A New Program! The Advanced Placement® Path!
We have some pretty exciting news! The Ecole d’Humanité is pleased to announce a new curricular program launching for the 2022 / 2023 school year.
The AP® Path at the Ecole d’Humanité is unique amongst boarding schools in Switzerland. This highly personalized program helps academically motivated students achieve the goal of graduating with an Advanced Placement International Diploma® or as an AP® Scholar with Distinction.
What is the Advanced Placement® Curriculum?
Advanced Placement® (AP) is a curricular program created by the College Board in the United States. AP® courses are rigorous and challenging – they allow high school students to complete college-level work while still in high school.
Students who enroll in an AP® course may then elect to take the corresponding AP® exam which demonstrates a mastery of the content and skills.
In AP® courses, students study classical subjects such as English Literature, physics, or calculus while they simultaneously learn core academic concepts and develop the intellectual skills required to succeed at University. In addition, many US colleges grant credit to students who have successfully passed AP® courses and their corresponding exams.
The AP® Path Program at our Swiss Boarding School
Each year, the Ecole d’Humanité offers several AP® courses as part of our wider AP® program. These courses are open to all students in the US program who have completed the required prerequisites.
Beginning in 2022/2023 the Ecole d’Humanité is launching a new program called the AP® Path program!
The AP® Path is a selective program for academically motivated students at our boarding school in Switzerland. In this program, students receive in-depth guidance, support, and encouragement as they work towards the goal of graduating with five or more AP® classes.
What is the Goal of the AP® Path?
The goal of this program is to help students graduate from high school as an AP® Scholar with Distinction – graduating with five or more AP® classes and receiving an average score of 3.5 on all AP® exams taken!
This is an ambitious goal, and we provide individualized support and guidance to help our AP® Path students achieve this credential!
How does the AP® Path Help Students?
Achieving five or more AP® courses is a formidable challenge and requires advanced planning and a lot of preparation. The path begins when students enter the Ecole d’ Humanité.
Each student enrolled in this program receives personalized guidance from our AP® Path Program Director, Lydia Breunig. Lydia helps students on the AP® Path to articulate their academic goals, and then map out a detailed academic plan spanning several years of study. AP® Path guidance ensures that students in the program meet all the prerequisites for their selected AP® courses while also building a course load that is goal-oriented, balanced, and aligned with each student’s personal learning style.
In regular check-ins, AP® Path students are given the support they need to excel in their courses. They work with other AP® students, sharing ideas, encouraging one another, and holding each other accountable for their goals.
Students receive academic support to assist them throughout the program, including academic and college advising, peer support groups and study sessions, preparatory classes, and exam preparation workshops. Students on the AP® Path are coached on other skills such as time management, effective study habits, and learning techniques that suit them as individuals.
This level of personalized support helps students stay focused on their goals, provides them with the tools they need to succeed, and offers plenty of encouragement as they undertake this challenge!
Why Take AP® Courses?
There are many myriad benefits to taking AP® classes like acquiring knowledge; developing good study habits; enhancing, getting an edge on college admissions; or creating opportunities to study outside the US!
AP® courses are rigorous and challenging. They are fast-paced and cover more material than regular high school classes. Not only do they provide students with a deeper level of knowledge, but they also teach students habits and techniques that will propel students to success in high school, university, and beyond!
AP® courses give students a taste of university-level work while still in high school. AP® students get the chance to improve and strengthen key study skills before they get to university. As they learn about subjects like biology, English literature, or World History, practice writing lab reports, strengthen writing skills, or learn to read primary sources. In addition, the challenge of taking on AP® course work teaches effective study skills, time management techniques, and prepares students for university course work.
AP® classes also help students on the path to university. Taking AP® classes and passing the AP® exams shows a commitment to academic excellence and a strong work ethic, both qualities that admissions departments at colleges and universities look for in high school grads. A strong collection of AP® exams can enhance a student’s university application, giving them an edge on their college admissions.
Students who wish to study at universities outside of the US also benefit from taking AP® classes. Many universities in Europe, the UK, or beyond may require additional credentials, in addition to a high school diploma, for example, the Swiss Matura or a certain number of AP® exams with a score of 3 or higher. Enrolling in AP® courses and passing the AP® exams give high school students many more opportunities to study outside the United States.
Finally, many American colleges and universities grant credit to students with qualifying scores on AP® exams. This can help students advance more quickly through their undergraduate degrees or allow students to enroll in more challenging university classes.