Real Value Behind the Rigor

AP Classes Are Worth Taking

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A common high school debate is whether Advanced Placement (AP) classes are worth it or not. AP classes are time-consuming, difficult and require a lot of effort. However, the truth is, these classes are worth it. AP classes prepare you for college coursework, boost your grade point average (GPA) and earn you college credit. The College Board currently offers over 40 AP courses, including a wide range of subjects like art, English, sciences, social studies, history, math, computer science and world languages. This variety allows almost every student to find courses that fit their interests.

AP courses are designed to follow the same pace as college classes, which means these courses have high expectations and requirements, such as more writing, reading and general academic skills. While this can be intimidating at first, it offers a great way to ease into college-level coursework, so students have an easier time adjusting to college. According to Study in the USA, students who take AP courses in high school are more confident, managed and prepared in college.

AP courses are also incredibly important for the application process when applying to college. These courses boost GPAs by 1.0 and make them stand out due to the rigorous coursework. Hard coursework shows admissions officers that you challenge yourself and take your academics seriously. AP classes on an application set it apart from others. According to the College Board, 85% of selective colleges and universities state that a student's AP experience positively impacts admission decisions.

Scoring well on AP exams also earns you college credit. This means if you pass an AP English exam, you do not have to earn an equivalent English credit in colleges that accept the AP credit. In specific situations, graduating early is also possible. Being awarded for AP courses also saves time and money because you can skip the introductory college courses.

Some people argue that AP courses are not interesting; however, it is important to test out different classes that may spark interest because this can help rule out or rule in fields you may want to major in. There are several non-academic APs, including Art and Design, Italian, Drawing and African American Studies that may spark future interests.

Overall, it is important to take AP courses in high school. This does not mean you have to take all of the courses offered but maybe three to four that might spark an interest, because these classes also go a long way in making you stand out when you apply to college.