January 17, 2023 by Eliza Howenstein (’24)
For Saratoga students, trying to pick your schedule for next year can be an exciting time of selecting fun electives and trying to match your schedule up to your friends. However, for current sophomores, questions have risen with the removal of Advanced Placement (AP) Physics 1, which is being replaced with University in the High School (UHS) physics–and the lack of communication surrounding the switch.
The question of what appears better to colleges and is more likely to be widely accepted as credit between the AP credit or SUNY credit has arisen. Although both offer college credit, there are some key differences between the two. The AP class requires you to take and pass the AP exam to get the credit–which is a more difficult feat then it may seem, with physics having one of the highest fail rates out of all the AP exams. The UHS class guarantees the credit as long as you keep a consistent average around a B+ and pass the class–without the loom of one test deciding your fate.
Current juniors who are taking AP physics 1 and sophomores who plan to take UHS physics, but were planning to take AP before finding out about it being cut, agreed that avoiding the AP test would be nice. A junior currently in AP physics 1 , Zoe Shapiro, said, “when it is a college course, you do not have to worry about taking an intense AP test and adding another thing to worry and stress about. You will get the credit if you pass the class which would help with some school stress.”
Junior year is known to be an important and busy year with SAT and potentially ACT prep, and the potential for multiple other honors and AP classes to also be in your schedule–removing one exam could prove less stressful. Regarding the decision, current sophomores Ben Slavett and Amelia Cooper seemed glad with the switch. Slavett said he was, “happy, most prestigious colleges don’t accept AP anymore, and a class that’s through a SUNY school is more likely to be accepted.” Cooper said, “they should do that so there’s no test. AP is too stressful for most people.”
Although many students appear to be happy with the switch to a UHS course, the criticism remains about the lack of communication on the school’s end, with the lack of a statement being made about the switch and the uncertainties regarding how a UHS course appears to colleges on your transcript. These uncertainties led to multiple students approaching teachers and seeking clarity about the new system. Some sophomores in class with Mrs. Bell even went as far as to email colleges admissions offices to ask about how credits would be viewed. To many, it seems like an exciting positive change, but there is just an unspoken wish that more information could have been officially provided by the school.
For students seeking additional information about the difference between AP and UHS (or dual-enrollment) courses, resources are available through College Vine.