College Advising AP Information
If you think you might want to take an AP exam at some point during your time at Seattle Academy, please first read the following context and registration information.
As Seattle Academy has never offered AP classes, colleges don’t expect our applicants to take AP exams. Colleges understand our curriculum which our College Advisors effectively contextualize. Many other high schools also do not have AP programs. Purposefully not having an AP curriculum means SAAS teachers do not “teach to the test,” which can mean preparing students only for AP exams, but instead they foster a college prep atmosphere that involves much more critical thinking and ambiguity. Colleges consider our Honors courses AP equivalents for admission purposes and our Honors classes on purpose do not cover the same material as AP exams. Since Seattle Academy does not follow an AP curriculum, students must prepare for AP exams outside of class time. Our busy students do not always have time for this.
In recent years we have noticed a pattern of students signing up for AP exams and then choosing not to test once they realize their other schoolwork and activities take precedence and advantage them more for college admission than AP exams. Last year, well under half of the students registered to take an AP exam did so, for the reason stated above and also because they realized they did not need AP exams to apply to or enroll at their colleges. As instructed below, please check the AP credit-granting policies of a selection of possible colleges before signing up for one or more AP tests.
After consulting with faculty, we will offer this year only AP exams which may be plausible for students to take with significant additional independent preparation or because we know students have sufficient language fluency.
Registration occurs between August 28 and October 31. The tests listed on the registration site are the only exams we will offer this year. We evaluate these offerings yearly in consultation with faculty and we may not offer the same exams next year. Should a different AP test interest you, it is your responsibility to inquire at other schools about its availability. Further information is available here.
Interested students and families are required to:
- check the AP schedule (each exam takes approximately four hours) which is subject to change
- sign up for their AP exams at this page between August 28 and October 31.
- follow the registration site’s two-step process carefully (payment and then registering through AP per the site’s instructions)
- ultimately gain permission from teachers and coaches for missed work and practices affected by AP exams which are only offered on specific dates in May (no make-up tests offered)
Late registration is available between November 16 and March 5 for an additional fee. If you are viewing this page after that window, please check back next year.