1. ADVANCED
PLACEMENT
San Jacinto High School
Mrs. Macdonald

2. Mrs. Macdonald UCSD (communications) SDSU
(political science, credential)
SJHS 14 years
WHAP
Dept. Chair
Passion for travel
Married w/ three kids

3. Notecards 1. Full name 2. Nickname (if any)
3. Name & relationship of parent/ guardian (Ex. Lucy – mother)
4. Reason you chose to enroll in APWH
5. Hobbies / Interests
6. Anything else you think I should know to have a successful year

4. Advanced Placement (AP)?
What is
Advanced Placement (AP)?
AP courses are some of the most challenging courses offered at SJHS
College-level courses
Gives you a head start on college
Shows colleges that you are a serious student & capable of college-level work
Have the potential to earn college credits or placement into advanced courses in college

5. Did you know . . .
If you earn a high school diploma, you’re likely to earn $7,000 more annually than students who don’t complete high school.
But if you earn a bachelor’s degree in college, you’re likely to earn $22,000 more annually.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2000

6. Prepare Now to Succeed in College
A 1999 U.S. Department of
Education study found that the
strongest predictor
of college graduation is…
Participation in rigorous,
college-level courses in
high school (AP courses ).
Clifford Adelman, Answers in the Tool Box: Academic Intensity, Attendance Patterns, and Bachelor’s Degree Attainment (1999), U.S. Department of Education.

7. AP and College Success™
Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years or less.
Source: Camara, Wayne (2003). College Persistence, Graduation, and Remediation. College Board Research Notes (RN-19). New York, NY: College Board.
Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years or less.
Source: Camara, Wayne. (2003). College Persistence, Graduation, and Remediation. College Board Research Notes (RN-19). New York, NY: College Board.

8. Levels of courses at BC:
MOST DIFFICULT
AP=Advanced Placement (WHAP)
IB = Interbaccalureate
Dual Enrollment = MSJC classes
DIFFICULT
Pre-AP = Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP English I)
AVERAGE
No label (World History)

9. Benefits of AP: for Students
Prepare for success in college by taking college-level courses while still in high school
Improve chances of college admission
Opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement
Develop higher level critical thinking, reading and writing skills
Students can earn college credit and/or advanced standing at over 2900 colleges and universities if they successfully complete an AP Examination
Students gain college-level analytical, communication, and study skills as well as academic confidence
Students can gain state or national recognition

10. What type of student is an AP student?
Willing and ready to do homework EVERY night
Prepared for rigor, work-load, and time required
to be successful in an AP course
Self-starter who will take responsibility for their own success
Willing to seek help when needed
Dedicated to challenging her/himself for the entire year
What type of student is
an AP student?
Students who complete AP courses are:
better prepared academically
more likely to choose challenging majors
likely to complete more college level work
likely to perform significantly better than students who did not take AP courses
more likely to exercise leadership
more likely to graduate with a double major
twice as likely to go into advanced study
–Willingham & Morris, 1986; UT Study 1988

11. Who designs AP courses & exams?
AP committee members currently teach at dozens of the nation’s top colleges and universities, including:
Dartmouth College
Hamilton College
Michigan State University
Princeton University
UCLA
University of Texas at Austin
University of Virginia
Yale University

12. Test fees Test May 11 Approx. 4 hours Approx. $92
Fee waivers (to $5) available based on family’s income
AP Club to fundraise test fees

13. PLACEMENT vs. CREDIT
Some colleges award “credit” for qualifying AP Exam grades. This means you actually earn points/hours toward your college degree. Credit shows up on college transcript.
Others award “advanced placement.” This means you can skip introductory courses, enter higher-level classes, and/or fulfill general education requirements.

14. Increase Your Options in College
College credit can allow you to move into upper-level college courses sooner, pursue a double major, and gain time to study and travel abroad:
“As a freshman, I was able to skip general ed requirements and head straight into the higher-level classes I wanted to take. Taking AP Exams literally saved me semesters of time.”
—Brent Wiese, University of Iowa

15. in the Admissions Process
STAND OUT
in the Admissions Process
“One of the best standard predictors of academic success at Harvard is performance on Advanced Placement Examinations.”
—William R. Fitzsimmons Dean of Admissions, Harvard University
“AP Exams affirm the rigor of a student’s course work. Though admissions policies vary, if I were a student, I wouldn’t assume that the college of my dreams didn’t care about AP Exams in the admissions process.”
—Bruce Walker, Director of Admissions University of Texas at Austin

16. Factors influencing admissions decisions (2001)
NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2001
6.4% Work/Extracurricular
8.2% Community Service
10.8% Interview
16.3% Teacher Rec
17.4% Counselor Rec
20.3% Essays
30.5% Class Rank
44.8% GPA
51.7% Test Scores
80.4% AP courses/rigor
of schedule

17. Scholarships look at # AP courses taken and AP exam scores…
Some of the most competitive scholarship awards value AP Exam grades:
“Having the AP Exam grade can make the difference when it comes down to awarding precious scholarship dollars.”
—Edwina Harris Hamby
Dean of Admission Fisk University

18. Experience a College-Level Test
The intensity of college exams catches far too many freshmen by surprise:
“Students who have prepared for and taken the AP Exams adapt more easily to taking college essay exams, and are especially skilled in including a thesis and a well-developed argument. They are also less intimidated by sophisticated, college-level multiple-choice questions that seek to test understanding over memorization.”
—Robert Blackey, Professor of History CSU, San Bernardino

19. AP: The Facts
AP students who receive college credit or advanced placement into higher-level college courses perform better than the non-AP students who actually took the introductory college courses first.
Source: Rick Morgan and Len Ramist. “Advanced Placement Students in College: An Investigation of Course Grades at 21 Colleges.” Educational Testing Service (1998).

20. Don’t end up here!

21. Course Overview

22. Textbook / HW Traditions and Encounters Reading HW nightly
Textbook NOT online

23. Daily Activities Common activities Daily critical thinking
HW required to complete daily activities/ BRIEFLY review hw for your questions, not to reteach
Primary and secondary readings to supplement hw
Writing practice
Simulations
Thinking maps
Group / partner discussions
Daily critical thinking
Link lesson to major world events of the era (contextualization)
Compare lesson to other eras / ideas / subjects
YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO SPEAK AND WRITE EVERY DAY!

24. Materials Binder (or binder w/ dedicated section) 7 dividers Paper
Writing utensil
Recommended: 5 colored highlighters

25. Grades Homework 10% Classwork 15% Essays* 30% Tests*
Category
Weight
Homework
10%
Classwork
15%
Essays*
30%
Tests*
NHD Project (1st semester)
Projects (2nd semester)
Essay rewrites required on all essays earning B or lower
Tests may be retaken after school / at lunch for higher grade

26. Tutoring / Test Retakes
Thursdays during both lunches
After school by appointment

27. Class Rules / Expectations
Use electronics appropriately
Be respectful
Heads up
Speak when appropriate
School appropriate language / behavior
Be responsible
Complete hw
Participate in discussions

28. Tardies
Through the door by the time bell stops ringing

29. Absences Check website Make Up Work request
MUST be completed day you return
Attach homework from the day you return

30. Questions?