Advanced Placement (AP) is a program that allows you to take college-level courses while still in high school. At the end of each AP class, you can take the corresponding AP exam and potentially earn college credit for the class.

There are 38 AP exams in total, but the number of AP exams offered varies from school to school. Many high schools do not offer any AP classes or exams at all.

When choosing a high school to attend, it’s important to consider whether AP classes and exams are offered, and if so, which ones.

Without further ado, the 3 biggest reasons why you should take APs are:

1. They prepare you for college. AP classes generally function like introductory-level college courses. In other words, they’re designed to be more challenging than your average high school classes.

For instance, AP US History is a lot more analytical than the standard Regents US History offered at most NYC high schools. The AP version goes further than what happened in American history – it puts a lot more emphasis on the how and why, and focuses on broader themes. Classes like this can help you get accustomed to the type of analytical thinking that is regularly expected of you in college-level work.

2. You can earn college credit. If you get an adequate score on an AP exam, many colleges will offer you credit in that subject. (An adequate score generally means at least a 3 or 4, depending on the school.)

In many cases, earning college credit for AP’s will exempt you from taking certain introductory courses in college. For example, a sufficient score on one of the AP Calculus exams may allow you to skip entry-level Calculus in college and go straight into a more advanced math course instead.

3. You’ll have an edge in college admissions. If your high school offers AP classes and exams, colleges will pay attention to whether you took advantage of them.

Taking AP classes and doing well on the corresponding AP exams shows colleges that you are motivated, capable, and ready for college-level academic work. AP classes and exam scores strengthen your college application and make you a more favorable candidate.

Overall, AP classes enrich your high school academic experience and challenge you to think more critically. At the same time, they give you a head start in your college career by offering college credit and letting you place out of introductory courses.

If you’re applying to high schools right now, pay close attention to the AP offerings at your prospective schools. Do they offer any AP classes at all? If so, do they offer AP classes you may want to take in particular, based on your interests and potential career goals?

If you’re in high school at the moment, plan ahead with regards to which AP classes and exams you intend to take and when. And of course, diligent studying and test prep will help you do well in these challenging classes, and achieve your desired scores on the exams!

If you’re a New York City middle-schooler and looking to start applying to high schools, you may want to consider attending a Specialized High School. The Specialized High Schools in NYC are some of the city’s most prestigious public high schools. In addition to their strong reputations, these schools provide challenging and enriching academic environments for high-achieving students.

The nine Specialized High Schools are:

Stuyvesant High School

Bronx High School of Science

Brooklyn Technical High School

Why should I attend a Specialized High School?

If you have a specific area of study you’d like to focus on, you can look into a Specialized High School that caters to your interests. For example, Stuyvesant offers an intensive math and science curriculum, while Brooklyn Latin has a strong emphasis on the humanities. These and the rest of the Specialized High Schools provide rewarding classes, extracurricular activities, and other opportunities for you to explore your interests and pursue what you’re passionate about. And during college admissions season, the stellar reputations of these schools can help your college application stand out.

How do I attend a Specialized High School?

Many NYC public high schools examine several different factors for admission, such as your grades and attendance. But the Specialized High Schools have their own unique admissions process. Eight out of the nine schools use the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) as the only factor for admission.

LaGuardia High School, an arts school, is the only Specialized High School that doesn’t consider the SHSAT. Instead, acceptance is based on an audition for one or more studio programs (Art, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Technical Theater, and Vocal Music) as well as an evaluation of your academics.

For the rest of the Specialized High Schools, a sufficient score on the SHSAT is the sole criterion for acceptance. In 2016 approximately 28,000 students took the test, and less than 20% received an offer of acceptance to one of the schools. On the day of the test, you must rank the schools you are interested in attending, in order of preference. Then, you receive an offer from the highest-ranked school that accepts you. Note that you can only be accepted to one Specialized High School. The SHSAT is certainly a competitive exam, but making sure you’re well-prepared goes a long way in achieving a high score.

What is the format of the SHSAT?

The SHSAT is a three-hour long exam divided into two sections: ELA and Math. The ELA section consists of 57 questions split into two categories, Revising/Editing and Reading Comprehension. The Math section consists of 57 computational and word problems. All questions are multiple-choice with the exception of five grid-in math questions. You receive a raw score based on your number of correct answers, which is then converted into a composite score out of 800.

Check out this update from the DOE on the format for the 2018 SHSAT.

How can I prepare for the SHSAT?

If you are interested in attending a Specialized High School, you should take the exam in the fall of your eighth grade year. Many students begin test prep for the SHSAT during sixth or seventh grade, and several test prep resources are available. You can study independently using test prep books that provide drills, exercises, and practice tests. In addition, tutoring programs, paid or unpaid, offer a test prep curriculum, with the added benefit of having an instructor to help you work through the material. For example, Synergy Prep offers SHSAT tutoring for students the summer before they start the seventh grade. Since gaining admission into these high schools is so competitive, it's a good idea to get a head start! On the other hand, DREAM-SHSI is a free test prep program provided by NYC to help eligible sixth-graders prepare for the SHSAT. Here's more information on that, provided by the DOE. Test prep and regular, consistent practice can strengthen your skills and inspire greater confidence in your test-taking ability! Click the button below to learn more about our SHSAT program!

What colleges look at: The importance of taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes

What is the SHSAT? What are Specialized High Schools?