Going through numerous threads here and topics on other sites, I’ve noticed that everybody has such different opinions about AP classes. Personally, I took six my junior year and two my sophomore year and thought it wasn’t as bad as people said. My friends though took much less than me and seemed to have much harder times. I find the classes aren’t that bad, the teachers are usually more understanding if you’re in an AP class, and the AP test is something that people overstress (it’s difficult but in the end doesn’t matter us much as some people are led to believe). I’ve found that it’s different for everybody, so I just wanted to see how other people saw it.
What is your opinion on AP classes? Why is considered difficult and do you agree with the public sentiment against the classes. I’d love to know how other people think about them.
I took 3 sophomore year and 6 junior year. In hindsight of course, it doesn’t seem that bad. But if I’m being honest I do remember a lot of stress during the year. No class was particularly difficult, but my terrible studying habits and procrastination led to sleepless nights and crying…
My school is on an AB block schedule. Sophomore year was twice as hard for me than junior year, despite the fact that my APs doubled. I think it was due to the hard transition from no APs to 3 (that all ended up on the same day as well…). By junior year I learned better shortcuts and didn’t stress as much about each individual grade, so 3 APs each day wasn’t so bad. AP classes became the norm to me, so I just got desensitized to the workload. The only negative about more APs is exam week. That was hell and I only took 5 tests. It was just a really messy cram session with not enough time to focus on any one subject thoroughly. Also the end of the year was all projects…
Of course, each person handles school differently… Overall I think APs aren’t that bad, but I also had a few fairly nice teachers that gave some extra credit or graded leniently. APs are a nice challenge and offer a little more depth than most classes. I doubt they will be anything like college, but at least they’re a step up from regular. I also love the fact that you can test out of college classes with them and save some money. So I recommend that everyone at least try some APs if they are available.
@sparksparkler psych, Calc AB, and euro. But I recommend taking the classes that are interesting to you/have to do with your major first. Psych was definitely the easier class, and one of my favorites (we played games almost all the time). But none of them were particularly difficult. I just felt overwhelmed at the time…
Honestly, I think AP classes are a scam. A necessary scam, but still a scam. Are they more challenging? Probably. Will they help you be a more competitive applicant? Probably. Should it cost $92 to take a test administered by a so-called non-profit? No. AP classes are designed by the College Board to make them more money. Should you still take them if you can? Yes. And that’s all I have to say about that.
@ski_racer ah I completely agree. I forgot for a minute about how expensive the exams are, especially if you don’t do well on them. I’m privileged enough to go to a school that encourages taking the tests by reducing the student costs to $15/pop.
They are just a business in the end- but I feel like you could say that for the whole process. AP tests, SAT/ACTs, colleges themselves: they’re all overpriced and “scam”-like to different extents. But most of us will still grudgingly accept the system and take the route that is supposedly the most secure way to success…
I took 1 freshman year, 3 sophomore year, and switched to full time dual enrollment junior and senior year. It really depends on what classes you like. AP Calc BC and AP Comp Sci were a breeze, AP Photography was harder than I expected but fun, and AP Euro (freshman year) was a drag.
Allegedly at a high school in a nearby district, there is AP Band. I tried arguing with the person about how that could even be possible, as it needs an AP Exam, but he quickly shushed me and walked away quickly.
I live in a very competitive area, so competitive that freshman try to stack 3 AP classes at the get go. It creates a very stressful atmosphere that makes you feel like you are behind if you choose to take less APs. I can’t tell you the amount of people who were shocked I was taking 6. Like, sorry I’m in Precalculus and didn’t skip 5 math classes. And when was 6 APs bad…
@colonelkiyo as @skieurope said, yes it AP Studio Art 2D just my class focused specifically on photography. My school has another class that is AP Studio Art 2D but they do like painting and stuff which is totally different.
@anan16 there is AP Music Theory. But some schopls weight high level music classes as AP so kids aren’t disadvantaged for doing music. I think that’s a great idea especially if you have multiple levels of band orchestra.
@snowfairy137 Yea, I know about AP Music Theory, but that is not what he was referring to. I guess his district is lucky. Maybe if I lived there I wouldn’t have quit band (though that’s not the reason at all).
Well, there is no such thing as AP Band, so I think somebody is pulling your leg. The College Board tends to frown on schools calling classes AP that are not AP. Regardless, colleges know what AP classes are legitimate.
An AP course is very comparable to a lower division course in college. Any of the STEM or social science APs (+Art History) also have plenty of prep/study materials that are sufficient enough to quickly learn and beat out the actual textbooks. The main differences from college are the amount of lectures you have as well as getting loads of pointless hw that you learn to not be that bad once you learn that it’s much easier to BS the work and study your own way.
I wanted national AP scholar by the end of Junior year and I got it… Most of the classes were worth it. Sr. year I only took the AP tests that would fill in more GEs / advance prerequisites in order to graduate college in 3 yrs