McDowell Launches AP-Focused Distinctive Scholar Program

by Natalie Sebunia

A question on the Common Application, the platform many students use to submit
college applications, asks students if they are working towards their AP Capstone diploma.
Previously, McDowell students were never able to check “yes.” Starting next year, however, a
total of 24 freshmen and sophomores will have the opportunity to say that they are as Millcreek
adds more Advanced Placement (AP) courses to its list of offerings.

Distinctive Scholar Program

These students were invited to apply for McDowell’s new Distinctive Scholar Program
(DSP).
DSP functions as a higher level Honors College, and in order to be eligible for the new
program, students must have previously been a member of McDowell’s Honors College.
Christine Rys, a guidance counselor at McDowell High School, says the program is for
motivated and hard-working students who “are really ready for another level of rigor.”
The freshmen who were eligible to apply were chosen based on a 4.0 weighted GPA and
PSAT 8/9 scores of at least 1210, while the sophomores needed to have at least a 4.0 weighted
GPA and a PSAT 10 score of at least 1400.
Beth Maciejewski and Sandra Means, who oversee the Honors College and DSP, will
head this new program designed to give more research experience to students.
“We think that there’s going to be wonderful opportunities for our students who
participate in DSP,” Means says.
According to McDowell’s 2018-19 Scheduling Guide, the program offers a “selective
and rigorous pathway for students of high ability and motivation.” Some requirements include
full enrollment in AP and honors classes and maintaining a 4.0 weighted GPA, along with
previous Honors College requirements such as three credits of language and 20 service hours.
“It has to be a real commitment on behalf of the student to want to do research, learn at
that level, (and) commit to taking the six AP courses that Capstone would require,” Means says.

AP Capstone
Students in the program will work towards the AP Capstone Diploma. To earn this
distinction, students are required to take AP Seminar and AP Research, along with four other AP
courses throughout their high school careers. In addition, students must score a three or higher on
each AP test for the course to count.
“The AP Capstone program helps students develop upper level creative and critical
thinking skills, research skills, collaborative and communicative skills, and exploration and
argumentative skills,” Maciejewski says.
McDowell applied for AP Capstone about a year and a half ago, and after a lengthy
approval process, the school is one of about 1,100 high schools that offers it.
Sophie Beilharz, a freshman who applied for the program, believes that the requirements
that come with DSP and AP Capstone will be a challenge, but will ultimately open up more
opportunities and prepare her for college.
While DSP students aren’t the only students who can earn the AP Capstone distinction,
they receive priority scheduling, especially with the AP Seminar and AP Research courses.
 “We’re adding the Seminar class [in 2018-19] and the Research class to help prepare
them for college level classes,” Rys says. “They’re not really like other courses. They’re not
content related; they’re skills based.”

AP Seminar
Students are encouraged to take AP Seminar as sophomores, although they can complete
it their junior year, as well. In the course, students learn how to analyze information, plan
investigations, study topics, propose solutions to real-world issues, and work with others while
conducting hands-on research projects. At the end of the course, they write a 2,000 word essay
and deliver a team and individual presentation.
According to College Board, the three-quarter course “aims to equip students with the
power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision so they can craft and
communicate evidence-based arguments.”
Aashka Gupta, a freshman eligible for the program, says she’s excited to work alongside
other hard-working students and complete projects. “I love researching topics and writing papers,
especially if they are of a topic of my interest, so I’m really excited about that aspect,” Gupta
says.
Jill White and Mary Gibson are scheduled to teach the 1.5 credit course next year. Once
students pass the end-of-course exam, they will be eligible to take AP Research.

AP Research
In AP Research, students choose one topic to research throughout the year. They learn
how to properly and effectively research and analyze information while working with local
businesses or organizations to investigate a topic.
“Many colleges are wanting their freshmen to come in and get involved in research, so
having that kind of research experience in high school will be helpful,” Means says.
Students must write a 4,000 to 5,000 word research paper, as well as create a portfolio
and a presentation to defend their research throughout the class. Robert Hodgson will teach this
three-quarter course that is also worth 1.5 credits.
“By committing to the Capstone program, as well as the additional requirements of DSP,
students will be able to demonstrate on college applications that they are students who are
dedicated to rigorous learning, to their community, and to personal growth,” Maciejewski says.
If students don’t pass four AP courses in addition to AP Research and AP Seminar, they
can still earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

Outlook
Most of the students invited to apply for DSP are looking forward to the challenges it will
present.
“I really feel as if the program, especially the research class, will help me develop
important skills and habits that I normally wouldn’t be able to develop until college,” Gupta
says.
Beilharz says, for her, the only con of the program is the amount of space AP Seminar
and AP Research will take up in her schedule. “There isn’t much room for other electives,”
Beilharz says.
 As of now, each 1.5 credit course will take up a semester and one quarter in a student’s
schedule, which is the equivalent of three one-quarter elective classes. In total, students lose 3
credits, or three semesters, of other electives.
Rys says that earning an AP Capstone diploma and being a member of the Distinctive
Scholars Program is very beneficial in the college admissions process because students can show
that they are in a demanding honors program.
In terms of high school, McDowell will create a graduation recognition for DSP students.
However, at this point, they are unsure of what it will be.
“We’re hoping in the coming years to maybe be able to offer a couple sections of (AP)
Seminar, so other students who are not DSP students but want that research experience or the
Capstone experience can get involved as well,” Means says.