In May 2007, Stuyvesant administered 2794 Advanced Placement (AP) exams. In a school where regular courses are more complex than those of other high schools, the demand for a higher academic challenge through AP classes is ever-high.
Stuyvesant’s many AP classes are part of an extensive list of already challenging courses. “Sometimes I think that all classes at Stuyvesant should be APs because students work really hard in their classes,” said guidance counselor Undine Guthrie.
Usually starting junior year, students are able to choose from a wide range of AP courses. “APs are generally 50 percent more work,” said guidance counselor Jay Biegelson. “They are college level courses.”
English teacher Walter Gern, who teaches both AP courses and regular courses, distinguishes the workloads of the two. His AP English class “allows me to teach more material than my Early British Literature class. I give more work and cover more material,” said Gern.
The contrast can also be made for science courses. Principal Stanley Teitel, who has taught both Regents Physics and AP Physics, said, “The difference between them is the difficulty of problems.”
The intensity of AP courses does not prevent Stuyvesant students from loading up on them, some opting for four or more. The pressure to take AP courses may stem from false impressions. “Most Stuyvesant students see APs as a requirement to their transcript,” said junior Rammiya Nallainathan.
Many parents have voiced their opinions on expanding the AP program to provide more opportunities for students. Paola DeKock, co-president of the Parents’ Association, said “We all know that colleges like APs. If you don’t have any, then it doesn’t look good.” The current system regarding the number of AP courses a student can take is based primarily on the student’s grade point average. A minimum overall average of 88 percent is required to take two AP classes, 93 percent to take three AP classes and 95 percent to take four AP classes. “As far as setting a limit to the number of AP courses you can take, I really see both sides. There are budgeting limits to consider, and there is always a limited number of spots in a course. The other side is the student who feels pressured to improve his/her transcript with many AP courses,” said DeKock.
However, there is some concern about whether the GPA requirements are well-publicized. “A lot of kids don’t really focus during the fall term, but what they do in the fall matters when programming comes around. Personally, I find that unfair. I think that requirements should be publicized early so students know early on,” said DeKock.
Attached to the definition of an AP course is the prospect of getting a head start on earning college credits. “If you take enough [AP courses] and wind up saving one year’s tuition in college, there’s certainly a financial benefit,” said Teitel.
Awarding credits for AP courses depends on the college, the score on the AP exam and a student’s major. College credit is something that is desired by AP students. “For financial reasons, if I take the course and take the AP exam, I really hope that I get college credit,” said junior Pamela Soto.
The chance to create a more attractive transcript remains a major reason for why many students choose to sign up for AP courses. “Along with other reasons, Stuyvesant students take AP courses because it looks good for college and because they want to advance themselves,” said Guthrie.
“I’m taking an AP because it’ll look good on my transcript,” said sophomore Bonnie Li.
On the contrary, not all students take AP classes for this reason. Junior Tiffany Yau, an AP chemistry student, refers to chemistry as her favorite subject. “The class runs at a very quick speed. You have to be able to catch on fast and study on your own a lot,” she said.
The tendency to overload on challenging courses is a recurring issue. “In general, people in this school tend to take too much,” said Biegelson.
“I always encourage students to make sure that the course is one that [they] really want to take on [their] own volition,” said Guthrie.
Teitel acknowledges the stress that AP courses cause many students. “For all we try to do to relieve stress, it is the decision of the student.”
Still, the main player in the AP game is The College Board, which writes and conducts all the tests. “The College Board is a privately owned company, and there is big money on the table,” said Teitel. At $84 an exam, Stuyvesant alone generates hundreds of thousands of dollars for the College Board.
“Lurking in the background is the question of whether students should be required to take the exam,” Gern said. In his AP English class, many seniors opt out of the exam at the end of the year.
The College Board has set new regulations for teachers. As of this school year, teachers are required to submit their AP course curriculum for approval. “Faculty members like myself worry about this,” Teitel said on the need for consent.
“Initially, I was appalled by the amount of work it took to have my class approved,” said Gern. Nevertheless, “it made me aware of things that I could do and will do.”
Amid the increased workload for teachers and the large flow of money, the appeal and frenzy of AP courses are staying put. “As far as I’m concerned, the College Board has managed to get everyone in the mindset that you have to take [AP courses] to get into Tier 1 colleges,” said Teitel.