Oh, Collegeboard. How we love you. You are our will to live but also the bane of our existence.
AP classes are an option available to all Ames High Students. While they are designed to challenge students, they can be particularly tricky to navigate. Questions and concerns often arise when considering these, like how many should I take? Or which ones should I sign up for?
While anyone can take an AP class, it’s important to understand the process before signing up for one.
Find a balance between the APs you take and your ability to perform well in them. And no, just because Susan is taking 6 APs does not mean you need to.
— Shelby Yap
First, let’s go over benefits.
AP classes help prepare you for college. If you envision college in your future, consider taking a few. These classes are faster-paced, cover more material than regular classes, and require a lot of independent work on your own time. They could potentially ease the transition from high school to college.
These classes look good on your transcript. If you want to impress those college admissions officers, you will definitely want to consider taking a few APs to stand out as a stronger candidate. This shows colleges that you are ready to handle their load of coursework.
You can get ahead in completing college prerequisites. Many students enroll in AP classes to prepare
for the AP exam in May. These exams are scored from 1-5. Colleges often offer AP credit, and although different for every college, usually a score of 3-5 allows you to earn college credit without paying tuition.
However, considering all these benefits of AP classes, they are designed to be quite rigorous and demanding, in time and course load.
Here are some things to consider when signing up for APs:
College may not be a priority for everyone. Overwhelming yourself with these classes will not only drag down your GPA, but also your mental health. Find a balance between the APs you take and your ability to perform well in them. And no, just because Susan is taking 6 APs does not mean you need to. Keep in mind how competitive of schools you want to apply to, and take the number of AP classes that you know you will be able to handle and perform well in.
Additionally, when choosing AP classes, choose subjects that interest you. You don’t want to dread showing up to class. When the AP exam rolls around in May, you’ll be shedding even more tears than you did over finals, and having even more breakdowns than before. When AP scores get released in July, oh no.
Further, some AP classes take more time and effort than others. Ames High offers full year APs, as well as online and one-semester. Consider your options and interests, then make your decision from there.
Are AP classes worth taking? It varies from person to person. It’s good to do some research on your own. However, if college is in your future, challenge yourself to take a few. But as always, no pressure.
