Experience with Capstone in AP?

Good day everyone. I'm considering taking the Capstone program in my AP courses, and I would love to hear from anyone who's taken it. How was the experience? What does it involve, exactly?

Respondent 1:

Sure, I'd be happy to share some information about the AP Capstone program. It's a two-year program that includes two AP courses called AP Seminar and AP Research.

AP Seminar, which is typically taken first, involves exploring topics from multiple perspectives and developing evidence-based arguments. You'll work both alone and in groups to write essays, give presentations and work on a team project.

Then, in the AP Research course, you'll dive even deeper by researching a topic that truly interests you. This will involve designing a research plan, gathering information, analyzing your findings, and writing a substantial research paper at the end of the course. Essentially, it's an opportunity to do a mini version of undergraduate-style independent research while still in high school.

The actual workload and difficulty level of the courses may vary depending on your school and teachers, but most students find them quite rigorous. You'll get the opportunity to improve your writing and public speaking skills, which are invaluable for college and beyond. Of course, since it's AP, there's the added benefit of potentially earning some college credit.

You might want to consider how this program will fit in with your other AP classes and extracurriculars to ensure you won't be too overwhelmed. And it’s always a good idea to talk to any students at your high school who have already taken the courses, as well as the teachers who teach them, to get a feel for what the experience is like at your specific school.

Respondent 2:

The AP Capstone program is indeed a challenging one but it really helps equip you with vital skills for college. The AP Seminar course, which is typically taken first, involves working in teams, writing and presenting research reports, and completing a year-end written exam.

Shortly after, the AP Research course allows you to design, plan, and conduct a year-long research-based investigation on a topic of your choice. The course culminates in a 4,000-5,000 word academic paper and presentation with an oral defense.

It's important to note that, unlike other AP courses, AP Seminar and AP Research don't have specific content that you need to master for a test. Instead, the focus is on developing research, analysis, and argumentation skills. Many students who have taken Capstone recommend these courses for the invaluable skills they learned and the preparation it gives for college-level work. But be prepared to put in effort and time, as the workload is quite substantial.

Respondent 3:

Additionally, taking the Capstone program can be beneficial on your college applications since these are entirely college-level courses. It’s a good way of demonstrating to colleges that you can handle more advanced, self-directed work, which could potentially strengthen your application.

However, you should also think about your interests and strengths. If you're someone who likes structured subjects with clear answers, these courses might feel a bit nebulous. But if you're intellectually curious, like exploring questions in-depth, and don't mind ambiguity, they may be right up your alley.

Before deciding, I would recommend discussing this with your academic advisor or the teachers leading the Capstone courses at your school to see if you would benefit from them and to understand the specific curriculum at your school. Lastly, consider your full academic and extracurricular load to ensure you can manage your time effectively.