What are some good tips for people taking AP classes next year?

Hi! I'm at the end of my sophomore year, and I have taken 6 AP Classes. My recommendation would be to pay attention in class. Homework and notes and videos are helpful, but the information your teacher says will be the most invaluable- they have most likely been through this process many times. The hardest one I have taken is AP Calculus BC, the concepts and rigor are difficult to grasp, but AP History courses are by far the most amount of information (I saw someone else wrote it- but please, please watch Heimler's History videos, they help so much). I would also say familiarize yourself with the information ahead of time, do some notes/work over the summer and watch videos. Getting a head start is really helpful, because of the fast pace of the work. I would also say staying organized is important, and helps keep the information straight.

That being said, don't take the class just for college or because you feel like you should (for whatever reason), only take it because of a genuine interest. It makes it so worth it, and learning at a faster pace and more in-depth is really fun!

Hi!

I'm currently a sophomore and am taking two AP classes (AP Computer Science Principles and AP World History: Modern). Even though I have only taken two, I can try to give some advice :)

- AP classes are DEFINITELY worth it! It is to fun to feel challenged academically especially if you find on-level classes to be boring. You are going to struggle along the way, but if you keep at it, you will feel so accomplished in the end.

- I've only taken two AP classes, but i can say that AP World History: Modern is fairly difficult but very manageable. History is my worst subject but by working and studying very hard, I was able to get an A. One thing I recommend for this class is to start studying about a week and a half before your unit exams and create one quizlet for each unit (there are many outlines online to help you create these quizlets). This worked out great for me, but everyone has different study habits. One thing I can for sure recommend against is simply watching Heimler's History videos. These are super helpful for creating your study plan, but you won't retain information by just watching and not taking notes :)

Also, keep up with your chapter readings! I'm not going to lie - I have never used my chapter notes when studying (I use other resources), but your teacher may still enter them in as a homework grade. If you don't do them, it could weigh down your grade - save the opportunity for lower grades in your testing grade category.

- As for Computer Science Principles, i cannot recommend it enough. If you are a science or math person and just want an easy AP, this is perfect. Homework is really only about 10-15 minutes a night (if that) and the AP exam material is fairly straightforward. I have my AP exam soon, but i find i am very prepared due to the fact that you put all you learn into practice the whole year (through coding and discussion), so its very nice. Also! About 30% of your exam grade is through the performance task, which is fairly easy to nail as long as you dedicate a lot of time to it. Overall, super easy and chill class.

As for some general tips, find a homework buddy! Make friends in your AP classes so that you all can get together (socially distanced, of course) and study for exams. This is so so so important!

I hope this helped! :)

I've only taken 2 APs but I also have done 5 dual enrollment classes I'll be taking more next year but I wouldn't necessarily say they're hard. AP classes are definitely worth it on applicants and make your academic profile look much better. You can use your AP classes (only some) to apply to your colleges. Honestly they're not that bad its just more work or less teaching in a way. Personally with my APs they're more self-reliant while having work to do. Its like honors classes though so just stay on top of your work and you'll be fine.

The hardest AP class I've taken is AP US History, but there are also some other factors that could've contributed to this. I did take APUSH online during lockdown, which made things more difficult. I've also despised US history classes since junior high, so I didn't exactly take the biggest interest in APUSH. According to friends, AP Physics and AP Chemistry are pretty hard classes. The coursework is different for each class, and the difficulty of the AP exams vary.

I personally think AP classes are worth it. The testing is much different than what I thought it would be when I first started high school, and I think it was a really good experience to have. It helped prepare me for other standardised tests too. You can also earn college credit if you score high enough on an AP exam, which is always nice, and my AP classes help out my GPA (we use a weighted system). Some AP classes are also just really enjoyable! I really enjoyed AP Human Geography and I'm looking forward to taking AP Psychology.

My best tips for AP classes: find friends taking the same classes you are. It makes the class so much better and gives you study buddies. I can't imagine prepping for AP exams without my friends. Second, try your best not to slack. Try your best in these classes (and all classes) and remember that it's okay to ask for help. Your teachers and your peers want you to succeed, so reach out for help if you need to. I often turn to AP Daily videos and other videos on YouTube if I need clarification on a subject too.

Remember to balance your academic life. AP classes will definitely give you an edge when it comes to college, but your stress levels and your mental health are incredibly important. If you feel like your schedule has an overwhelming number of AP classes, it's okay to cut one or two out. If you start a course and you learn that it's really not for you, it's not unheard of for students (although it is not a decision to be made lightly) to drop an AP class. Best of luck with your AP classes!

i am currently a HS rising junior and i have taken two AP classes AP Euro and AP human geo both classes taught me time managment and how to be a better student. As someone who has never really needed to study before going into an AP class i learned i really needed to put in time and effort and i could not just not study and do fine. the hardest one for me was human geo probaly because i took it during remote learning.

Hi @abalovich-, I am currently nearing the end of my junior year and have taken 4 AP classes thus far, and am taking 4 more next year. I have a few words of advice:

Firstly, AP classes are absolutely worth it and I recommend taking as many as you can possibly fit into your schedule. If you are worried about work overload, trust that it will be tough, but not impossible and undeniably rewarding if you are a person with a high level of academic initiative. The trick is to stay on top of every single lesson, consistently reviewing material, staying focused and engaged, and most of all, asking for clarification. You never want to catch yourself in a situation where you simply gloss over a confusing topic instead of facing it because trust me, it will come back to bite you.

As per AP difficulty, that is purely subjective. What you should be asking yourself is, "What do I enjoy?", "What subjects excite me?" By following your passion, you will find yourself in a class that will keep you constantly engaged, setting your heart aflame and inspiring you to take further initiative. I'll give you a personal example. After taking my AP Biology class, I have fallen in love with cellular and molecular biology, a topic I would have never known was fascinating to me. I am planning to join my second EdX course thus far in Cell signaling and Transport, a course I would have never been able to take (and understand) without a college-level pre-requisite.

Now for colleges: The more AP classes, the more edge your application will have. You want to demonstrate your intellectual vitality, showing that you take incredible initiative in your education and have a passion for learning. Colleges want to see that you have taken advantage of all of the challenging opportunities available to you to ensure that if you are accepted, you will not just take 'easy' courses, but ones that will push your brain to its limit.

I hope this was helpful, and I would be happy to answer any questions. Best of luck!

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