick it to THAT specific person....but anyway.....)
But, every now and then you'll encounter someone with integrity, so keep trying.

[cookderosa]

Thanks for your suggestions. I think the last one would work! I'm a homeschool senior, and I only need one exam, so it is not a huge deal, but it is worth eight credits at my college if you can get a 4 or 5. So, I will keep trying.

Can I ask, does your college award credit for CLEP exams? If so, the exam you're considering isn't American History is it?

[musictester]

Yes, they do, and I have 18 credits that way, but it's actually AP Music Theory. It has a sightreading portion, and audio, etc, so it is a hard one to find anyway.

Can I ask, does your college award credit for CLEP exams? If so, the exam you're considering isn't American History is it?

[KayV]

That doesn't happen everywhere. At the private high school where I teach, we tell our students about alternate means of credit like CLEP and DSST. We also encourage our students to take AP exams, and we allow homeschool students to take those exams along with our students.

That being said, my own high school counselor actually threw away the application for a Douglas fellowship because he thought no one would be interested in it. I picked it up from his trash can (seriously) and applied. That and National Merit completely paid for my bachelor's degree. So yes, no matter where you are, you have to be your own advocate.