Should I "override" my teacher's suggestion and take AP World?

Hi, I just posted here yesterday, so sorry if I’m posting too much. I was considering taking AP World History next year (my sophomore year) and I asked my teacher if she thought I was ready. She recommended for me to take it junior year so that my writing skills and analyzing skills would improve (for the DBQs, SAQs, etc.). However, we haven’t done any writing essays or anything so I think it may have been a general idea. I am in Honors English, which, I know, doesn’t mean I’m an amazing writer. However, I don’t think I’m trash at writing and the DBQs, SAQs, etc. seem like they’re not too bad. Should I override my teacher’s suggestion and still try to take AP World? Another thing is that at my school, teachers have to approve your course selections and I’m not sure if she would. She didn’t specifically say that she wouldn’t let me, so I’m not sure if she would approve my choice. Ask me questions if needed. Please help! Thank you!

What history will you take if you don’t take AP World?

@momtogirls2 Probably regular world history

Why don’t you sit down and talk to the teacher? Maybe show her some writing samples and/or ask her to speak to your English teacher.

Okay thank you! I’ll go talk to her again

How are you doing in her class?
How are you doing in honors English?
How much homework are you doing a night now, and how much might AP World add to that load? Are you time-wise prepared to take on the increase?
Are you taking the current class seriously (no goofing off, back-chatting the teacher, etc)?

If you are doing well in your current social studies and English classes, have researched the expectations and workload for APWH (ask the teacher who teaches that class, not your current teacher - and perhaps talk to students who have taken the class) and you are willing and able to take on the additional workload of an AP class, this is a good one to try. Just keep in mind what your school’s deadline is to drop the class without a W or poor grade appearing on your transcript.

I am not a fan of overriding the teacher. However, I have heard of some schools artificially limiting the number of AP seats, which may not necessarily be fair to students. If you are not pulling A’s in your current classes, I would do some more thinking about this and some more careful research. If you are getting A’s fairly easily, you might want to craft some follow up questions for your current social studies teacher to figure out why she is not encouraging you to at least try the more rigorous class.

@Groundwork2022 I have As in all of my classes right now. Right now, I have 2 hours (sometimes 3) of homework a day. I’m not sure how much AP World will add to that, but I’m going to go find out. Yes I’m prepared to take on the increase and yes, I take this current class (US History) seriously. I’ll take your advice and ask the teacher some more questions. Thanks!

I’m taking AP world as a sophomore right now, which is when almost everyone takes it at my school. It’s a lot of work. I have at least 6 hours of homework a week from that class alone, and that’s from only reading the text book and taking notes. If we have other assignments, it’s more homework. The writing is unlike anything I had done before this class, and you have to learn pretty specific writing strategies for each type of question.

Lots of people dropped the class, even after first semester was over because they had to stay up late every night and didn’t feel the stress was worth it.

However, if you manage time well, can read and write fast, and are decent at memorizing stuff, it is manageable. I say go for it! You can always drop it.

if you decide against AP World can you take honors world? I guess I don’t understand why some schools may not have an honors option then discourage you from taking AP.