<p>I am an upcoming junior who has taken two AP classes (AP Human and World). I received a 3 on the AP Human test freshman year and a 2 this year. I have gotten around an 80% in both classes, but we get 10 extra points added to our final grade. I would then have a 90%. My school takes off the ten and adds .5 when doing your GPA. I have a 3.4 cumulative GPA and I brought my GPA up three points in one year. </p>
<p>I am taking AP Physics and AP US next year, my junior year. I plan on taking three more my senior year. This is nothing concerning CC standards, but I am not your typical CC 4.0 student. My concern is that I am taking these hard classes for no reason. I really want to go out of state and NYU is my dream school and I know I need AP classes to get into NYU. However, NYU has one of the worst financial aid in the country. I also have many other schools on my list, but I don't know how realistic going out of state is. I am not talking about GPA or SAT scores, but affording it. An overall budget under 20k would be ideal. </p>
<p>I live in Georgia, home of the hope scholarship. I could basically go to college almost free. I honestly don't love any school in my state, I just don't like Georgia. But I will not be in thousands of dollars of debt for any school, including NYU. UGA is probably the best deal and I may apply, but a huge jock school doesn't fit my bill. Georgia College and State (Georgia's liberal arts state school) is a school I would consider; however, I feel like taking AP classes wouldn't be worth it. I know people who got in with regular college prep and honors classes. Honestly, I am definitely applying to schools out of state. Unless I get fabulous financial aid, I will be staying in Georgia. I really don't want to end up at a school, I could have got in with a lower rigor. What is all this stress about then, when I could have taken the easier way out? I really do not want to go to a college where kids did not take the same rigor I did.</p>
<p>I am very worried about AP Physics because I am not great at math and it takes me longer to get things in math and science. Although, I did receive and an A in Chemistry, it took me longer to figure things out. I am not as worried with AP US, but I did get a very hard teacher. I wanted to take two AP classes and AP Physics was my only option and I am going to be optimistic about it.</p>
<p>I just found out I got a 2 in AP World. I was really upset because I tried a lot harder then last year and I did worse. I thought I did well.</p>
<p>My main question is: Is AP worth it for me? Should I just drop down? My AP World teacher thought honors would be too easy for me. Any suggestions or anything? I am very worrisome about this process and my counselor doesn't know a thing about out of state schools. I know I would be forgetting some prestigious schools, but AP already has hurt my GPA lol. What is the best path for me? Right now, I am probably going on to keep the AP classes but I hope I am doing the right thing. Thanks everyone :)</p>
<p>I know you need AP classes for UGA, but would someone be happy there if they aren’t huge football fans? I have never been to a football game at my high school and don’t plan on it. I’m sure I could find my group there like at any school.</p>
<p>At a large school, even where football is big, not everyone goes to the games. Many people will, but there are still plenty of other things to do. I think my daughter went to two games this past fall, and one of those was parents weekend where she sat with us.</p>
<p>Football season is only a couple of months out of the year. There are so many organizations on campus (900+) that I am sure you will be able to find something that you are interested in. I suggest you plan a visit to UGA and check it out.</p>
<p>You have to take a test to get into AP Lang and I didn’t get into it. There was only two classes of AP Lang for juniors and a lot of people took the test. We had to answer questions about a cartoon and I really didn’t get it. I wouldn’t take AP Physics if I got in AP Lang. My school only offers AP Spanish and I’m in French. </p>
<p>I wanted to take more then one AP and AP Physics and AP US were my only options. I wanted to take journalism because I would like to become a journalist. I get an A in college prep math and an A in honors chemistry. My chemistry teacher did tell people not to take it, but she wasn’t worried about me. </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s necessary or advisable to take an AP class in a subject that isn’t your strength, especially if you have other AP and honors classes. If there’s a decent likelihood that it will hurt your GPA and you won’t get a high enough score on the test to get college credit, then it’s not worth it. My D took AP Euro last year as a sophomore, and it hurt her GPA (AP courses are graded very hard at her HS), but she got a 4 on the exam - that will be worth 6 college credits at the schools she’s interested in, so it was worth the effort she put into the class. I don’t think any college expects you to take a full load of AP courses, even if your school offers them. A school that has that expectation probably isn’t a good fit for you anyway. Without AP Physics, you still have plans to end up with 6 APs, which isn’t shabby. I’d just take AP classes in the subjects that you’re passionate about and that you do well in. Also, keep in mind that if you have to spend a whole lot of time on your AP Physics class, it might screw up all your other classes.</p>
<p>Your initial question is “Is AP worth it?” If you have read any of my other posts about this subject, I think having a dozen of so AP courses is actually a weakness. <a href=“1”>i</a> it indicates the HS doesn’t offer anything accelerated other than AP courses, and those are just foundation classes 2) the AP courses are generally survey courses and the curriculum is quite rigid, so you never can get into depth that you might if you took an Honors course 3) taking so many AP courses means you haven’t had opportunities to pursue other interests/electives/passions) 4) some HS push kids to take AP courses because this makes them “look good” and earn a higher rank in the Newsweek rankings. That doesn’t always mean you should be taking them though.* Among my pals who are HS GC, I have heard that ivies and other top level colleges are “expecting” to see a minimal number of APs (5-7) on a HS transcript.</p>
<p>Having said that, I suggest you choose wisely. For instance, don’t choose AP Physics if you are weak in math and science. Preferred AP courses include Chem, Bio, US Hist, a language, and a math. Weaker AP courses are considered Statistics (much better to have taken Calc AB or Calc BC, or even Honors Calc than AP Stat. You’d take AP Stat only as an add-on.</p>
<p>Your weak scores indicate these courses are too difficult for you. Your GC should have told this to you, but here’s how colleges will see it: you shouldn’t be taking APs unless you can comfortably get a 3. If you are getting a 2, then you should be taking Honors courses instead.</p>
<p>In summary, “is AP really worth it?” No, unless you can earn at least a 3.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I have never taken physics, so I have no idea how I will do. I got a B in Honors Bio and an A in Honors Chem. I actually liked Chemistry and it was one of my stronger subjects. I am weaker at math, but I was told AP Physics is just basic math. People told me Chemistry had a lot of math, but it was the type of math I could understand. Again, I have never taken AP Physics so I wouldn’t know. My school has a new rule this fall: You cannot add or drop any classes. I am basically stuck with the class, usually we have the first two weeks to drop. I understand where everyone is coming from, but I thought Chemistry would have been week and I surprised myself.</p>
<p>Lima- I did receive a 3 freshman year and I got a 2 sophomore year. My teacher described in class that a student who got a B without the 10 points in AP World, got a 97% in the Honors level. He thought the honors level was significantly easier and would only suggest people who are doing bad to drop down. He said an 80% or 90% with the 10 points is good and the class average was lower then mine. I think by a couple of points. </p>
<p>At my school, some AP classes do not require teacher recommendations. AP World did not, but my 8th grade teacher had to recommend me for AP Human. Though, if you do try to go down or up a level, your teacher will say if they think it is a bad idea. I go to a big school and my counselor suck and I may get a new one next year because they shift them around. I go in the counseling office and it takes days just to speak to someone. It is quite ridiculous.</p>
<p>My current junior schedule is:
AP US History
AP Physics B
Honors French II
Honors Language Arts
Integrated Algebra II
Journalism (Newspaper)</p>
<p>Proposed senior schedule:
AP Micro/Govern
AP Lit
Honors French III
Astronomy
Integrated Trig
Journalism (Newspaper)</p>
<p>*I was going to take AP Environ Science senior year, but I want my senior year to be non-stressful.</p>
<p>“My school has a new rule this fall: You cannot add or drop any classes.”
^Can’t you add/drop before you start the class? </p>
<p>I feel that you are going to be in way over your head in AP Physics. I’m very surprised that your school allows students to take AP Physics without the requirement of at least being at the pre-calc. math level. </p>
<p>It is not worth taking an AP class if the effort needed to get a solid grade in the class and at least a 3 on the AP test causes the grades in your other subjects to suffer.</p>
<p>Yes, you can but I don’t know if it is too late. Everyone says junior year is suppose to be the hardest, but I don’t need my GPA to go down. I do know that I got a great teacher, but I don’t think I will do well on a math AP style exam. I am not good at timed math things, other subjects I am. I could always take the class and not the exam. I really want to take more then one AP to challenge myself and for college admissions. I really don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>At our high school AP Physics B has replaced honors Physics. It’s the standard for the science inclined sophomores at our school (the ones who aren’t so inclined can take AP World.) It’s taken concurrently with Algebra 2 for most students in the course. It’s very doable, if you are reasonably proficient at math and science.</p>
<p>Now AP Physics C is another story all together. Much more difficult and generally taken concurrently with Calculus.</p>
<p>I am taking AP Physics <em>B</em> and Algebra 2. AP Physics C is the calculus based course and no juniors take it at my school. People usually take AP Physics C their senior year.</p>
<p>You absolutely need trigonometry to do physics, even algebra-based physics. Don’t take it if you don’t know trig.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about not taking enough AP credits. Most people don’t take AP classes. I know people who hardly took any, maybe 4 or 5 tops, valedictorian, got into GT. You’ll be fine. Just don’t ruin your GPA, that’s what really matters.</p>
<p>The college admissions aspect of AP aside, my son will get college credits for 5 AP classes. In other words, he will be able to graduate in 7 semesters–saving $. It could also mean a head start onto the job market or graduate school or saving money from a job before entering graduate school.</p>
<p>My son is also thinking of double majoring, and having these courses under his belt will make it easier to do that. Double majoring can make it difficult to graduate on time,but not with AP credit in hand.</p>