Are AP Classes Worth It?
Ever since the sophomore year, it seems that everyone was in a race to take more AP classes than anyone else. Being a senior in high school and having taken a total of 8 AP classes, I do not think they were worth it. I think that before taking AP classes you need to ask yourself these questions:
1)Do I need this class for my potential major?
2)Will taking this class satisfy a general education requirement in college?
3)Do my AP teachers have a high pass rate to where I will actually pass the AP exam?
4)Am I taking this class because I want to come off as smart?
If your answers to questions 1-3 are no, and you answer to question 4 is yes>> do not take AP classes. I took AP classes so that I could be at least a semester or two ahead when I started college, which is what I will be doing. Without counting the AP credits I hope I will be receiving this Summer, I have 12 AP credits. I also took dual enrollment classes this year so I have an additional 6 credits. In total, I have 18 college credits which will all be applied to my general education and major requirements for college next Fall.
If you are taking AP classes because your friends are, don't do it because not everyone is on the same level when it comes to testing taking. You will only get credit from an AP class if you pass the exam with a 3 or higher if you suck at test taking you might not want to waste the year on a class to end up failing the exam.
Also, if the teacher for your AP class is known to boost your GPA because you will end with a 99/100 in the class but with a 1 or 2 on the AP exam do not take that class. You are supposed to take AP classes with the intent to get college credit not to get a free 100 and zero college credit. I think that putting yourself in an AP class, with all the homework, projects, and tests that come with it is pointless if you cannot receive the college credit that you were supposed to be working to get all year.
With all of that in mind, I think that AP classes are worth it if you can secure the college credit and you have a teacher that knows how to teach the course. I think that anyone seeking to take AP classes should talk to their counselors first on if they can take dual enrollment classes. Dual enrollment classes will give you college credit as long as you pass the class, unlike AP classes where the college credit is only given to you if you pass the AP exam. So, I greatly encourage students to take dual enrollment classes for automatic college credit. I hope this will help y'all in making a decision.
1)Do I need this class for my potential major?
2)Will taking this class satisfy a general education requirement in college?
3)Do my AP teachers have a high pass rate to where I will actually pass the AP exam?
4)Am I taking this class because I want to come off as smart?
If your answers to questions 1-3 are no, and you answer to question 4 is yes>> do not take AP classes. I took AP classes so that I could be at least a semester or two ahead when I started college, which is what I will be doing. Without counting the AP credits I hope I will be receiving this Summer, I have 12 AP credits. I also took dual enrollment classes this year so I have an additional 6 credits. In total, I have 18 college credits which will all be applied to my general education and major requirements for college next Fall.
If you are taking AP classes because your friends are, don't do it because not everyone is on the same level when it comes to testing taking. You will only get credit from an AP class if you pass the exam with a 3 or higher if you suck at test taking you might not want to waste the year on a class to end up failing the exam.
Also, if the teacher for your AP class is known to boost your GPA because you will end with a 99/100 in the class but with a 1 or 2 on the AP exam do not take that class. You are supposed to take AP classes with the intent to get college credit not to get a free 100 and zero college credit. I think that putting yourself in an AP class, with all the homework, projects, and tests that come with it is pointless if you cannot receive the college credit that you were supposed to be working to get all year.
With all of that in mind, I think that AP classes are worth it if you can secure the college credit and you have a teacher that knows how to teach the course. I think that anyone seeking to take AP classes should talk to their counselors first on if they can take dual enrollment classes. Dual enrollment classes will give you college credit as long as you pass the class, unlike AP classes where the college credit is only given to you if you pass the AP exam. So, I greatly encourage students to take dual enrollment classes for automatic college credit. I hope this will help y'all in making a decision.
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