Hey guys, I am looking into possibly registering for an online AP class through my state’s portal for some GPA management. I took gym online as a freshman first semester and thought it was fairly simple, however I understand that AP classes require a whole lot more work. I am currently deciding between Calc AB, Bio, Euro and Computer Science A, though IMHO for me Calc AB/CSA seem to be the easiest and least time-consuming options. If I find it to be too hard I can drop out of the class within the first month without it showing up on my transcript.
My only problem is that I am already in 2 AP classes at school, Stats and World, and get around 1-2 hours of homework from school in total every day. Furthermore, as for Calc AB, I am currently taking Precalc and am worried that I might not understand how to differentiate/integrate some of the trig functions later on down the road in the Calc AB class. Though, from what I have read on this forum, there isn’t very much trig in AB to begin with, and that the trig should be pretty easy to pick up.
What do you guys think, have any of you guys taken an AP class online in conjunction with APs at school, especially any of the ones I listed? How did you guys do in them?
I recommend taking Computer Science A. It isn’t a lot of work and students with absolutely no programming experience can still do well. You can also use https://course.edhesive.com/course
to help you out with certain topics.
@Hamlon Hmm, okay. I am actually in the prereq class to APCS at my school right now with the intention of taking the class later on during my junior/senior year of HS. But taking it online should free up space later on another AP class/study hall if I wanted to.
How was the workload for you? I’m currently learning to make simple Java programs using the objectdraw library and BlueJ at school, so learning the nitty-gritty behind the language actually seems fairly interesting.
The workload is virtually nonexistent for me. Any graded assignments are done in class with a few major projects here and there. The only prerequisite at my school is completion of Geometry, so you’re already ahead of the game. Honestly, the class should be called AP Java because that’s all the curriculum teaches. If you’re making simple Java programs already, you might be ahead or at the same pace as my AP class. I’ve heard this experience is the same at other schools, but yours might vary.
I’d suggest APCS, it is far more easier online than the others. I took AP United States History online and that was hard enough so I’d warn against Euro (which is much harder than US imo) and the math AP courses. Be sure to take the exams, though.
@Dylan197 The policy depends per school. My school has a contract with one online provider (Brigham Young University) and any classes taken will be put on our transcript and be calculated onto our GPA. Other providers, however, do not have the same deal. Talk to your counselor if you’re interested.
@Dylan197 As @HeyItsNick stated it depends on your state and school. I live in South Carolina and the only places my school accepts AP/DE/class credit from are from Vector Calculus and Differential Equations at the University of South Carolina (if you do Calc BC junior year), our local community college, and VirtualSC, the online class provider in my state. The class does go in as AP, and the main reason I am doing this is for class rank (lots of people are in 3-4 AP classes with AP Bio and I am only in 2 rn). However like I said it depends on where you go, for all I know you could get the classes to go into your GPA/show on your transcript by taking a class from a private online class service like JHU CTY or even by self-studying the class and taking the final exam.