Frequently Asked Questions

What is Beyond The Five?

Beyond The Five is an online platform and community that provides free instruction in AP®️ and college-level courses.

How many credits’ worth of courses can I take?

You can enroll in up to 20 credits at a time. One credit is roughly equal to one hour of work per week, so we don’t want you to overwork yourself.

How can I talk with other students or my instructor?

After your application is accepted, you will receive access to a Discord channel for each of your courses where you can discuss course content with other students or your instructor.

Is there a deadline to apply?

There is no deadline to apply for regular or college-level courses, but we recommend you enroll in AP®️ courses by January 1st, 2022 to have adequate time to complete them before AP exams.

How long do I have to complete my courses?

You have until June 1st, 2022 to complete your courses.

How do I access my courses?

You should have received Canvas self-enrollment links for your courses in your acceptance email. If you recently added a course, you can enroll in it on Canvas via the pinned link provided in its class channel on Discord.

Are classes really free?

Yes, Beyond The Five courses are 100% free and students do not need to pay any money to enroll.

How are the classes held?

Classes will be held online using the platform Canvas. Courses are premade, meaning that students are able to go and work at their own pace. Classes will contain lectures and assessments in order to provide an environment where students will not have to seek out external information to succeed in the course.

Do I have to attend classes?

Courses at Beyond The Five are asynchronous, meaning you can work through your courses at your own pace. Some instructors may host live lectures or sessions, but you are typically not required to attend them.

Who manages Beyond The Five?

Beyond The Five is managed by our wonderful volunteer staff team. You can see a list of individuals and their roles here: https://beyondthefive.org/our-team. If you would like to join our staff team, please visit this page: https://blog.beyondthefive.org/open-positions

I’ve registered for courses, now what?

After you register for courses and send in your application, please be patient as the admissions team reviews your application. You should get an email with your decision within a few days. If you still have not received a decision email after a week, please reach out to us at admissions@beyondthefive.org.

Who teaches classes?

Classes are taught by high school and college students with mastery of the subject material. This could mean doing well on a previous standardized test on the material, having prior success in a college-level course on that subject, or having acquired deep knowledge about the topic through any sort of means. Remember, all instructors are volunteers working to help their students, so please be sure to treat them with your utmost respect.

How can I become an instructor for Beyond the Five?

If you are interested in becoming an instructor, please visit the “Join Our Team” tab at the top of the website.

I just got accepted and enrolled in my Beyond the Five classes. What now?

Congratulations! You may start your classes immediately after acceptance and assignment. You should have received the Canvas LMS Student Orientation and invite links to your classes via email and Discord. If you have any problems getting started, feel free to ask for assistance in our Discord server or by reaching out to admissions@beyondthefive.org.

I just got rejected from Beyond the Five. What now?

If you got rejected from Beyond The Five, it most likely means that the admissions team either felt that you did not put in enough effort into your application, you did not meet the prerequisites for any courses you selected, or you are over the credit limit. Refer to your rejection email for more information about how to reapply.

If I am rejected, can I still register again?

Yes, you may register again after being rejected. However, remember the reason your application was denied originally, and please do not make the same error.

Do I need to do all the work assigned in the class?

Yes, you must do all required work within your classes. These classes are not designed for students looking for an extra resource. Part of the agreement when you join a class is to complete all required assignments within that class.

Should I take AP® courses even if I don’t live in the United States?

Why not? If you live in a country where AP® exams are administered, you can take the corresponding exam in May and possibly earn college credit. If you do not have access to or do not want to take the exams, AP® courses are still a great way to learn standardized college-level material. These courses are easier than many other college-level courses we offer, so if you want to delve deeper into a field, start with AP® courses! And if you are taking A Levels or IB exams, taking the corresponding AP® courses can help you be more prepared.

Can I receive credit for classes taken at Beyond the Five?

No, courses taken at Beyond The Five can not be redeemed for credit unless there is prior acceptance of credit from a counselor (highly unlikely). The only credit that can be received is for passing the AP®️ exam at the end of the year, in which you can potentially receive credit. Eligibility is determined by the college’s exam credit policy.

How do we know instructors are qualified to teach their respective courses?

Instructors have extensive knowledge of the subject they are teaching. Most instructors have received a 5 on AP classes they teach and are at the top of their class. We interview all potential instructors before letting them teach a course at Beyond the Five. You can learn more about all of our instructors here: https://beyondthefive.org/our-team.

How long does it take to receive an admissions decision?

Admissions decisions are usually released within 5 days of your application. If approved, you should receive an acceptance email and see the Discord channels for the class(es) you selected within a few hours of acceptance. If you do not receive a response within a week, email the Beyond the Five team at admissions@beyondthefive.org.

Should I take classes here that I am also taking at school?

We advise against taking a course both at school and here, as you are obligated to do the coursework required by courses here. However, if you feel like you need the extra help and can commit yourself to the work, feel free to register for the course.

What is the incentive to take courses at Beyond the Five?

Beyond the Five can help provide you with free, online learning. It is a terrific opportunity that cannot be matched without having to pay any fees or tuition. Join if you would like to have access to new courses and new knowledge.

What should I do if I have a problem with a student or instructor?

Contact a staff member about the issue, who is involved, when it happened, and what happened. We will follow up as necessary.

If I take a college-level class at Beyond the Five, will I be eligible for college credit?

Unfortunately, Beyond The Five currently does not offer any college credit. However, if you finish the course, you may be able to test out of it at the college you attend in the future, depending on the procedures at your college.

Can I add on more courses after I initially submit my student enrollment application?

You may register for courses throughout the school year if you finish your registered course(s) and would like to enroll in the next level course (ex. Python I to Python II), or would like to add on additional courses. Again, the 20 credit limit will still apply in this situation for all of the courses you have not yet completed. If you want to register for the courses after the initial registration, email admissions@beyondthefive.org to update your profile.

How do I drop, change, or add a course?

If you are looking to drop, change, or add a course, email admissions@beyondthefive.org stating the changes you would like to make.

Do I receive a grade in my class(es), and do they mean anything?

You do receive a grade in your class. However, it does not contribute to your school GPA, HPA, or Rank in any way.

Where can I go if I have more questions that are not answered on this page?

If your question is not answered on this page, feel free to email admissions@beyondthefive.org or ask our Student Records Coordinators in our Discord Server.

How long do courses usually take to complete?

It varies by course, but the average course completion time is around 16-20 weeks. However, all courses are self-paced, which means that it may take you longer or shorter to complete them.

How can I find the prerequisites for my class(es)? What does it mean if there are no prerequisites listed for a class?

You can find the class prerequisites for your classes by going to https://beyondthefive.org/courses and clicking on the course you want to inspect. If there are no listed prerequisites, you will not need any prior knowledge to take that course.

If I were to log in to Canvas via the Canvas app, what should I search when prompted to 'find my school'?

Currently, Beyond The Five is not listed as an institution in Canvas. Please instead click 'next' and proceed with the login.

Can I preview courses before enrolling?

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to preview courses before you decide to enroll. However, we strongly recommend reading the information on the website regarding each course you are interested in enrolling in. You can view course descriptions here: https://beyondthefive.org/courses. If you’d like, you may also contact instructors through Discord or email.

How do I view my student profile?

You can view your student profile by using the command "/profile" (without the quotes) in the #bot-commands channel.