AP Classes: What's the Big Deal?

Okay, so I constantly hear about AP classes but I'm not really sure what the fuss is about. What is the definition of an AP class and why are they considered a big deal during college admissions?

AP, or Advanced Placement, classes are college-level courses that you can take while still in high school. They offer challenging course material and a more in-depth view of the subject at hand. The idea is to expose high school students to the rigors of college coursework early, and also allow them to earn college credit if they perform well on the corresponding AP exam at the end of the year.

In the context of college admissions, AP classes are seen as a significant indicator of a student's willingness to challenge themselves acadically. They allow colleges to evaluate if a student is prepared to handle the rigorous coursework they could encounter in college. Therefore, in general, students who have successfully taken AP classes are often perceived as more competitive applicants.

However, it's important to note that while taking AP classes can guide college admissions decisions, quality is always more important than quantity. Taking a multitude of AP classes but performing poorly in them is not impressive; instead, taking a reasonable number of AP classes and performing well in them demonstrates academic readiness for college.

A tactical way many students use AP courses is to take them in areas where they hope to major or even just have a strong interest. For instance, if you plan on pursuing engineering, taking and doing well in AP Physics, AP Calculus etc, would send a strong signal to colleges about your commitment and preparedness for that field.

So in summary, the "big deal" about AP classes lies in their ability to demonstrate your academic strength, readiness for college-level work, and commitment to your potential major or interest area.