DOLLARS FOR DIPLOMAS
Anyone who has paid their way through college or picked up the tuition bill for a child knows the pain. The average bill for in-state students is $7,662 per year...for out-of-state students the tally is $18.529. It's no wonder why parents and students are searching out any avenue that can cut deeply into that cost. And there is a way that can cost as little as $87.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES
The Advance Placement Program is becoming more and more popular. It lets high school students take college quality classes and if they pass the final exam...they are awarded a full college credit. Over 3,200 colleges and universities across the country participate. Here in Connecticut alone, the savings can be astronomical. A high school student who amasses 15 AP credits can expect the following savings:
Tunxis Community College- $1,492
Central Connecticut State University- $7,042
University of Connecticut- $7,200
SHINING EXAMPLE
Emmitt Gilles is a high school senior at Conard High School in West Hartford. Because he has taken and passed over a dozen AP classes..he was offered a full scholarship at the University of North Carolina. And he has other major schools lining up to offer him a free education. He says part of the draw is that colleges put a strong emphasis on students who have the smarts and take the time to participate in the Advanced Placement program. Even without a scholarship offer, students with AP credits could actually start their college life as a sophomore..instead of a freshman. And beyond the cost savings, Gilles says the program saves time. Because he is so far ahead in his college credits, he will have a jump start in particpating in post-graduate work and life beyond the campus.
RESOURCES
Comments (1)
My name is Becky Smith and I am a junior at East Lyme High School. I am currently taking three Advanced Placement classes and have a few comments to make about your news segment. It was rather misleading, you failed to mention that many schools do not accept the credit unless the student passes the AP exam. Even though a score of 3 is considered passing, many colleges only accept 4's or even only 5's on the exams to recieve the college credit. Also, some colleges do not give the credit, they just let you take more advanced classes as a younger student. The segment was also misleading, it made it sound as if everyone should take advantage of this program. The classes are extremely difficult. Emmitt Gilles, who you featured in the segment, is obviously a very smart boy. However, not everyone can handle 13 AP classes in their high school career. I have seen many students break down from overload and completely lose the joy in high school. It is important to point out that these classes are not just to take because available, but out of interest, talent, and passion for a particular subject. For example, I am not the best student in math, therefore I do not take AP calculus. However, I enjoy music theory and have a natural apt for it, so I am taking AP music theory. I know many students who just take AP's to brag or say that they take them. I think the segment portrayed AP's unrealistically, and I hope students who are not ready for a particular class do not take the class just because they want the college credit. There is no use "killing yourself" for an entire academic year and not even pass the AP exam. Also, colleges look at the grade you recieve in an AP class, to show how a certain student survives on a daily basis in a college level course. This segment was accurate in presenting the potential financial savings, yet rather misleading. They are much more challenging than high school classes, and many students do not have the ability to take 13 in high school, as shown on the segment.
Thank you,
Becky Smith
Posted by Becky Smith | March 17, 2009 10:30 PM
Posted on March 17, 2009 22:30