Yup. Our high schools are pretty competitive and very strong academically. These kids put a lot of pressure on themselves despite our best efforts to talk them off the ledge.

I was just talking to my son a few minutes ago again. Reassuring him that he just needs to go in and do what he knows to do and let the chips fall where they may. Just by taking the AP courses, he is so much more prepared for the rigor and coursework he'll encounter in college. Even if he doesn't qualify for college credit wherever he ends up going, he has worked with an awesome AP teacher this year and has learned so much. Qualifying on the exams, if it happens, will be icing on the cake, but if it doesn't happen, it's okay. (I cannot tell you how many times I've repeated essentially these same words to my son and students over the last several weeks.) They are SO much harder on themselves than we are.

He's only taking 2 this year (opted out of psychology). Next year I think he'll be taking at least 4; maybe 5. Ouch on my pocketbook! These exams are rather expensive.