ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM

WHAT IS THE ADVANCED
PLACEMENT (AP) PROGRAM?

It is a program of college-level courses and exams for secondary school students. Over 90% of the colleges that most AP candidates have attended have given credit and/or advanced placement to students whose AP examination grades are considered acceptable. Some AP facts:

• The AP Program Offers 35 courses in 19 subject areas.
• Nearly 60 percent of U.S. high schools participate in the AP Program.
• Over 90 percent of the nation's colleges and universities have an AP policy granting incoming students credit, placement, or both, for qualifying AP exam grades.

WHAT IS AN AP COURSE LIKE?

It is a special college-level learning experience that takes a full academic year or two terms. It is very challenging and stimulating, and when compared to other high school courses, it takes more time, requires more work, gives greater opportunity for individual progress and accomplishment and goes into greater depth.

WHAT ARE AP EXAMS LIKE AND WHEN ARE THEY GIVEN?

All AP exams contain both multiple-choice questions and free-response questions that require essay writing, problem solving and other skills. Most of the examinations are three hours long. They are given every year during two weeks in May (to any school that wishes to order and administer them). Every examination receives an overall grade on a 5-point scale: 5 = extremely well qualified; 4 = well qualified; 3 = qualified; 2 = possibly qualified; 1 = no recommendation. AP grade reports are sent in early July to each student's home address, school and, if the student requests it, to his or her college.

HOW MANY STUDENTS PASS THE AP EXAMS EACH YEAR?

That depends on what is meant by "pass". Each college decides what AP examination grades it will accept for credit and/or advanced placement. The great majority of colleges and universities accept grades of 3 and above, and quite a few consider grades of 2. If you want to know what AP grades are considered acceptable by the college you are interested in, write to the Director of Admissions of the college.

In the multiple-choice sections of the examinations, a student must answer about 60% of the questions correctly in order to obtain a point score comparable to a total grade of 3. Of course, he or she must do acceptable work on the broader questions in the free-response section to get a total grade of 3 or higher.

WHAT DO AP EXAMS COST?

A limited number of fee reductions are available to students with financial need. Payment deadlines are strictly adhered to. Please see your teacher or counselor for these dates.

CAN I REALLY GET A YEAR OF COLLEGE CREDIT FOR AP WORK?

Definitely. Some of the most selective colleges are among over 1,400 institutions that consider acceptable grades on three or more AP exams as evidence that the student has done work comparable to a year's academic program at college.

WHO SHOULD TAKE AP COURSES?

Students who desire to be challenged intellectually, and want to earn advanced placement standing in college, should consider enrolling in these courses. Admission to these courses will require approval of the AP instructor. Their approval will be based upon criteria such as previous test results, teacher recommendations, accumulative grade-point average, an interview, etc.

  RUNNING START

The Running Start Program enables eligible high school juniors and seniors to seek an expanded educational challenge. The student enrolls simultaneously in a combination of high school and tuition-free college classes up to 15 credits for the purpose of earning credit to be awarded by the community college and the high school. Students from North Mason are currently enrolled at Olympic Community College but qualified students may enroll at other community or technical colleges. Credit may be applied to both high school graduation and future college degree completion. Books, supplies, lab fees and transportation are the responsibility of the student. Classes taken at the college as part of the Running Start Program are limited to "college level classes" (numbered 100 or above). Generally, five college quarter hours of credit equate to one high school credit. Application of specific courses toward high school graduation requirements is determined by North Mason High School.

Students must have a 2.5 GPA or above and demonstrate college level academic skills and maturity before being allowed to enroll in the Running Start Program. Students must take the ASSET or COMPASS test at the college to determine eligibility and placement. Asset testing deadlines are typically:

May 1st - Fall quarter
Nov. 15th - Winter quarter
Feb. 15th - Spring quarter

Once students enroll under this program and begin attending the college, they will be considered "regular" college students by the college. The college faculty expects the same level of classroom participation, study habits, homework and respect as received from other college students.

Enrollment in Running Start requires counselor approval of class selections prior to the beginning of each college quarter.