But, usually the sponsors or coaches that involve those UIL activities will also have waivers and that process that they can explain to students as well,” Tarbox said. “ For me, the stress … I first decided to get a student perspective on the issue. Every class of mine have something important. He recognized his interests and decided to act upon them; the fact that this all coincided with a fairly impressive resume for colleges is just icing on the cake. Skip to Main Content. I know a passing grade in a regular class is better than a failing grade in an AP class, but it just doesn’t go through my brain. 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Taking an AP class is a big decision, and kids can end up with a great benefit, or it can be a waste of energy and time. But, know that if I take AP english with the rest of my AP courses, it’s not going to be good for me, it’s going to hurt me,” Ramirez said. Looking back on all the negative effects of Advanced Placement classes, does the stress seem to be worth it? There are a lot of benefits to taking AP classes, but sometimes students have to decide if the stress is worth it. The other exception that we see sometimes is students that move here, and maybe they are native spanish speakers, so they may not be in AP spanish language, but they can take the AP spanish exam to see if they could earn credit. TikTok is more than just dancing. This becomes an even more apparent matter when evaluating AP test scores at Licking Valley. Usually students can get these waivers through their teachers or sponsors. So the ranks and multiplier system set up now shows that if a student is in an AP course it will get a 1.29 multiplier,” Tarbox said. But is the rigor that AP courses require worth the stress? The College Board states that AP classes aid high schoolers in “achieving their college dreams” by allowing them to stand out on their college applications, earn credits, and gain the skills necessary for students to succeed in their college careers. And it becomes less stressful throughout the year as you adapt to the workload.”, Poole went so far as to say it is “okay to be stressed; if a student is well prepared and passionate about the subject, stress is okay.”. In reality, AP courses have become mere trophies, adding little more than volume and sparkle to a competitive college application. I take all honors classes (excluding electives) and I'll be taking all honors classes next year. JES RUVALCABA / UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL In … Many of the classes were really fun and I’ve learned so much. Why take AP classes? AP classes can help your grade point average This is a huge factor in why many students take APs, even more so than in using them to opt out of college classes. On the one hand, I knew I wanted to challenge myself by utilizing the vast amount of courses and rigorous curriculum that Ludlowe provides. To me, this brings up two thoughts I had when going through this process. “It’s definitely stressed me out more than its benefited me so far. But, there are two examples, Pre-AP world geography and Pre-AP world history, that do give their students the option to do some extra studying and extra things to get prepared for the AP exam. AP classes are worth the stress Jan 05, 2016 at 2:19 PM Your Tuesday front page article about the expansion of Advanced Placement classes in high schools was most welcome. I know a passing grade in a regular class is better than a failing grade in an AP class, but it just doesn’t go through my brain. So the way college credit works is-it’s up to the university or college to accept it, but, in Texas there is actually a state law that says a Texas public school has to award credit for any AP exam of a three, four, or five,” counselor Courtney Tarbox said. Waivers can be obtained for AP classes, but only when UIL activities are compromised by lower grades. In our grade, he is known as one of the smartest, most hard-working students. The final word I’ll leave you with is this: you never know until you try it. Junior Emma Ramirez played to her strengths and chose more advanced courses in the subjects she enjoys. In fact, although students’ scores have risen in the past ten years, the overall passing rate has dropped by 4 percent, according to Politico. AP classes give you a better knowledge in many aspects and it challenges you to do your best. The Injustice in Justice: Why the US Should Abolish the Death Penalty, Body Conformity: Its Relevance and Impact on Women, Why the GRAMMYs Must Evolve With the Changing Music Industry, After the Election: The Wounded Bear in the White House, “Don’t Be Afraid”: How the President Has Undermined Civic Responsibility. My AP bio[logy] though, I love science, I want to go into forensics. If anything, AP classes helped me lessen my liberal education requirements which lets me add on a minor and take a few fun, random classes along the way. She loves to write and has been a ballet dancer for 14 years. Distance Learning: An Unprecedented Adjustment, The Student News Site of Fairfield Ludlowe High School, © 2021 • Advertise • FLEX WordPress Theme by SNO • Log in, Although there are many perspectives on this issue, I would personally urge you. If you enjoy what you are doing and can handle the workload, “it can be very enjoyable and rewarding to learn,” Parimi said. Sometimes students ease up on the amount of AP courses they are taking, so they can have an easier class to buffer their stress. Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses allow one to learn at a higher level, but it sometimes comes with the cost of late night studying, hours spent on homework, intense stress and less time with friends. “It’s a lot of pressure, to be honest,” said Keller. When asked about what he tells students when they wish to take an AP course, he said he asks kids if they “are up for the challenge” and if “the subject area is a passion of yours.”  He went onto say that “colleges want to see that you are taking classes that are appropriate for you.”, I received a similar response from Katie Poole, a math teacher who teaches AP Calculus. In the end, I have no power to tell you that taking APs is worth the stress. Well, Parimi probably seems crazy at this point for taking so many APs. In the past five years, passage rates of AP tests in our school have steadily declined. It challenges your brain in high school when regular classes won’t. Every day, I'd walk to classes barely awake: too worried about falling asleep in class and missing something important yet too sleepy to focus and learn the material the first time around. Although there are many perspectives on this issue, I would personally urge you not to take an AP just because colleges “like it.”  Not only will you be miserable, but doing so may not even increase your chances of acceptance into a particular school. I also kinda have a life. Dr. Shannon Suldo (L) and Dr. Elizabeth Shaunessy-Dedrick (R) Students taking accelerated coursework such as Advanced Placement (AP) classes and the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program face … A big misunderstanding is that taking an AP will automatically put you in that more selective pile; but, in the words of Mr. Sutcliffe, colleges want to see you “do well in them.”  If the subject area is not of any interest to you and you are simply trying to pile on APs, you will again be miserable and will most likely underperform. AP classes can help you in many ways. Your email address will not be published. Chris is an Op-Ed/Features writer in his first year with The Prospect staff. This can be a difficult process, as students are engulfed with their current studies and have little time to research; this is especially true for those looking to take Advanced Placement (AP) classes. So for example, art appreciation is a dual credit course, but it’s not an AP class, so it gets a 1.15 multiplier and that the same is true for the business dual credit courses; anything that’s not an AP, but dual credit get a 1.15,” Tarbox said. Does the stress and pressure outweigh the benefits of AP courses? AP classes have many benefits, but are they worth the stress for everyone? When I broke the big question to Parimi of whether or not APs were worth the stress, he easily said, “yes, definitely. “You should only take an AP course if you’re really interested in going into that [class], like APUSH right now, history is cool to me but I’m not trying to pursue it at all so my APUSH course right now. Lauryn Hughes is a senior. When I broke the big question to Parimi of whether or not APs were worth the stress, he easily said, “yes, definitely. “With UIL eligibility, they give a list of advanced courses-which are usually the Pre-AP and AP courses-and if a student is not passing with a 70 or higher at the grade checkpoint, they can turn in a waiver to have that grade, for eligibility purposes, accepted, because it’s an advanced high course,” Tarbox said. But, what makes him so successful is not his sheer intelligence, but rather that he knew what he could handle and had the right attitude when deciding to take an AP. It helps train you for how college is going to be like. With increasing pressure to enroll in AP courses, not only for college credit but also for the weighted GPA, it is no wonder that students often find their grades suffering and their stress levels soaring. I usually sleep at around 1-3 AM (sometimes 5AM), so I never get enough sleep. When asked about what she looks for in a student, she claimed that he/she should “enjoy learning math.”. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I know this may put APs in a bad light for some of you who are on the fence, but Mr. Sutcliffe nonetheless reaffirmed the fact that “taking AP courses puts you in another pile [of applications], especially for the more selective schools.”. AP courses can offer rigorous training for college, but taking too many can be stressful for students. It’s about politics too. 4. Many of the classes were really fun and I’ve learned so much. Students seem to think that the stress they are put under is well worth the advantages of taking an AP class in high school. For him, he knew his limits and what he could take and, to be honest, that is all you need in this process. A2A: Are all those honor and AP classes in high school really worth the hard work and stress in college? Teachers have “a good read” on what kids can handle, so do not be afraid to visit one and ask questions. “I’m taking AP U.S. history, AP psych and AP biology, and then I’m taking Pre-AP algebra two, regular english and forensic science, but there’s no AP course for that,” Ramirez said. With the rigors of AP courses comes a lot of stress, and they may not be appropriate for all students. AP stresses me out so much and I fear going to class sometimes, cause I just dont know whats happening,” Ramirez said. Up two thoughts I had when going through this process worth the stress and pressure outweigh the benefits more. Of the classes were really fun and I 'll be taking all honors classes ( electives... At around 1-3 AM ( sometimes 5AM ), so do not be afraid to visit one and ask.! As a staff member for the next time I comment Edition, the multiplier is less for Dual classes!, AP courses offer those benefits of more rigorous course content are beneficial, depending on your interest the! 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