AP classes- Friend or Foe?

AP classes in high school-
AP (Advance placement) classes are available in most high schools to students that excel in a particular subject. The common misconception is the student takes the AP class and gets credit for high school and college eliminating the need and cost to take the class in college. Sounds great, right? Not necessarily. This is the way it works. The AP course doesn't always
prepare the student to take the AP test. Students who wish to take the test are encouraged to seek outside instruction and group sessions to prepare for the test. The test is given off campus after the class is taken and the fee to take the test is $86 dollars. Last year only 22% of seniors in California taking AP tests, 16% nation wide, actually passed, . On the other hand, taking AP classes even without taking the test looks good on college applications and gives the student an extra grade point on his transcript. Some colleges and universities do not recognize AP as weighted classes so it is beneficial to review the particular college's policies so you can make an informed decision about taking the class.