Scheduling+AP+and+Concurrent+College

=Edline:= Start here (students or parents) to check assingments, due dates, class projects, or to contact a teacher. []

=Honors College:= This is a good place to visit if you need a specific form, or if you are wondering about the Honors College requirements. []

=Scheduling Information Guides for McDowell Students:= Start here for any questions you may have regarding requirements and scheduling opportunities for McDowell students.



=McDowell Student Handbook:=

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=Concurrent College:= McDowell juniors and seniors who meet academic criteria are elligible to take college courses at a discounted rate per credit. These courses count toward high school graduation, and often transfer to colleges that students choose to attend after earning their high school diploma. Visit this link for more information. []

=Regional Choice Initiative (RCI):= RCI is a viable alternative for students who wish to study college-level courses,but who require transportation to the site. These RCI courses are taught at the Erie County Technical School (ECTS) and are filled with area high school juniors and seniors. The courses are taught by local college professors. []

Julie Coppolo
Title: Assistant Director Phone: 814-871-7410 Email: coppolo002@gannon.edu

Area of focus
Erie County, Dual Enrollment

This is the link to Gannon's Dual Enrollment program. It has nearly all the information needed for students and families: []

These are two documents required for the enrollment process. Be sure to speak with MS. Coppolo and Ms. Figaski (at McDowell Senior High) to ensure all steps in the process are completed on time.

Associate Director of Admissions
Below is the link for the document required at Mercyhurst. Be sure to speak with Mr. Beyer and Ms. Figaski (at McDowell Senior High) to ensure all steps in the process are completed on time. The timelines are different depending on whether the high school student wants to register for fall classes or spring classes.
 * ~ Phone: || (814) 824-2915 ||
 * ~ Toll Free: || (800) 825-1926 ext. 2915 ||
 * ~ Fax: || (814) 824-2071 ||
 * ~ E-mail: || cbeyer@mercyhurst.edu ||
 * ~ Works with: || Students from Erie County, PA and Transfer Students ||


 * Information for Penn State Erie will be added soon.

=AP Courses? Or Not?:= Here is an interesting conversation about AP courses from two sides of a not-so-new controversy: Is it better to take AP classes or concurrent college classes, or neither? Is AP really providing college credits? Is it really challenging students at the collegiate level? Is it really saving families money or reducing college loan amounts? What are the real benefits to the AP program, and how should you make your choices between AP and concurrent enrollment?

Because we are an "AP School," let's begin with the information provided by the authors of AP curriculum, the College Board, and look at their promotional materials and data in support of taking as many AP courses as the student can handle. This also assumes that the students are motivated to do well in the course, will be disciplined students, and that they have appropriate background knowledge/preparation within the curriculum that leads toward AP courses.

At McDowell, we have honors-level courses that are treated as Pre-AP. We have developed curriculum for 8th-10th grades that anticipates the demands and entering knowledge required for success in the AP curriculum. We also only allow students to take AP courses with teacher recommendation from prerequisite courses. In this sense, McDowell has restricted enrollment, as opposed to open-enrollment. We do what we can to avoid mis-placing students into courses for which they are not prepared.

This is the link to AP Central, to information warehouse provided by the authors of AP content... The College Board. []

One of the critical issues, in my opinion, is that the student and the family understand what AP can offer, and what it can not guarantee. If a family understands there are a wide set of variables concerning AP classes, AP exams, and the potential cost savings at a college,then they can make an informed decision. The short answer is that the unknowns are very real; the student may or may not get college credit, and the credit they get may or may not save them money. The following article is titled, "AP: Good but Oversold?" and seeks a ballanced perspective. []

This next link will direct you to the actual news article published in //The Atlantic// magazine by John Tierney, which raises questions about whether AP can really deliver what it markets. Mr. Tierney is pretty sure that AP is a big scam. AP criticizes him for not being responsible with his research data or with his use of hyperbole. He is trying to get our attention, so he makes some pretty big claims. I feel it is useful to be aware of criticism and also of the proponents' perspectives, and will do my best to share links to both. []

This link will take you to the NPR.org site for the news program "Talk of the Nation," on which they featured the research and commentary from John Tierney, whose research suggests that AP is not what it claims to be. He seems concerned that fewer colleges will continue to accept AP credits in lieu of entry-level freshman courses offered by universities. This site also includes the official response from the AP Senior Vice President Trevor Packer. []

This link goes straight to the radio call-in discussion with comments from Tierney, NPR host, and callers who are students, teachers, and graduates from AP courses. []

Here is The NewYork Times online coverage of this issue: []

And finally, this is the link to the blog discussion inspired by the above articles, and is hosted by //The New York Times//. "The Choice" blog features all sorts of college decision-making topics, and ought to be explored by families and students alike. [|http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/class/#respond]

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