Rockridge Secondary School Advanced Placement Program

AP @ Rockridge AP began at Rockridge with one course (English Literature) 14 years ago. We now offer 12 AP courses and some grade 11 Pre-AP courses In May 2017 our students wrote just over 200 AP exams Our program continues to evolve and grow as more students are seeing the benefits of AP courses.

Advanced Placement (AP) Advanced Placement courses are a standardized curriculum which is offered by the College Board in over 35 countries. Advanced Placement courses are the equivalent of first-year university classes.

Rockridge AP Program offers dual credit for many of our AP courses

AP at Rockridge Studio Art, 2D Art, 3D Art Biology (Biology 12) Calculus (AB & BC) Chemistry (Chemistry 12) English Composition (English 12) English Literature (English 12) European History Physics 1 and 2 (Physics 11 & 12) Psychology Statistics Computer Science Principles

Admission to AP Courses Possible Combination of Factors: Academic Performance Work Habits Teacher &/or Departmental recommendation Prerequisite enriched course

AP Exams & Portfolios Each AP exam has an accompanying examination. Exams are not mandatory but students in AP classes typically write the AP exams in May or for art classes a portfolio is submitted. The grading for AP exams is done on a scale of 1-5

More than 3,200 colleges and universities offer credit or advanced placement for qualifying AP Exam scores. Advanced placement: Students can skip introductory courses, enter higher-level classes, and/or fulfill general education requirements, travel.

academic success at Harvard is performance on AP Examinations.” “One of the best predictors of academic success at Harvard is performance on AP Examinations.” William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Harvard . 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.

AP Exams: Note: Most universities do not mandate that students must use their advanced standing credits.

SO - WHY AP? Students who complete AP are better prepared for university expectations. Students can move into 2nd year courses if they choose. Students can take the 1st year course again and be prepared. Student & University testimonials

SO – Why AP? USA Universities do not require AP classes, but if your school offers them and you don’t take them you are at a distinct disadvantage. UK Universities often require a minimum number of 3 AP courses. Canadian Universities are beginning to factor AP into the application process and particularly into scholarship selection.

Student Comment #1 Was it difficult taking 3 AP courses in grade 12 – damn right it was. Is it difficult taking 6 courses in first year engineering at UBC – you bet it is. BUT – had I not taken AP in high school I wouldn’t be staying at UBC for another term – I wouldn’t survive. (CI – UBC)

Student Comment #2 If I hadn’t taken AP statistics here at the Rock I’d be lost in the business program. Many of my classmates come from schools that don’t offer a statistics class and they find it the hardest course. I actually still find it difficult, but without a year of it under my belt I would be absolutely lost – I’d probably be failing like many in my class are. (CL – Queens)

Student Comment #3 I’m so glad you didn’t let me drop AP calculus when I wanted to. I really would not have made it into 2nd year engineering without it. I get why so many universities recommend it. They should require us to take it in high school if we want to go into engineering – and then you wouldn’t always be the one telling us to take it. (TB – University of Calgary)

University Advisor Comment #1 If your school offers AP classes and your students don’t take advantage of this, at least in the area they want to pursue, they are likely not the type of student we would want. We want students who appreciate rigor and have shown they can succeed before they get here. (Aaron B. – USC)

University Advisor Comment #2 We don’t just want your students to get into Dalhousie, we want them to stay here and to know they can succeed here. Our retention rates are more important than our admission rates. AP is one of the best predictors we have for retaining students. (Curtis C. – Dalhousie University)

University Advisor Comment #3 Although we don’t require AP courses to get into UBC, I can certainly tell you that your chances of staying here will be a lot better if you have taken AP classes. An AP grade on a transcript carries a lot more weight than a regular course and our new requirements for UBC will begin to reward students who have taken AP courses. (Andrew A. – UBC)

Question Time

Thank – you Please feel free to pick up the AP flyers before leaving.