AP Letter- Balance in Life

Dear Students and Parents,
 
Rigor of course load...the new catch phrase for college admissions deals with course selection. How hard are the courses the student has selected in comparison with other students? In comparison with the courses offered? Highly selective colleges want students who have “maximized in the four core subject areas” of English, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics, which means simply that the student has taken the highest level course offered by his school in each of those areas. With weighted grades and GPA’s rising to 5.0 in some cases, honors and AP classes are becoming increasingly important for college-bound students wanting to be competitive at selective schools.
 
Balance, however, is a word that is not used enough in the discussion. For the statistical edge in college admissions, students should take the hardest level course offered in which they can perform. But at what cost? This is the question students sometimes fail to ask. How much time will I spend? Will I be able to maintain my extracurricular activities? My job? My relationships – with family, friends, the Lord? Can I keep Biblical priority in my life while taking five AP’s? Four? Three? The question of balance should be at the forefront of this discussion, as students seek to follow God’s plan for their senior year, college selection, and life beyond that.
 
God does have a plan for each of you, and He is a God concerned with the details of your life. Proverbs 1 states that wisdom is crying out in the streets; James begs us to ask God for the wisdom we lack, yet still we are tempted to look to admissions standards in absence of Him when scheduling classes and considering colleges. A student came to me after his parents learned that his college of choice wanted maximization in core subject areas including science. He had not signed up for AP Physics and his parents were concerned that this decision would hinder his chances of admission. The student was confident in his scheduling choices; he had prayed over what he should take and felt at peace with the schedule he had. “I have prayed about this,” he said. “If I don’t get in because of this decision, then maybe God wants me somewhere else.” I was impressed by this young man’s maturity and confidence in the wisdom he received from God. Apparently, so was his college of choice – he was accepted.
 
As you strive toward college acceptance, remember to seek God in the process. He knows the plans He has for you.
 
In His Hands,
Dr. Daniel Ray
OCHS Principal

What is an AP class?

About AP

The following information is from the AP portion of the College Board. This will give parents and students some information about what AP classes are all about. Our next blog entry will deal with AP courses at OCHS.

Are you ready for a unique learning experience that will help you succeed in college? Each year, students around the world who want to learn and achieve at the highest level become AP students. Through AP's college-level courses and exams, you can earn college credit and advanced placement, stand out in the admissions process, and learn from some of the most skilled, dedicated, and inspiring teachers in the world.
Why Participate?

With more than 30 courses and exams across multiple subject areas, AP offers something for everyone. Here are just a few reasons to sign up:
Earn College Credit and Advanced Placement

* Receive recognition from more than 3,600 colleges and universities that annually receive AP Exam scores. Over 90% of 4-year colleges in the U.S. provide credit and/or advanced placement for qualifying scores.
* Have time to move into upper-level courses in your field of interest, pursue a double major, or study abroad.
* Design a college experience that suits you and gives you the flexibility to get the most out of your college years.

Stand Out in the College Admissions Process

* Demonstrate your maturity and readiness for college.
* Show your willingness to take the most rigorous courses available to you.
* Emphasize your commitment to academic excellence.

Gain Skills that Will Help You Succeed in College

* Get a head start on college-level work.
* Improve your writing skills and sharpen your problem-solving techniques.
* Develop the study habits necessary for tackling rigorous course work.

Broaden Your Intellectual Horizons

* Be part of a community of students and educators who are passionate, curious, and committed to academic excellence
* Engage in intense discussions, solve problems collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively
* Take courses that are developed by leading professors to reflect the level of learning happening at colleges throughout the country

How Do I Enroll?

Once you've decided to take the AP challenge it's easy to enroll.

* Talk to an AP teacher or the AP Coordinator at your school about the course you want to take. Discuss the course's workload and any preparation you might need.
* If you are a homeschooled student or attend a school that doesn't offer AP, you can still participate. Each year hundreds of students participate through independent study. Some states even sponsor online AP courses.

Honors/AP Program

Over the next two weeks information will be given on our Honors/AP Program at OCHS. Keep checking back.