More specifically if you are taking like 6 hard AP classes.
I thought it was easier. There is more reading and longer papers and exams, but fewer busy work assignments. There is probably more free time than an over-programmed high school kid has. Many kids like it because they concentrate on subjects that truly interest them. I don’t think that AP courses, with the emphasis on memorizing and moving at a rapid pace, give you an accurate taste of college work.
It depends on which college and your field of study. For one of my kids it was harder, and for one easier.
Depends on what college, what course load compared to which AP classes and what other EC’s or work demands you have. Also depends on how independent you are in in 11th grade. Are you managing your own finances, arranging your own transportation, attending to your own personal needs (laundry, cooking, making your own doctors appointments)?
My DD took AP English Language, AP CAL BC, AP Chem, AP Physics 1 and 2, AP American History, Pre AP German and a music class. She also played in two different ensembles and three orchestras and many other EC’s. And yes she was also responsible for her own transportation and personal needs.
We thought senior year would be easier, she’s only taking AP German, AP English Seminar, AP Physics C, Multi V- Cal, AP Music Theory and Applied Music. She is still competing for Regions, State and UIL but dropped all her orchestras and is only in one ensemble. Should be a piece of cake but she is also taking two DE classes this semester Econ and Am Gov which have a lot of home work plus drive time to the CC. College apps and scholarships apps have really taken more time than expected and her EC’s are more demanding as a senior.
I’d like to think that D will have a less demanding Freshman year at college because she won’t have family or church responsibilities but since she completed all of her college requirements in high school she’ll be starting with upper level classes and she plans to work part time. I’m guessing it will be about the same…
^^^ should core/gen ed college requirements
It really depends. In college, most students don’t take quite so many hard classes at once, they balance out a couple with gen eds each semester.
There not being busy work in college is a myth. There may be less of it, but it certainly exists.
You’re also adjusting to being completely alone and on your own for the first time, which is no small feat.
In my estimation, I’d say you’re more likely to spend more time on coursework in college than high school, but you will be more interested in what you’re studying in college than in high school so it won’t be as draining or boring.
Though whether or not you will actually spend more time on coursework in college than high school depends on a lot of factors and it’s hard to say for sure really.
It’s not necessarily easier or harder, but different. You are expected to do as much if not more learning outside of the lecture time than in class. But that is completely doable for most as you spend about half of the hours in class as you did in high school. You will also choose what you do outside of class more carefully, i.e. clubs, sports, and such, to balance with schoolwork.
College is harder in general, but it might be easier at first because you’ll probably take a small number of lower-level classes in your first semester.
ok thanks
Remember that many AP courses cover material over a year that is similar to the material covered in a semester-long college course, so 6 AP courses may be equivalent to 3 or 4 college courses in material learned. Of course, AP material is college frosh level material; more advanced college courses may be more difficult.
Perhaps the biggest difference between high school and college is that in college, the instructors are not hand holding you as much and closely monitoring your progress to make sure that you do not fall behind. In college, you will need to be more self-motivated and have good time-management skills.
It’s harder, and generally busier, too.
That’s not the case for everyone. Every year of college was easier for me than my junior year of high school and there was way less work
Less busy work, more difficulty (some more than others). That’s what I’ve observed.
I think it depends a great deal on what you’re studying. If you’re a physics or engineering major? No. Definitely not. If you’re in an ‘easier’ major with fewer requirements and a smaller breadth of material, it could very likely be easier. In general though, I’d say college is definitely harder. There’s less busy work, but a whole lot more of the learning is left to yourself.
Thanks. With three million students starting college each year, I’m not too surprised that there might be some different cases.
I had a much easier time in college. I took algebra two junior year, and it never clicked. I needed a tutor to slide by with a D-. I never ran into even a minimal amount of difficulty in undergrad or grad school (not the most difficult programs, I admit). There were no AP classes at migh high school back in the dark ages.
It’s harder for me in college. About 4 times harder. For one of my kids it’s easier because she studied stuff she’s naturally good at, unlike high school. For the other kid, it’s harder at first and much busier because she’s a CS major.
It depends on the school, your major, and your high school courseload. I did the IB Diploma in high school, and I would say that I’ve gotten less work than I did in sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school, but the material is definitely more advanced. It’s harder, but doable.