You know what they say—“April showers bring May flowers and AP exams.” These exams are the climax of most Advanced Placement (AP) classes and are what each course is designed to prepare students for throughout the year. These tests cover material covered in class throughout the year, feature an increase in academic rigor compared to standard classes, and cost ninety-nine dollars to take (as many colleges accept certain AP scores for college credit). This may add an extra sense of stress to these classes. But really, they are not as awful as they seem, as long as you find one that you are passionate about, and are prepared to take on the workload for that class. Here are some reflections on different AP classes we have taken to give you some input for possible course selections for future high school years.
AP European History
MC: I think the general consensus that gets passed around about this class is that there is a lot of work, writing, and reading, solely on European history. While this isn’t exactly wrong, this class encompasses so much more. Mr. Kelly’s slideshows and lessons are top-tier, making this class feel less like your average history class, and more of an engaging, fully immersing experience, almost as if you’re at a museum receiving very detailed and heavily contextualized knowledge of history. However, there is still a good amount of work for this class that is not fun to cram all into one night. As long as you budget your time well, I would say that you should plan to do around three hours of work for this class per week.
AP Statistics
CZ: The workload doesn’t feel all that bad and Ms. Seifert is honestly one of the best parts of this class. The course gets more math-heavy throughout the year but is generally about understanding concepts, rather than actual math abilities. Overall, this is a great class to take with an even better teacher, and I recommend getting a good graphing calculator to help you through this course.
HK: Personally, I think the class gets better throughout the year as it moves from logical and statistical writing to more calculator math required problems. The midterm and final projects are pretty fun, as you can conduct your very own statistical studies/experiments. In my opinion, it’s a great AP class to start with if other AP classes seem daunting.
AP Biology
CZ: I personally really enjoy taking this class with Mr. Higgins and find the course fun. I don’t think it is the most rigorous AP in terms of coursework as the policy this year has always been that there’s no assigned homework outside of what’s not finished in class. Tests are roughly once or twice a month depending on the length of the unit and fairly generous in terms of difficulty and grading, especially if you’re offered points back. Though, the real fun is in the labs and projects: from designing your own experiments, to growing fluorescent bacteria, to eating an entire can of Pringles while drawing the human body systems (the Pringles were a must), these labs are chill and fun. Overall I think this is a great AP if you’re a bit intimidated by some of the other science APs or if you’re just interested in biology in general.
AP English Language and Composition
MC: If you plan to take this class, expect to practice a lot of writing, and to focus on expanding your literacy abilities. The general workload of this class isn’t too bad, but I wouldn’t consider it “light.” At some points, you might not have much work at all, while at other points you might be up at midnight, scrambling to finish an essay. Assignments may include frequent discussion posts reflecting on given prompts and grammar practice assigned through IXL and CollegeBoard. Larger assignments we did this year were different types of essays covered on the AP exam, and an in-class debate that was done in a way I’d never done in an English class before. Per week, I would say plan to spend around an hour to an hour and a half on homework, and more if there is a larger essay or assignment that’s weighted more heavily. Still, this class is a great experience, especially if you’re interested in different styles and types of writing, and I would say not as bad as may be expressed at times.
AP United States History
MC: While the name of this class might sound straightforward, this class has definitely been one of my more favored courses in high school. I can’t say I am the biggest history fan, but I would say this class is still engaging, while not being overly stressful. Additionally, the homework load per night stays pretty consistent throughout the year, which can help you manage your time more effectively. It’s a good transition class regardless of what history course you take sophomore year (it is offered junior year) and will help set the structure for heavier workloads in future classes.
AP Chemistry
CZ: I can’t speak much on how the class will be run next year with Mr. Tuori leaving, but in my experience the class was tough and pretty rigorous in terms of workload. It prepared you very well for the AP. The labs were honestly my favorite part of the class pre-AP exam as it was fun to work in groups with your friends and get some pretty hilarious results sometimes (-1000 percent error…). The post-AP field trips and projects were really fun as well. Overall a challenging but fun AP class.
HK: This class was genuinely a blast with Mr. Tuori, and I’m very sad that he’ll be leaving this year. The class itself requires a strong basis and understanding of basic chemistry and math, as the curriculum is quite challenging. The labs are very enjoyable (and long), and I personally gained a lot of information from doing them. After the AP exam, the class is pretty chill since we go on ice cream trips and walks outside, and the end-of-year project is something I’ll never forget.
AP Calculus BC
HK: I recommend taking this class if you love math or are good at it. The class requires proficient skills in math, and since your grades are mostly weighed by tests and quizzes, it is essential to understand the coursework. All the topics build-up on each other, so it’s important to make sure you’re solid with previous units to keep up throughout the year. But Mr. Deppe is a great teacher, which makes the class a lot better and more enjoyable!
AP Human Geography
VC: Human geography sounds like a pretty abstract and random class, but it’s surprisingly interesting! Units we covered include urban land use models and how cities are structured, theories of world development for countries, and how the relationships between countries play out at a global level. The textbook is a really light read, and homework is rare, but is graded harshly. Other than that, the content is straightforward and it’s a relatively easygoing class with minimal stress.
Just remember that you shouldn’t feel obligated to take AP classes you aren’t as interested in or don’t have the time to manage. This advice might sound a bit cliché, but only take an AP class if it’s in a subject that truly interests you, or will be actually beneficial to your future self. If you do take part in these classes, remember that there are plenty of others that have as well, and there are a plethora of resources to get further help or advice for these courses. Hopefully, our input has helped you at least a little in making decisions for your future course endeavors!
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