AP is short for Advanced Placement. Many high schools offer Advanced Placement classes in various subjects. They are college-level courses taught in the high schools.

There are several advantages to taking AP classes.

1. College credit. At the end of the year, the student may take the standardized AP test for the course which they just completed. Depending on their test score, they may receive full credit from the college they choose to attend.
2. Advanced Placement. Most colleges have certain prerequisite or core courses that freshmen and sophomores must take before continuing on with more advanced courses in their major. Having a high score on a Calculus AP course may exempt the college student from having to take a Calculus I course in college. This can either lighten the freshman's fall term load or allow the freshman to advance to Calculus II his fall semester. It is at the discretion of the college to give credit for the course or to exempt the student from a mandatory course or both. There are some students who took so many AP classes in high school, did well on the AP tests, that they got enough college credits that enabled them to skip a semester. That can save families a lot of money.
3. Mature student. Taking AP classes where and when available shows the colleges that the student is serious about that particular subject and mature enough to handle a college-level class. If a student has a prospective major in mind, then the student should consider taking appropriate AP classes. Sometimes, this needs to be planned for as early as ninth grade so the student is put on the appropriate academic path and is then eligible for the selected AP course.
4. College experience. These classes also give the student a hint of what's to come and helps prepare them for the type of workload that is ahead. It gives them time to recognize and develop better study habits.

It is our advice to students to take as many AP classes as are appropriate for their level of understanding and interest in the different subject areas. It can become a tremendous financial savings and good academic strategy.

More information regarding AP subjects and testing can be found on www.collegeboard.com.