Controversy in the classroom: Are APs worth it?

As midterms loom around the corner, much studying is lurking for each class. When asking students which tests they will likely spend the most time preparing for, it is almost the complete census that an AP class, if they are taking one, is at the top of the list. While this mainly applies to seniors, juniors and sophomores also have AP classes of their own. People might begin to wonder if it is worth the time to study for an AP class and take it.

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First, let’s talk about why AP classes can be helpful. For one, they could help you get college credits. If you do well on the final AP test, you could save money and skip some college classes. Also, AP classes can boost your GPA since they are weighted more heavily than regular classes. On top of that, colleges like seeing that you challenge yourself with tough courses. Finally, AP classes have a strict curriculum, so it is easier to teach yourself if you ever get stuck since you can easily find it online. Once you finish your AP test in early May, most times out of ten, you will not even have to go to class anymore.

Another great thing about AP classes is that they let you learn more about a subject you are actually interested in. If you are into art, an AP class gives you a chance to study it in more detail than a regular art class would. This can help you determine if it is something you want to do in college or as a career. Lastly, the assignments and projects in AP classes help you improve at things like researching, writing, and working with others, which are super valuable skills for the future. AP classes are good tools to have that you will be able to use in your career, no matter how vast your career might be.

However, not everyone thinks AP classes are a good idea. They cost $95 per exam, and not all colleges accept the credits. You could put in all that effort and still not get the credit. They are also super challenging and take a good chunk of time to study for. Some students feel forced to take them, even if they are not ready or do not want to. Plus, if you are not planning to go to college, AP classes do not really make sense.

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To make matters worse, colleges are now limiting the number of AP credits they accept. So even if you should get the credit, you might not. This is because colleges want to make their money off of you no matter what. So it is not really worth the stress to not get the credit.

The consensus? It depends on the person. AP classes might be a perfect fit if you love a challenge and want to boost your application. But, they might cause a great deal of unneeded stress and might also not fit your goals. The important thing is to think about what is best for your future and, more importantly, for you.