HS AP, Honor courses

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Stage4survivor

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Having read much about AP, Honor courses here being suggested to potential applicants, I began wondering how the Academy compares apples to apples.

Case in point, one of my sons took "regular" chem as a 10th grader with an 88 average in his large Catholic HS.

Couple of his friends in public school district took honors/AP chem and received A's.

BUT, my son got higher scores on the chem regents exam than any of his friends.

It would seem impossible for the Academy to "weigh" these grades as Regular, Honors or AP level given the thousands of schools!

Anyone have any insight on this issue?
 
Good points and you are correct. Comparing GPA's is apples to oranges and why when a kid on here says his gpa is a 3.8 it doesn't mean much out of context.
Colleges and the service academies know that grading systems, level of coursework and course opportunities vary widely from high school to high school.

With the transcripts all high schools include a "profile". This is basically a description of the high school, levels of coursework offered, grading system. It also includes the % of kids who attend a 4 year college etc.
This information helps to personalize one's GPA and transcritps.
Also the service academies rely heavily on class rank and test scores. Class rank tells them how well they performed among their peers who have the same educational opportunities and test scores such as ACT and SAT can be compared from candidate to candidate.
 
Just_A_Mom said:
Good points and you are correct. Comparing GPA's is apples to oranges and why when a kid on here says his gpa is a 3.8 it doesn't mean much out of context.
Colleges and the service academies know that grading systems, level of coursework and course opportunities vary widely from high school to high school.

With the transcripts all high schools include a "profile". This is basically a description of the high school, levels of coursework offered, grading system. It also includes the % of kids who attend a 4 year college etc.
This information helps to personalize one's GPA and transcritps.
Also the service academies rely heavily on class rank and test scores. Class rank tells them how well they performed among their peers who have the same educational opportunities and test scores such as ACT and SAT can be compared from candidate to candidate.
Click to expand...
Their HS doesn't rank the students and passing grade is 75%. USNA has mids from their HS.
 
The school might give an approximate rank or admissions will use the class profile and estimate the rank - by decile.
If there are mids from his school then don't worry - USNA is familiar with the high school and how they grade.
 
Misspoke

Ugggg, I misspoke.
It was honors chem and his final grade was 82.
Now, what absolutely drives me crazy(and it's such a short drive, you could walk!) this twin scored higher on the regents than his friends that actually study 2-3 hours per day.
My sons are just TOO "laid back".
 
You are supporting the reason for colleges and universities - and SAs - relying on SAT and ACT scores for their initial screening of prospects. The standardized exams and grading systems provide a reasonably accurate basis of comparison between candidates as opposed to trying to discern how valid thousands of high school grading systems have been developed and applied. And, let's face it, every teacher has his/her own variation on the grading system.

Another reason for AP courses is that your grades thereon may translate into your ability
to validate courses at NAVY.
 
My son's rank was a merging to of 2 high schools, with different levels of classes. HS 1 had on-level and AP only, very intense international school in Singapore. No rank. 99% of all freshmen and sophomores took on-level.
HS 2 has on level, honors, gt for almost every course, plus AP.

HS1 grades merged into HS2 grades for a terrible ranking. Worst of it is that HS1's on-level was more difficult than any honors class in HS2 by far.

Nothing we could do about it! Just filled in the number.

MOC's congrats letter on his appointment came today!

Remember...Whole Candidate Score!
 
1964BGO said:
You are supporting the reason for colleges and universities - and SAs - relying on SAT and ACT scores for their initial screening of prospects. The standardized exams and grading systems provide a reasonably accurate basis of comparison between candidates as opposed to trying to discern how valid thousands of high school grading systems have been developed and applied. And, let's face it, every teacher has his/her own variation on the grading system.

Another reason for AP courses is that your grades thereon may translate into your ability
to validate courses at NAVY.
Click to expand...
There remains the debate that some very bright kids don't "test" well on standardized exams.
My sons do very well which I believe accentuates their laziness in school performance.
 
I have had several candidates that fell into the category of not testing well on standardized tests. One way around that is to learn more about how such tests are constructed and scored then attack them on their own terms. One reason I recommend students start the SAT and ACT early, learn which exam favors them, and plan to study and take the exams until they are convinced they have done as well as they are going to do.
I know someone noted that you could break your bank taking the exams, but what is the value of the scholarships you are pursuing vs the cost of the exams?
 
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