Carlmont introduces AP Capstone program
Sarah Cheung
Staff Writer
February 2017
Staff Writer
February 2017
Picture a class where students are sincerely invested in exploring and researching a topic of their choice.
Picture those same students earning college credit for studying an individual topic they are actually passionate about, and getting a special AP diploma as a result.
Starting in the 2018-19 school year, students at Carlmont High School will be able to do just that. Carlmont will be offering the unique AP Capstone program, a two-year course for juniors and seniors.
The newly added program, consisting of an AP Seminar and an AP Research class, is a rarity in the nation. Including Carlmont, only 12 out of roughly 1,580 high schools in California have the option.
In order to make sure that they are able and committed, schools must apply to the College Board to be able to offer courses. Jennifer Cho, the instructional vice principal, had to apply on Carlmont’s behalf to be eligible to offer the new course.
Cho said, “College Board is concerned about equity and access to the program. Part of the application required that I detail how Carlmont would keep these courses open to all students so that they are not exclusionary.”
During their first year, students will take the AP Seminar class, in which they explore two to four topics relevant to today that are chosen by either themselves or the teacher. They will learn and practice research skills: analyzing textual and audio sources, considering multiple viewpoints, evaluating arguments, and making decisions based on logical reasoning.
Following the prerequisite Seminar class is AP Research. In this class, students have the year-long opportunity to investigate a single topic of their choice while building a portfolio to track their progress. According to the College Board, students will learn how to “understand research methodology, employ ethical research practices, and access, analyze, and synthesize information to build, present, and defend an argument.”
Year-end AP exams for the Capstone program are different from typical ones. They include team projects, presentations, and essays, some of which are scored by teachers rather than the College Board.
Students who complete the course and pass a total of seven AP tests, including those for Seminar and Research, are granted with an AP Capstone diploma to demonstrate their excellence in the program. A certificate is also awarded to those who earn a three or above on solely the AP Seminar and Research exams.
Cindy Shusterman, who has helped coordinate the recruitment efforts, said, “I think that this program can really help students figure out what they want to study in college because it provides such a broad opportunity to pick a topic that you haven't had the chance to delve deep into yet.”
Shusterman believes that Capstone will be a unique experience compared to the advanced classes that Carlmont already offers because it adheres to an individual’s own passions and speed.
“For example, if you are introduced to an interesting topic in another class, you may not get to learn further about it because of the fast-paced schedule of a normal AP. In this course, you would be able to focus on it because you have the time to do so,” Shusterman said.
Some students are welcoming the new addition. Alyssa Fong, a senior, has completed almost four full years of high school and believes the classes will better prepare students for the future.
“Going through the college admissions process and researching possible universities has really opened my eyes to the research and writing skills necessary at the college level that aren’t sufficiently taught at Carlmont,” Fong said. “I think it will be different from other AP classes because it appeals to students who are able to see the bigger picture and recognize the skill set they’ll need to succeed at a university.”
The classes could attract those who have more narrow interests and would like to explore them while still in high school. Shusterman said, “From what I’ve seen, the carved out time for students to pursue their own interests seems appealing to them. It doesn’t even have to be academic or one of the four core subjects -- it could be photography, music, or visual arts, just to name a few.”
Others predict that the introduction of AP Capstone will be less effective than it seems.
Kaila Nishikawa, a junior, said, “I feel like this class might be a lot easier than other AP classes, especially during its first year of being at Carlmont. In this sense, it may not be as impactful as it could be once it’s more developed at the school.”
Some are concerned about the weight that advanced classes can impose on those who overbook their schedules.
High school students in the Silicon Valley are amongst some of the richest and most famous technology companies in the world. Many teenagers believe that they must conform to such standards, thus facing enormous pressure to get high grades and be accepted into top colleges.
Dr. Sanno Zack said to NBC Bay Area News, "The amount of workload that teens are carrying is unbelievable and they really get locked into a story about success -- I need to get certain grades; I need to get into a certain school that gets me into a certain job. The unspoken end point of that is then I'll be happy.”
The academic culture at Carlmont often contributes to this pressure by having high levels of competition, expectations, and stress. Students will oftentimes fill their daily lives with multiple honors classes and extracurriculars to keep up with their peers. It is possible that by expanding the amount of AP options at Carlmont, they may feel even further obligated to increase the number of advanced classes they take.
Cho said, “Randomly offering a large number of AP classes in conjunction with students blindly taking as many AP classes as they can is not healthy. At Carlmont, we offer a variety of AP classes so that students of all strengths and backgrounds can find a challenging class they are interested in.”
Shusterman believes that while schools should guide students in managing their stress levels, high schoolers hold the ultimate responsibility in balancing their schedules. She advises them to consider their passions, extracurriculars, and personal lives when choosing classes.
“I think that the majority of stress and anxiety comes from when students are enrolled in an
advanced course that they aren't truly passionate about or that they don't even like. If you are in an AP class in a subject that you love, you are more likely to do better in it,” Shusterman said.
Fong sees the new program as an opportunity for students to explore life outside of typical AP subjects, therefore fostering personal growth rather than simply trying to please colleges with a high GPA.
Fong said, “I don’t think the addition will force anything upon students; if anything, it will remind them that there is more to life than rigorous core classes. There are at least four whole years ahead that is based on what is learned in the Capstone program.”
While students must evaluate the role of advanced classes in each of their individual lives, those who enroll in the new course next year will have the chance to gain real-world skills that pertain to their interests now and for the future.
Picture those same students earning college credit for studying an individual topic they are actually passionate about, and getting a special AP diploma as a result.
Starting in the 2018-19 school year, students at Carlmont High School will be able to do just that. Carlmont will be offering the unique AP Capstone program, a two-year course for juniors and seniors.
The newly added program, consisting of an AP Seminar and an AP Research class, is a rarity in the nation. Including Carlmont, only 12 out of roughly 1,580 high schools in California have the option.
In order to make sure that they are able and committed, schools must apply to the College Board to be able to offer courses. Jennifer Cho, the instructional vice principal, had to apply on Carlmont’s behalf to be eligible to offer the new course.
Cho said, “College Board is concerned about equity and access to the program. Part of the application required that I detail how Carlmont would keep these courses open to all students so that they are not exclusionary.”
During their first year, students will take the AP Seminar class, in which they explore two to four topics relevant to today that are chosen by either themselves or the teacher. They will learn and practice research skills: analyzing textual and audio sources, considering multiple viewpoints, evaluating arguments, and making decisions based on logical reasoning.
Following the prerequisite Seminar class is AP Research. In this class, students have the year-long opportunity to investigate a single topic of their choice while building a portfolio to track their progress. According to the College Board, students will learn how to “understand research methodology, employ ethical research practices, and access, analyze, and synthesize information to build, present, and defend an argument.”
Year-end AP exams for the Capstone program are different from typical ones. They include team projects, presentations, and essays, some of which are scored by teachers rather than the College Board.
Students who complete the course and pass a total of seven AP tests, including those for Seminar and Research, are granted with an AP Capstone diploma to demonstrate their excellence in the program. A certificate is also awarded to those who earn a three or above on solely the AP Seminar and Research exams.
Cindy Shusterman, who has helped coordinate the recruitment efforts, said, “I think that this program can really help students figure out what they want to study in college because it provides such a broad opportunity to pick a topic that you haven't had the chance to delve deep into yet.”
Shusterman believes that Capstone will be a unique experience compared to the advanced classes that Carlmont already offers because it adheres to an individual’s own passions and speed.
“For example, if you are introduced to an interesting topic in another class, you may not get to learn further about it because of the fast-paced schedule of a normal AP. In this course, you would be able to focus on it because you have the time to do so,” Shusterman said.
Some students are welcoming the new addition. Alyssa Fong, a senior, has completed almost four full years of high school and believes the classes will better prepare students for the future.
“Going through the college admissions process and researching possible universities has really opened my eyes to the research and writing skills necessary at the college level that aren’t sufficiently taught at Carlmont,” Fong said. “I think it will be different from other AP classes because it appeals to students who are able to see the bigger picture and recognize the skill set they’ll need to succeed at a university.”
The classes could attract those who have more narrow interests and would like to explore them while still in high school. Shusterman said, “From what I’ve seen, the carved out time for students to pursue their own interests seems appealing to them. It doesn’t even have to be academic or one of the four core subjects -- it could be photography, music, or visual arts, just to name a few.”
Others predict that the introduction of AP Capstone will be less effective than it seems.
Kaila Nishikawa, a junior, said, “I feel like this class might be a lot easier than other AP classes, especially during its first year of being at Carlmont. In this sense, it may not be as impactful as it could be once it’s more developed at the school.”
Some are concerned about the weight that advanced classes can impose on those who overbook their schedules.
High school students in the Silicon Valley are amongst some of the richest and most famous technology companies in the world. Many teenagers believe that they must conform to such standards, thus facing enormous pressure to get high grades and be accepted into top colleges.
Dr. Sanno Zack said to NBC Bay Area News, "The amount of workload that teens are carrying is unbelievable and they really get locked into a story about success -- I need to get certain grades; I need to get into a certain school that gets me into a certain job. The unspoken end point of that is then I'll be happy.”
The academic culture at Carlmont often contributes to this pressure by having high levels of competition, expectations, and stress. Students will oftentimes fill their daily lives with multiple honors classes and extracurriculars to keep up with their peers. It is possible that by expanding the amount of AP options at Carlmont, they may feel even further obligated to increase the number of advanced classes they take.
Cho said, “Randomly offering a large number of AP classes in conjunction with students blindly taking as many AP classes as they can is not healthy. At Carlmont, we offer a variety of AP classes so that students of all strengths and backgrounds can find a challenging class they are interested in.”
Shusterman believes that while schools should guide students in managing their stress levels, high schoolers hold the ultimate responsibility in balancing their schedules. She advises them to consider their passions, extracurriculars, and personal lives when choosing classes.
“I think that the majority of stress and anxiety comes from when students are enrolled in an
advanced course that they aren't truly passionate about or that they don't even like. If you are in an AP class in a subject that you love, you are more likely to do better in it,” Shusterman said.
Fong sees the new program as an opportunity for students to explore life outside of typical AP subjects, therefore fostering personal growth rather than simply trying to please colleges with a high GPA.
Fong said, “I don’t think the addition will force anything upon students; if anything, it will remind them that there is more to life than rigorous core classes. There are at least four whole years ahead that is based on what is learned in the Capstone program.”
While students must evaluate the role of advanced classes in each of their individual lives, those who enroll in the new course next year will have the chance to gain real-world skills that pertain to their interests now and for the future.