Last year, USA Today did a piece on AP and how in "recent years, a troubling pattern has emerged. Increasingly, admitted students who boast AP credits "really weren't in many ways ready for the rigor of our college curriculum," says Edith Waldstein, vice president for enrollment management."
Hmmm - didn't I mention that a few pages back....
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-03-20-ap-main_x.htm
Here's an excerpt -
Focus on education, not a test
Counters Michael Kirst, a Stanford University professor of education, "We ought to work on (improving) the existing curriculum, not on funneling people into AP who aren't ready for it."
But the more AP becomes a tool to improve high school rigor, the less impressed college faculty seem to be with the credential.
"There is something about a good undergraduate general education that can't be easily replicated by a terrific high school course," says Bruce Johnstone, higher education professor at the University at Buffalo and former chair of the College Board trustees.
Even some students agree. "Even though the AP test provides some sort of standard, it doesn't necessarily ensure that students got a great perspective on these subjects," says MIT senior Christopher Suarez, 22. He says some AP courses prepared him for MIT but not all. "The focus is on the test and not necessarily on the fundamental knowledge of the material."
Hmmm, an MIT senior. He probably got his information from Stu - let's flame him!