Why I took so many AP tests

I took over ten AP tests in high school, many in subjects for which I hadn’t even taken the class. Here’s why:

Like you mentioned in your last post, AP tests are a way to get a head start in college academics. I knew that AP courses and tests would not only prepare me for the rigor of college academics, but also grant me credits or help me test out of introductory classes.

Because of all the AP tests I took in high school, I enter IU with around 42 credits. Students at IU are required to have a minumum of 120 credits to graduate. Depending on how my AP credits apply to my various requirements, it is very feasible for me to graduate in two, or maybe even three, semesters early.

Although I don’t plan on graduating early at the moment, the extra semesters of flexibility give me a whole slew of options.  I can double or even triple major. I can study abroad without having to worry about taking classes for credit. I can take a semester off to pursue travel or an internship while still graduating on time. I can take fun electives or classes outside my major while still satisfying my requirements. I am very excitedly considering all these options.

AP credits were one of the tipping factors that made me decide to attend a state school over a private school. Most highly selective private schools grant little to no credit for AP exams. If they give anything at all, it’s only if the score received was a 5 (or in rare cases, a 4). In contrast, most state schools are required to give credit for AP exams. Indiana law, for example, dictates that all scores of a 3 or above must be given some kind of credit. At IU, a score of a 3 usually gets one unit of general undistributed credit, while a 4 or 5 gets up to 6 units of credit that can actually be applied towards a major.

Here’s IU’s breakdown of how AP scores are applied towards credit:

http://admit.indiana.edu/apply/freshmen/standards/ap-exams.shtml

In my next post, I will discuss how exactly to go about taking a double digit number of AP tests while still having a life.

 

Orientation seals the deal

Christopher,

IU also had a program for prospective students in the spring called Red Carpet Days, but I don’t think it was nearly as fun as what Dimensions sounds like. First of all, Red Carpet Days is really only one day.  We arrived in the morning with our parents for a presentation at IU’s main auditorium followed by a tour of campus.  After lunch, we had tours of our prospective departments followed by tours of residence halls.

It makes sense that IU doesn’t have too elaborate of an admit weekend/day due to the fact it admits tens of thousands of students. (I must add that IU has separate admit events for students receiving named scholarships. For example, as an Ernie Pyle Scholar, I was invited to an awards ceremony and reception in April.)

Judging from social media and my own experience, what really gets IU students excited (the same kind of excitement that Dimensions evoked in you) is orientation. IU and many other state schools have a two-day summer orientation program for students who have already committed. The orientation program is in addition to Welcome Week, which is similar to your orientation in that it occurs the week before classes start.

My orientation was in June, and it was a lot like Dimensions sounds. There were separate programs for parents, so we pre-frosh were forced to get out of our comfort zones and actually talk to one another. We were split into groups of fifteen, which was conducive to making friends. I lucked out in that my orientation leader was in my prospective major and lived in my residence hall. Orientation made college seems real. I got my ID card, and met with an advisor to choose my classes.  The best part was a musical put on by older students about touchy subjects (sex, drugs, rape, sexual orientation, peeing in bed) that one doesn’t normally associate with musicals. The actors made the issues less taboo and I think made everyone more comfortable with coming to school in a few months.

In a previous post, I wrote about the differences between making friends at a state school close to home vs. a school far away.  I must note that during my Red Carpet Days event, one of my high school friends was in the group. I ended up hanging out with her for nearly the whole day and didn’t really talk to anyone new.  In contrast, I didn’t have anyone I knew in my orientation group, and ended up making a really good friend with whom I am still in touch with.

I can’t believe I have less than a week until move-in day!

Neha

Summer Reading: Getting back in shape, kinda

IU doesn’t have nearly as intense summer work as many other schools.  Our only summer reading per se was a two page pamphlet about Herman B. Wells, a former president of IU who is credited by Wikipedia with the “development of Indiana University into a world class institution of higher learning.”  We were told the reading would be discussed during our summer orientation program. It turned out that more than half of the kids in my group hadn’t done the reading, so the ensuing discussion was hardly thought provoking.

I actually think required readings such as yours, although tedious, are a good idea.  Students going to places like Dartmouth are coming from all corners of the globe and have varying academic backgrounds.  The summer reading gives everyone something in common to complain talk about.

Other than the reading, IU has had me take a few online courses and tests. About three hours of time went into each a financial literacy course and a drugs/alcohol/sexual health course.  I actually found the financial literacy modules really interesting and informative.  In contrast, the wellness course was quite boring in that it was just a slightly more provocative version of high school health class. I also had to take both a math and a world language placement test (I took Spanish) online before Orientation.  I found the math test quite challenging but persevered through.  I was disappointed that the score I received actually counted for nothing as we took our real (much, much easier) placement test during Orientation.  It makes sense that the real test was in-person as it eliminates the chance of cheating and equalizes conditions for everyone.  I don’t understand why we took the online version, though. I guess it helped me get back in shape mentally.

See you during Thanksgiving…or next week

While Christopher was in Chicago, I was with our group of friends at Ellie’s – one last night of games and snacks before we all go our separate ways in the next weeks. The thing is, though, most of us aren’t really separating. The majority of our friends are either staying right here in West Lafayette to attend Purdue University or are coming with me to IU.  In fact, there are five girls from our high school class on my dormitory floor. In addition to old classmates, several debate friends from throughout the state will be at IU.

I’m not sure how I feel yet about attending college with so many people I already know. (I should mention for our readers that our graduating class had less than 200 kids, and that most of us have been attending school together since Kindergarten.)

On one hand, I feel like I’m missing out on part of the college experience.  There will be people at IU who remember my middle school science fair projects or that I dressed like Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl every day of the eighth grade. I certainly don’t plan on reinventing myself in college or anything, but I have obviously changed over the years, so it would be nice for people to not have preconceived notions about me.  Also, I hope the fact that I already have some friends at IU won’t make me lazy and less motivated to take the effort to make new friends.

On the other hand, college seems far less daunting. I have already spoken to several older friends from high school who now attend IU to pick their brains for advice, and I know many of them will look out for me this year.  I also feel like I have some semblance of a network already in place.  For example, there is a Facebook page for our high school’s alum who are at IU to coordinate rides between home and school.  I know I will have the opportunity to make new friends due to IU’s enormous population, but I can also rest assured that I will have several familiar faces to turn to if the need arises. I am also genuinely looking forward to developing deeper bonds with high school friends who will be with me in college. After all, nothing beats old friends.