The Ins and Outs of Advanced Placement Classes

Hi friends, I hope you're having a good day! I've been starting to look at my schedule for next year and I've been hearing a lot about these Advanced Placement, or AP, classes. What are they exactly and how do they affect your college admissions prospects?

Hello! AP classes are college-level courses that you can take while in high school. They allow you to learn about a specific subject at a deeper level and at a faster pace than your typical high school class. The exciting part is they usually culminate in a standardized exam, and if you score well (a 3 or above out of 5), many colleges will award you college credit for that particular subject. This way, you might get a head start in your learning when you finally begin college!

Some people believe more APs equates to a better college application. However, what matters more is the rigor of your course load relative to what is available to you at your school. If your high school doesn't offer AP classes, don't worry! Colleges will evaluate you based on the opportunities you've had. But, if your school does have AP subjects and you're aiming for a competitive college, it would be advantageous to take some. Colleges are more interested in seeing that you've challenged yourself, rather than you collecting as many APs as you can.

AP classes can be a double-edged sword though—while they are impressive and challenge you academically, they also require a good deal of work. If you're overburdened, it might affect your class grades or limit your time for extracurricular activities, which are also a crucial part of college applications. So, strike a balance that works best for you in terms of workload, your interest in the subjects, and your future college goals.

And lastly, remember, while the AP courses you take and the grades you get in them matter since they demonstrate your course rigor, AP scores themselves don't hold much weight in admissions. In essence, AP classes can be a beneficial part of your high school academic journey, but they are just one piece of a larger puzzle! Best of luck with your scheduling!