Don’t Take AP Seminar or AP Research
Yes we said it: don't take AP Seminar and AP Research. These courses are on our wall of shame, along with AP Precalculus and, most likely, AP Business Principles/Personal Finance.
They are not what they promise to be. Given the acceptance of how conducting research is a critical part of the college admissions process, many students seek to take these classes to check that box off the list of requirements they must fulfill to be competitive applicants for top colleges. Unfortunately, AP Seminar and AP Research fall miserably short of substituting doing supervised research under a research professional, such as a professor, postdoc, or even a PhD student.
Here’s why:
Lack of Authentic Research Experience
AP Seminar and AP Research are classroom-based approximations of research, not the real thing. In these courses, you're working with high school teachers who, while well-meaning, typically lack the specialized knowledge and current involvement in academic research that university professors and researchers possess. This means you're missing out on exposure to cutting-edge methodologies, access to sophisticated research tools, and the guidance of someone actively contributing to their field.
Superficial Depth
The curriculum for these AP courses is designed to be accessible to high school students with no prior research experience. As a result, the depth of inquiry is necessarily limited. You might learn the basic structure of research papers and how to cite sources, but you won't engage with complex disciplinary debates or sophisticated methodological questions that characterize genuine academic research.
No Network Building
One of the most valuable aspects of working with professional researchers is the network you build. Professors can write meaningful recommendation letters that speak to your research abilities, introduce you to colleagues in the field, and potentially help you publish your work. AP teachers simply cannot offer these crucial connections that actually move the needle in competitive college admissions.
Colleges Know the Difference
Admissions officers at selective universities aren't fooled. They can easily distinguish between students who have taken a standardized AP course versus those who have engaged in substantive research with experts. The former checks a box; the latter demonstrates genuine intellectual curiosity and initiative.
What You Should Do Instead
If research experience is what you're after, seek opportunities beyond the classroom:
Reach out to local university professors whose work interests you
Apply to summer research programs specifically designed for high school students. If you need help finding such programs, we got you covered. See: Master List of STEM Summer Programs for High School Students (2024-2025) and Master List of Humanities Summer Programs for High School Students (2024-2025)
Look for internships at research institutions or companies in your field of interest. If you need help finding such programs, we got you covered. See: National Lab Internships: Outstanding Opportunities for High School Students
Substitute the space left in your high school course load with respected AP classes like AP Calculus, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, etc., that have a long history of being taught and recognized by top universities.
These alternatives require more effort to secure, but they're infinitely more valuable than AP courses that merely simulate research. They show admissions committees that you're willing to step outside your comfort zone and engage with real academic or professional environments.
The College Board's Questionable Strategy
The introduction of AP Seminar and AP Research appears to be part of the College Board's strategy to expand their portfolio of offerings while capitalizing on the perceived prestige of the AP brand. But rather than creating courses that provide truly valuable college-level experiences, they've produced watered-down versions that mislead students about their value.
The Bottom Line
Don't waste your time with AP Seminar and AP Research if your goal is to impress selective colleges. These courses might boost your GPA slightly, but they won't provide the substantive research experience that truly distinguishes applicants in the competitive admissions landscape.
Instead, invest your energy in pursuing authentic research opportunities that will not only strengthen your applications but also give you a genuine taste of what academic inquiry entails. The path may be more challenging, but the rewards—both for college admissions and your own intellectual development—are incomparably greater.
If you want to make sure your child is taking the right classes to get into their dream college, or if you have questions about how to work with administrators at your child's school to help them thrive academically instead of needlessly delaying their progression, schedule a free consultation with an admissions expert below.
