AP/Honors Information Night

1. AP/HonorsInformation Night Sanderson High School February 27, 2014

2. An Honor/AP Student: • Has intellectual curiosity • Is respectful of classmates and teacher’s opinions • Has a desire to achieve • Has a desire to attend a four-year university • Is self-motivated • Is organized • Is an independent learner • Is responsible about completing tasks on-time without a reminder • Is not afraid to ask questions • Is a self-advocate

3. What should I expect if I take an Honors or AP class? • That you are an INDEPENDENT LEARNER • Discussions where you are prepared and can actively participate • Nightly outside preparation whether your assigned or not • Emphasis on critical thinking skills • Emphasis on college level reading and writing • Possible summer reading/assignments • Using your agenda to keep track of assignments and due dates • Fewer assignments that have greater weight and depth • AP courses are college level with college textbooks

4. What are the benefits of taking an Honors/AP course? • Personal and academic growth • Rigorous courses look favorable for college admissions • Rigorous work helps improve SAT and ACT scores • The potential to earn college credit through AP exams • Students are exposed to college level work with high school support • Helps ease the transition from high school to college freshman • Weighted credit for final course grade

5. What Are AP Courses Like? AP courses typically demand more of students than regular or honors courses. • Classes tend to be fast-paced and cover more material than typical high school classes. • More time, inside and outside of the classroom, is required to complete lessons, assignments and homework. • AP teachers expect their students to think critically, analyze and synthesize facts and data, weigh competing perspectives, and write clearly and persuasively.

6. The Basics • Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) courses are college-level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses • At the end of course, students take AP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college-level course work. • Students who do well on AP Exams can earn credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college.

7. AP and College Admission • Colleges rank “Grades in college prep courses” and “Strength of curriculum” as the top two factors in the admission decision.* • 85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions.** “We look favorably on students who have taken AP courses. The presence of AP courses is a sign that a student has chosen to challenge him/herself.” —Admission Officer * 2009 State of College Admission, NACAC ** Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

8. AP Courses Offered at Sanderson High School in 2014-15 • AP English Language & Composition • AP English Literature & Composition • AP Calculus AB/BC • AP Statistics • AP US History • AP Human Geography • AP Psychology • AP European History • AP Music Theory • AP Studio Art • AP Biology • AP Chemistry • AP Physics I • AP Physics II • AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism • AP Physics C: Mechanics • AP Environmental Science

9. AP Exam Fees • AP Exam fee for 2014 was $89 per exam. There may or may not be an increase for 2015 exams. • For students with financial need, the College Board provides a $22 per exam fee reduction. See CollegeBoard website for details.

10. AP Exams • AP Exams are administered by schools worldwide on set dates each May. • Exams usually last around three hours. • Each AP Exam contains: • Multiple-choice questions • Free-response questions (essay, problem-solving, oral response)

11. Why Take AP Exams? More than 3,200 colleges and universities offer credit or advanced placement for qualifying AP Exam scores. This includes more than 90 percent of four-year U.S. colleges and universities. • Credit: Students earn points toward their college degrees • Advanced placement: Students can skip introductory courses, enter higher-level classes, and/or fulfillgeneral education requirements.

12. AP Boosts Eligibility for Scholarships 31% of colleges and universities consider a student’s AP experience when making decisions about which students will receive scholarships.* “Having the AP Exam score can make the difference when it comes down to awarding precious scholarship dollars.” —Edwina Harris Hamby, former Dean of Admission, Fisk University * Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

13. AP and College Success A recent study* showed that students who earned a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Exam had higher first-year college grade point averages and were more likely to return for the second year of college than non-AP students of similar ability. “One of the best standard predictors of academic success at Harvard is performance on Advanced Placement Examinations.” —William Fitzsimmons,Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Harvard University *Krista Mattern, Emily Shaw, and Xinhui Xiong, “The Relationship Between AP Exam Performance and College Outcomes” (2009), The College Board.

14. Advanced Placement Registration Contract For SHS Students and Parents • All students who wish to register for an AP course must review the AP Registration Contract for SHS Students with their parents. • The qualities and characteristics listed are strongly recommended for students to possess in order to be successful in one more AP courses. • We want all students to understand the commitment AP courses demand. • Students should be prepared to take any class they register for, regardless of primary or alternate choices.

15. Learn More • For more information about AP courses and exams visit: www.collegeboard.com/apstudents • Research potential future colleges and universities at: www.cfnc.org • Contact your student’s counselor at: (919)881-4820 Jennifer Conley (A-E) David Donatini (M-R) Jennifer Barrow ( F-L) Brenda Young (S-Z) LeandraCarpino – Dean of Student Services