An oft-written question, but still, many parents wonder whether an A in a Regents or College Prep class is better than a B in an AP class. As with many things in education, the decision is not a binary yes or no. However, AP is more than just a more rigorous course that offers potential for college credit. AP courses are constructed around high standards and are led by teachers who must demonstrate that their students perform well on the end of course exams. Moreover, the AP exam helps drive content and teaching decisions to make for a better overall course experience for the student, even if it is more challenging. So, AP classes can be better taught, supported, organized, and recognized by admission officers as the gold standard course. As long as your counselor or your PSAT scores indicate potential for taking AP courses, to err toward selecting AP courses is the better choice, balancing the student’s overall responsibilities.
To AP or Not to AP
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