What is the difference between AP classes and AICE classes? I am confused on what type of classes my kid should be taking next year and what the difference between to two is? Thanks in advance.
Parents with kids in Highschool in Florida
- Thread starter Nole Daddy
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AP is a national program to offered college credit through testing at the end of the course. AICE is a program run through Cambridge University, also allowing college credit to be earned but with a course curriculum set up with Cambridge. A lot of the course work is centered on a global perspective and the history tends to be more Euro-centric based. We have a very successful AICE program at the school where I teach and also have AP courses available. Plus, there is always dual enrollment that is a third alternative to earn early college credit. Last year we had three students receive their AA degrees before they got their high school diploma.
There is generally a lot of pressure on both the AP and the AICE programs but in the AICE program, most students attend their four years together in the same groups. That's another thing, the AICE is full time beginning in their freshman year where I teach as well. Only one or two AP courses are available prior to a student's junior year.
There is generally a lot of pressure on both the AP and the AICE programs but in the AICE program, most students attend their four years together in the same groups. That's another thing, the AICE is full time beginning in their freshman year where I teach as well. Only one or two AP courses are available prior to a student's junior year.
Thanks. I went to the highschool yesterday and they were talking about AICE and AP classes. My kid has always done well in school and is in honors Algebra 1 and honors Earth Space Science( which she is getting highschool credit for. I just didn't know exactly what the difference was between the two.
I assume her teachers will be the ones that recommend her for either AP or AICE correct?
Not all colleges accept AP as college level courses, most accept AICE and I believe all accept IB (International Baccalaureate)...
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I get that AP and AICE classes can help earn college credits, but is one better to have to help get into the college?
I did dual enrollment my senior year. Sure wish I knew about it earlier to come close to those kids achievements. Kudos to them!
Most do accept AP though, although how they credit and at what score can vary.
But it's not like it's hit and miss, is it? Maybe we're just looking at the wrong schools, but I've looked at dozens and dozens over the years with my daughters, and taking AP credits is pretty standard.
I'm a huge advocate by the way. It's been a battle in my house throughout my kids' high school years...my wife is afraid too many AP classes will overwhelm them and pushes against them taking too many of them. My current junior wants to take five next year, and it's an ongoing thing right now. I want them to take as many as they think they can handle.
Obviously, if your kid isn't up to handling an AP class in general, then it's not a great idea, but if your kid can handle them, I'd suggest they take as many as they are comfortable with. In general, they aren't THAT much harder than on-level, so if the kid can do the AP work, they're not getting THAT much of a break by taking on level classes. What break there might be in degree of difficulty is often somewhat offset by having a worse teacher, and being in class with more slugs. I mean, an easier group project isn't that much easier if you get paired up with some burnout how doesn't help and you have to do the whole thing, right?
My oldest wasn't great at science and math...she just kind of got through the on-level or honors version of those as it was, so AP was not a good idea. But my wife convinces them to take on level in something like American history or English, which they would ace in any event, in a bid to lighten the load. I don't think that really pays off.
The college credits are really helpful. My oldest took a fairly moderate slate of APs (some kids take nearly 20 at our school), did well on the exams, and had about 20 credits going into college. So she's going to take a couple classes over the summer, and graduate in three years.
My current high school junior will be going into something more challenging in a stem field...the credits will allow her to do some 12 hour semesters when she's got her most difficult classes.
Graduating early, double minors, double majors, etc...the flexibility of those credits come in very, very handy. And that's not even to bring up the financial savings potential of getting essentially a year of college for next to free.
I don't think so. My wife, who keeps up with this stuff, said just last night what matters are your classes and grades in math, science and English...
I don't know anything about AICE, but what I was told again and again during the process is that they look at whether the student took an aggressive course load relative to what was offered. If the school offers three APs, and the student took them all, they wouldn't be behind someone who's school offered six APs and they took them all. They might even be ahead of someone with three APs in a school that offers twenty APs.
Unless AICE is considered a considerable step ahead of AP, that probably won't matter. HOWEVER... if it's like an entire program like IB, then you'd want what might be considered a similar slate of APs. So if someone gets an IB diploma that represents that they've taken some X number of IB courses. AP is all individual classes.
If you take just two AP in human geography and in government, those two AP classes aren't going to make you an "AP student" that is the equal to an IB diploma (unless, as I mentioned, what you took was all that was offered).
But if you took 12 or 15 AP classes or whatever, that roughly equates to the number of IB courses in that program, that is supposed to be looked at fairly equally. Some schools may have some IB preference, or even an individual admissions counselor, but pretty much that is the official line for all the admissions departments.
So if the selection of AP classes available is more desirable let's say than the selection of IB or AICE courses, then she should feel fine going with AP courses as long as she takes a roughly equivalent slate.
My buddy's kid basically skipped his freshman year. He is in his second year at FSU and is a Junior. He's actually almost a senior with summer classes.
https://www.palmbeachschools.org/sc/advancedplacement/
http://www.edline.net/pages/Palm_Be...chool_Info/AICE/General_Info/Overview_of_AICE
Also.....
Point computations and class rank are determined by using a value of points earned as indicated below:
Advanced Placement/AICE 1.50 weighting
Honors Courses 1.125
Regular Courses 1.00
Advanced Placement /AICE courses students receive 1.50 times the value of the points earned in regular courses; therefore:
A = 6.00 points
B = 4.50 points
C = 3.00 points
Honors course students receive 1.125 times the value of the points earned in Regular courses:
A = 4.50 points
B = 3.37 points
C = 2.25 points
Regular courses students receive:
A = 4.00 points
B = 3.00 points
C = 2.00 points
Additionally, educators say the program provides a host of benefits for students, including the fact that earning an AICE diploma qualifies them for Florida Bright Futures college tuition scholarships. (Students who take only AP classes can only qualify for Bright Futures by meeting test-score and grade-point-average requirements).
But the classes also are a windfall for high schools, with state incentives implemented in 2000 to encourage more advanced classes. Each time a student passes an AP, AICE or IB exam this year, their school will receive $530.
Good results can raise schools’ state grades, and they add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year at most of the county’s high schools. Seven county schools are expected to earn more than $800,000 this year from students’ performances on AP, AICE and IB exams, with Boca Raton High leading the way with a projected $2.4 million. Some of that covers the cost of administering exams and training teachers. The rest can be used for teacher bonuses, new textbooks and computers, and to hire additional instructors.
The state payout is the same regardless of whether a student takes an AP, IB or AICE exam. But state law provides an additional $995 incentive for every student who earns an AICE diploma or an IB diploma.
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Great info. They went over that last night, but it was confusing and went by quickly.
Yeah Boca is ranked very high in the county. Wellington( where my daughter will go) is pretty close in ranking in the county and state.
One note...I had mentioned earlier that pretty much most schools I encountered accepted AP, I was talking about credits.
If you're talking about this GPA boost, that's a different story. That's much more hit and miss about whether colleges accept the weighted GPA that this represents, or the unweighted GPA in which an A is a 4.0 whether it's AP physics or remedial shoe tying. Many colleges do not recognize anything over a 4.0 so there's no GPA bonus for colleges. This causes endless consternation among parents.
So if you're going to take AP or AICE, do NOT take it for the GPA boost...take it for the college credit, the fact that your transcript will show you're taking aggressive classes, and the college preparation.
Even colleges who accept the weighted GPA are mentally rescaling it on a 5 or 6 point scale anyway based on what your school does and looking at it through a lens of what classes you're taking. You're not picking up any advantage by having a 4.2 in an AP heavy school (where many kids are going to have 4.7+ GPAs...or in the example above, maybe over 5?) vs someone that has a 4.0 at a school with no APs offered. Colleges put these 4.5 GPAs in context.
So I don't think taking 9 ap courses and getting a low C in all of them is a good idea, even if your school recalculates it to a 3.0 B. The colleges might not.
I think the best plan of action to take the most challenging courses available that you have a reasonable chance to get an A in, whether that be AP/IB, honors, or on-level.
One other thing about dual enrollment compared to AP and AICE, you begin to establish a college GPA when you take the course in high school.
In your opinion is there any advantage of going the AICE route over the AP route?
The AICE program is growing stronger every year and our graduates seem to thrive in the college world. Because of the rigor of the program at our school most of our graduates finish degrees earlier, obviously because of the college credit, but rather than just learning to 'take a test', they are getting a broader perspective of what may be going on the world as they assimilate out of college. I think it prepares them more thoroughly for life, but that's just my opinion.
One thing to be aware of, the program is very demanding of time for the student and while most that qualify for the AICE program are over achievers by their nature, the program itself tends to weed out those that aren't prepared to handle the demand rather early. That is not to say that AP doesn't have a place or isn't as rigorous, I just see AICE as providing a broader approach to the education norm offered by standard curriculum.
Some great advice here by Nole Lou. My oldest daughter will be taking some AP courses in the next few years. It is great program, I even used it way back in 1990 to get 12 credits at my college which helped me have a few easy 12-13 credit semesters. One thing I would caution (unless it has changed) is you do have to score well on the AP exam. And that acceptable score varies some at universities and by courses as well. In my day you needed to get a 4 or 5 to get credit. So something to consider because it could be a detriment in someways if they struggle gradewise and then get a 3 or lower on exam. My daughter is taking pre AP courses at our school. Thought is if she continues to do good we will go for it. If not, we may just stick to honors.
I'm worried my middle schooler seems much more interested in the XBOX program.
I don't understand why kids want to get through some of the best four years of their lives in three years. Why not simply take a reduced courseload and use the extra time to focus on research or work/internship?
Some schools are accepting 3's on certain subject areas for college credit. And you are right, if you struggle with testing its not always a good thing to take AP tests. On a personal note and in a completely different direction, my daughter took AP art courses her sophomore and junior years in high school and because there is a rigorous criteria for the art assignments, and their portfolios are graded more subjectively, she failed to get the credits needed from the classes. Fortunately it didn't hurt her when applying for college as she got into the FSU Honors program. However, it did open her eyes to never take an art course again and that was a shame as she is a very talented artist. She turned her direction to writing and is currently expressing her art in that area.
Yep, important point, you have to hit the test grade to get the credit. And some schools require higher test grades. I believe most of your big state institutions take 3s for most of them, but I think for example GT only takes 4s and 5s.
So I wouldn't take an AP as a "reach". In GENERAL, if it's a class your child would definitely get an A in at a regular level (and they/you should have a good idea by now), they probably have a good shot to get a 3 or more on the AP test. I imagine to some extent you're dependent on the teacher...might be worth asking around about how kids generally score in a certain class in your school if you're in doubt.
It might be worth asking about particular APs also if you get beyond the most common ones everyone takes.. The only one out of probably 15 AP classes my daughters have taken between them that they didn't score at least some credit was Latin, and my oldest knew going in that almost nobody scores credit on that one. So there are a few here and there where credit might be more of a long shot. The key is to know your strengths and weaknesses and call your shots. My oldest didn't take any APs in the math or sciences because she thought it was just too hit or miss whether she could score a 3 based on her strengths.
But even that Latin AP had a good outcome...when she was signing up for college, she decided to do Latin as her foreign language, and her advisor suggested Latin II based on her taking of AP, with a condition that if she got a B or greater in Latin II, they would automatically credit her with 3 hours for Latin I. She scored an A- thanks to AP Latin, so in a round about way she ended up with the credit anyway.
In my daughter's case, she's got two years of graduate school required, so five years in school is a lot more attractive to her than six. And for some kids, the "fun" part of it is not the priority. My daughter is like "yeah, I'm having a blast, but I think I'm about ready to wrap it up and move on."
I get it, cause for me, I had a great time in college, but senior year was by far the least enjoyable. Shortly into my senior year I was so ready to be done. Knowing what I know now, I wish I would have graduated sooner.
But I didn't know it until I was in it though. If I would have graduated in three, I'd probably be regretting it the rest of my life thinking about the awesome year I gave up. So damned if I do, damned if I don't.
My next one is going into STEM and it will be much tougher classes and probably a better university. I'm encouraging her to take all four years, and use the credits to take a lighter load.
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On another note, if your student is going into a math intensive field that requires calculus, most colleges are accepting AP Calculus AB as an elective credit. Be sure if they are going to take AP Calculus it is the AP Calculus BC. That fulfills the basic calc credit needed for college and they can move onto the higher maths from there.
Thats what my daughter is doing. Got her IB diploma and 30 plus hours of college credit. She is taking all four years and doing internships and being very socially active. Its hard to begrudge her my wife and I enjoyed our college years immensely.
my oldest has ib and some ap and tested completely out of all English classes. She's using her extra time to double major. She actually went over her allotted hours and well have to pay full price for part of her last semester.
what @Nolegrad89 said is spot on, too. The program just makes them better students. As an example, my kids can crank out a 1,500 word essay in no time at all. That kind of thing used to give me panic attacks.
what @Nolegrad89 said is spot on, too. The program just makes them better students. As an example, my kids can crank out a 1,500 word essay in no time at all. That kind of thing used to give me panic attacks.
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Some great info being shared. I will share my experience in case it might be relevant.
My oldest started HS in Tampa and attended the IB program at Robinson. I was transferred to Indianapolis after her freshman year. She wanted to continue IB but it's a 2 year program here not 4.
Additionally the IB program didn't carry the "weight" that it does in FL. AP courses are more highly regarded in terms of IN colleges. Subsequently, she didn't get accepted into many of the schools she applied on the first pass. She's now at IU and flourishing. Had a neighbor have a similar experience with her son who was IB with my daughter and they transferred to NC.
Now my youngest is a senior in HS and taking mostly AP courses. She's a little ahead of her sister academically and she could have graduated last year. This year she's taken all AP courses (5 per semester) and has had 100% acceptance rate into all the colleges she's applied including some tougher private schools.
Long story short, be aware of what could be important metrics for each state in case you have to relocate for any reason.
My oldest started HS in Tampa and attended the IB program at Robinson. I was transferred to Indianapolis after her freshman year. She wanted to continue IB but it's a 2 year program here not 4.
Additionally the IB program didn't carry the "weight" that it does in FL. AP courses are more highly regarded in terms of IN colleges. Subsequently, she didn't get accepted into many of the schools she applied on the first pass. She's now at IU and flourishing. Had a neighbor have a similar experience with her son who was IB with my daughter and they transferred to NC.
Now my youngest is a senior in HS and taking mostly AP courses. She's a little ahead of her sister academically and she could have graduated last year. This year she's taken all AP courses (5 per semester) and has had 100% acceptance rate into all the colleges she's applied including some tougher private schools.
Long story short, be aware of what could be important metrics for each state in case you have to relocate for any reason.
My niece just got into IB at St. Pete High. I have no idea what that really means. Is it that great? Better than a private school? What does she get out of it and what is the education like? Is it just schools for test?
Your information is greatly appreciated. I have another question for you. My daughter has always done very well in school. In middle school she takes all advanced and or highschool level offered Science and Math. She is in algebra 1( which she is getting highschool credit for) but she only gets B's in that. She just is not an A math student. Is it ok to get B's in AP or AICE math courses, or should she take a lesser level math and get an A in it. The rest of her grades are A's. So next year as a freshman she will be taking Geometry at some level. Thanks.
There's no shame in getting a B in an AICE or AP course. For AP its the test that matters most anyway, as is the case for AICE but what colleges are mostly looking for on a transcript is the rigor of the course work. One other thing, don't have her concentrate on just her academics, she needs to be involved in extra-curricular activities as well. A lot of the AICE students here also are in the marching band, and a few have played sports. I currently have 3 students in AICE on my golf team.
That's great info. Yes she is on her middle school soccer team and in chorus and will be trying to do that in highschool. She knows she has to be involved in clubs and stuff and of course the communtiy service stuff. The good news she does a lot of that already in National Junior Honor Society, so she is already used to that. I can only imagine how much work she will have in highschool, because it's already a lot. I am still in shock how much more they have to do than I did growing up. I just hope at some point she doesn't get burned out, because it is so much.
High school is definitely a lot different now that it was when I was in school but believe it or not, even with all of the opportunities afforded our students, many still will barely get by with a minimum of 'accomplishments' and in the long run will regret not doing more while they were in school.
My daughter is on this same path in Georgia. She finished her math requirement after her sophomore year of high school, and she's currently taking AP calculus. So unless I'm mistaken, at least for AP, there isn't going to be an AP math that she'll be able to choose for at least a couple more years.
There is definitely nothing wrong with getting a B in AP, but from my experience, I would be monitoring that one the next year or so as she finishes the standard requirements. Calculus and statistics are pretty challenging if you are not math inclined, and AP even more so. You might want to consider how she tests relative to classwork. If she's a B student, but scores on standardized tests like the A kids, then I'd be more inclined to feel ok with it.
In my opinion, if there's a good chance that a kid is going to be frustrated with the difficulty, work super hard to get a low B, and then get a 2 on the test, I would probably choose another AP class than one of the math ones, get an A, get a college credit or two. The ding on her application should be pretty small if she's taking another AP instead.
It could become tricky though if the school doesn't offer that many AP classes, and that's one of the few you have the opportunity to take and show you're challenging yourself.
Great stuff. I am lucky because my daughter will go to a great school that offers a bunch of AP and AICE classes.
If your daughter runs out of math options at her high school, ask if there's a dual enrollment program with one of the community colleges and she can get some basic college math requirements out of the way that are not covered under AP. Of course, if she's not going to major in a subject that is math intensive this may not be a viable option. After my son took the ACT, he was ineligible to take college algebra to fulfill his math obligation in college. He'll be taking calculus after high school graduation but he did take the dual enrollment college algebra for elective credit, plus is was a good lead in for the dual enrollment statistics class he's taking this semester.
How long have these various programs been around? My youngest graduated high school in 2011. He was dual enrolled with the local branch of the community college and took "honors" courses. I don't remember anything ever mentioned about all the others talked about in this thread.
The school where I currently teach opened in 2003 and we had the AICE program from the very start. I know they were also going into the school from which I transferred but it wasn't widespread at that time. In fact, there may have been only a handful of schools in the state of Florida that offered the AICE program. As far as I know, AP has been around for at least as long as I've been out of high school back in the late 70s. I participated in dual enrollment even back then during my senior year.
AP's been around at least since I was in high school 30 years ago, although my crappy little Catholic school only offered two of them. I wasn't aware of IB existing at all from where I grew up, but I feel like when I got to FSU, there were some IB students. But not all high schools offer programs, or a great about making students aware of them.
The previous post stating that regionality has something to do with it makes sense as well. AP I think is pretty universally known, while there are places IB/AICE may be more respected than AP, and others where they are much less known than AP.
I think my kids honor classes were AP. I think I'm mistaking the terminology.
Our school has honors classes and AP classes. One carries more weight towards the weighted GPA because of the testing factor at the end of AP. One thing that I haven't mentioned, schools are going to start putting more students into AP classes because in Florida, successful passage of AP classes goes towards a schools overall 'grade' from the state.
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