Dartmouth College Stops Accepting AP Credit

With over 34 subject area offerings, more high school students than ever before are pursuing college credits through Advanced Placement (AP) examinations.

Recently, we shared an infographic documenting rising trends in AP offerings and exams (click on the image to view our infographic). However, Dartmouth College has expressed concerns with the rigor of these exams, and after a decade of discussion, college faculty have decided to stop awarding college credit for AP exams starting in 2014.

In an Associated Press article, Holly Ramer explains that the Ivy League institution simply believes that the tests do not measure up to the quality of the courses that the college offer. This announcement coincides with a dramatic increase in the number of students taking AP exams in hopes of completing their undergraduate coursework earlier; 18 percent of American high school graduates passed a minimum of one AP course in 2011, compared with 11 percent just 10 years prior.

Dartmouth’s psychology department conducted a study to examine the value of AP exams. New students that received the highest AP exam scores were offered shortened versions of Dartmouth’s equivalent final course examinations. Ninety percent of these students failed the examinations and their performances in introductory classes proved to be no better than other students who did not take or perform well on AP exams.

Despite the decision to stop accepting AP credit in lieu of college credits, Dartmouth still believes that the tests hold some merit. Advanced Placement examinations are good tools for preparing students for challenging college coursework, as well as assisting in choosing the most appropriate courses for students. However, students cannot opt to finish college earlier through AP exam credits.

When students have been asked about Dartmouth’s new policy, their opinions have differed greatly. Suril Kantaria, student body president, agrees that AP exams do not measure up to Dartmouth courses. He says that by graduating early, students miss out on excellent higher-level classes and "This trend challenges the spirit of intellectual growth and discovery that pervades our institution."

2005 graduate Kate Lyon disagrees and advocates for the practice of accepting AP credits, which saves students and their families’ money. She was able to graduate a semester early with AP credits, saving an estimated $15,000. She says, “Tuition costs at Dartmouth are rising every year and a decision like this seems to show very little regard for the fact that students struggle to pay for college. I got just as much out of my Dartmouth experience as someone who took classes all four years, and I completed all the requirements of my degrees but it cost me less to do it."

While a Dartmouth education is not cheap, registrar Meredith Brath defends the policy and says that students can do other things to graduate early, like taking four classes rather than three per term.

Other Ivy League schools, like Princeton, Harvard and Columbia, all have different policies regarding AP exams but report that only small percentages of students actually take advantage of them. With Dartmouth’s decision, other universities may soon follow suit, which would certainly affect the future of AP offerings.

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