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The Link between Advanced Placement Experience and Early College Success

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  • Kristin Klopfenstein
  • M. Kathleen Thomas

Abstract

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program was originally designed to provide students a means to earn college credit and/or advanced placement for learning college‐level material in high school. Today the program serves an equally important role as a signal in college admissions. This paper examines the extent to which AP course‐taking predicts early college grades and retention. Controlling for a broad range of student, school, and curricular characteristics, we find that AP experience does not reliably predict first semester college grades or retention to the second year. We show that failing to control for the student's non‐AP curricular experience, particularly in math and science, leads to positively biased AP coefficients. Our findings raise questions about recent state policies mandating AP inclusion in all school districts or high schools and the practice of giving preference to students with AP course experience in the university admissions process.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristin Klopfenstein & M. Kathleen Thomas, 2009. "The Link between Advanced Placement Experience and Early College Success," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 75(3), pages 873-891, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:75:y:2009:i:3:p:873-891
    DOI: 10.1002/j.2325-8012.2009.tb00935.x
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    1. Geiser, Saul & Santelices, Veronica, 2004. "The Role of Advanced Placement and Honors Courses in College Admissions," University of California at Berkeley, Center for Studies in Higher Education qt3ft1g8rz, Center for Studies in Higher Education, UC Berkeley.
    2. Julian R. Betts & Darlene Morell, 1999. "The Determinants of Undergraduate Grade Point Average: The Relative Importance of Family Background, High School Resources, and Peer Group Effects," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 34(2), pages 268-293.
    3. Ralph Stinebrickner & Todd R. Stinebrickner, 2003. "Understanding Educational Outcomes of Students from Low-Income Families: Evidence from a Liberal Arts College with a Full Tuition Subsidy Program," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 38(3).
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