Pro – Taking AP Classes? Without a doubt!
Have you ever asked for advice from teachers or friends on classes to take next year? While they may have given you varied responses, there are many benefits to taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes.
Unlike other classes where you may find yourself dozing off or doodling, AP classes challenge you and help develop critical thinking, self confidence and time management skills.
Taking AP classes can also be advantageous if you’re planning to pursue higher education. By scoring a 3 or higher on the AP exam, you may be able to skip certain college courses, saving you time and money. Additionally, AP classes can help prepare students for the demanding workload in college.
Overall, choosing to take AP classes is a smart decision for your future college and career prospects. So, if you’re considering taking AP classes, the answer is a resounding “yes!”
Con – Taking AP Classes? Not a chance
The statistics of a $98 AP test, 1+ hours of studying every day, $80 tutoring sessions and a 54% success rate can be quite daunting for some students, and for good reason. While some AP classes are harder than others, they all certainly require a lot of effort. Two scenarios come to mind when deciding to opt out of an AP class: you could fail the AP test or the class could become your main extracurricular.
Failing the AP test happens more often than many may think. Without a passing test score, an AP class will be a lot less useful. What’s more, colleges will look to see whether students passed the AP test. If you don’t pass, the AP class loses a lot of its admissions benefit. In short, how beneficial an AP class will be hinges on whether you pass the exam. Do you really want one class to determine your fate?
Moreover, prioritizing your AP classes over the SAT/ACT can harm your chances of getting into college. If you neglect your extracurricular activities for the sake of studying, it won’t help your college applications either. I’m not saying you need to be involved in ten clubs, but it’s essential to allow time for other activities besides your AP classes.
At the end of the day, it all depends on what you are looking to get out of high school. The coursework should not stop you from having your first experience with college-level courses.
