We’ll explore the benefits of the AP Capstone program and courses offered to university-aiming high school students.
What Are High School AP Courses?
AP courses are designed to offer high-achieving students the chance to take on college-level schoolwork while still in high school. The students earn college credit for satisfactory completion of their work and are also offered favorable status in their college applications. AP courses also teach vital time management and study skills essential to succeed and thrive in higher education.
The Two-Year AP Capstone Program
Under ISB's two-year Capstone Program, students can take AP courses from tenth grade onwards. Most students elect to take the courses in grades 11 and 12. Each AP takes a year to complete. Students are required to pass an AP exam in May to earn an AP designation on their student transcripts.
The Capstone program consists of an AP Seminar and AP Research course, in addition to four other AP courses of the student’s choosing. To earn an AP Capstone Diploma, each student must earn a score of at least 3 on all their designated AP courses.
AP Seminar and Research classes concentrate on helping students develop academic skills they can use in any type of coursework, skills like:
- Critical Thinking: looking at issues from different perspectives and creating evidential arguments
- Conducting Research: learning about various research methods and completing research projects using these methods
- Collaboration: Students can work alone, with a group, or with expert advisors to develop communication skills.
- Public Speaking: Students present and defend their work individually and as a group in a public setting.
The benefits of taking AP classes include the freedom and choices students earn once they're accepted into a top-ranked college that understands the value of an AP Capstone Diploma. Students recognized as having an AP Diploma are afforded more opportunities to explore academic ideas and concepts. They also don't require as much supervision when they first arrive in college and can be allowed a greater degree of latitude in their studies.
Are AP Courses Worth It?
AP courses can be extremely valuable to a high school student who is driven to get the most out of their college education. The best colleges and universities want students who are not afraid of a challenge. Having college credits on a student's transcript when applying for entrance to a top-tier university or college gets the attention of these institutions and can be the deciding factor for admission.
What Do AP Classes Do for College?
Scoring well on the AP courses taken by students in high school earns them college credit. This can be essential in allowing the student to skip introductory courses, take on more meaningful work towards their degree, and potentially allow them to graduate early.
As mentioned earlier, AP courses also teach time management and study skills that make the student's time in a college environment more productive and allow them to get more out of their education. AP courses also demand advanced levels of reading, writing and critical thinking to score well and earn special consideration from college and university recruiters.
AP Courses at ISB
International School Bangkok (ISB), is a premier international elementary, middle and high school located in the Nichada Thani area of Bangkok, Thailand. Our school has been educating students from all over the world since 1951. The school was established to educate the children of U.S. embassy staff and expats living in Bangkok.
Throughout our existence, we’ve upheld our commitment to a legacy of providing every advantage to our students in getting the most out of their educational opportunities. The AP Capstone Program is a facet of this legacy that offers a better and wider range of educational choices to our students.
Consider enrolling your child in ISB. Take advantage of the many benefits the AP Capstone Program can offer to your child’s academic future. Contact us to learn more about our high school AP classes.