To APUSH or not to APUSH?

I’m considering whether or not I should take APUSH next year.

This year as a sophomore, I am taking AP World. I’m not doing so hot in it, barely holding out an A. I study so hard, but no matter what I do I consistently get 60-70% on quizzes (I get 100% on the easy quizzes/assignments, which is how I’m keeping an A). I get so much reading for this class, and honestly I’m not the best reader and World History seriously does not interest me. It’s such a dreadful subject in my opinion.

Naturally, I want to take APUSH next year. Though I’m not sure if I should take it because of my struggles in WH this year… Most of the smart kids who took APHG and WH with me will be taking APUSH. My other option would be US History honors. I’ve heard its pretty rigorous too though, and the people who take honors instead of AP are the smart people who don’t feel like putting in the effort. I’m not a part of this group. In my state, we are required to pass a US History EOC, or the APUSH exam if we took AP in lieu of normal US History. I’m kinda thinking along the lines of well I’ll have to take a US History test anyway, why not take the one I can get college credit from?

There are many variables in my decision. I look forward to your opinions.

I’m assuming the US History EOC would be easier than the APUSH exam, so there’s that to consider.

What other classes are you taking next year? If you are slanted towards math/science, I don’t think there would be a problem with you taking Honors US History.

@LeopardFire My tentative schedule next year will look like something as follows:
AP Calc BC
Physics honors
Dual enrollment English
Dual enrollment chemistry
Woodshop
Choir
Then some type of us history.

This is VERY tentative but that’ll be the general gist.

@Shanban1607 In my opinion, you should be fine taking US Honors History. You’re taking enough challenging course to allow yourself a bit of leeway.

It may have just been me or my teacher, but I thought APUSH was on the level of a decent honors class. I only got a 3 but I still passed. I finished with an 89 for the year and had fun and I’m going into STEM. As long as you have room on your schedule, I don’t see why you shouldn’t take it.

It may have just been me or my teacher, but I thought APUSH was on the level of a decent honors class. I only got a 3 but I still passed. I finished with an 89 for the year and had fun and I’m going into STEM. As long as you have room on your schedule, I don’t see why you shouldn’t take it.

@as1799 When I attended a meeting for kids signed up to take APUSH last year, the teachers told us upfront that it was one of the hardest classes in the school. The difficulty of the class will vary by school.

@LeopardFire that makes sense. It can also vary by student. I’m good at memorizing, which IMO, is all you REALLY need for history. It also helped that my teacher made it fun and set the class up well (quiz every Friday).

APUSH is 10x easier than AP world

Take APUSH!! It’s totally okay that you’re not getting A’s or B’s in WHAP now- it’s the beginning of the year and you probably just need some time to adjust and figure out how to answer questions the way AP wants. I took APUSH last year and I struggled in the beginning but by the end it was pretty easy and I ended up getting a 4. I believe in you!!

Depends on how what your goal for next year is, like are you trying to get all As? Are you more of a B and A student? A B student? Plus, don’t take it if you’re not interested in it at all. Honors might be better if you’re not interested in it. If you are, I would go ahead and try APUSH. In my opinion, the history APs are on the easier side, but it depends on you. I really like science, but history is the easiest subject for me so that’s why my opinion is like that.

I took AP Euro and the APUSH, and found that although the coursework was as hard, I found the material in APUSH to be much easier. Since you probably already know a good amount about US history and because this country has a relatively short history, it may be easier for you as well. The class made me love social studies/history (but nothing is as fun as AP Gov).

What do you want to major in? If STEM, and you are so so about history, don’t take APUSH.