Advanced Placement (AP) Classes
Build Critical Thinking Skills
A.P. courses are designed to demand academic excellence from their participants.
Students who enroll in one of these courses should expect a challenge: Instructors
are trying to extract pupils from the high school thinking mode early and are encouraging
a higher level of analysis and critical thinking in an effort to prepare them for
the A.P. exam. Though these courses are difficult, they give students an opportunity
to investigate subjects in depth and to spend time developing their own ideas and
learning strategies that will help them succeed in the course, and hopefully, in
their college career.
Develop Study Habits
Typically the workload in A.P. courses is fairly heavy. They are designed in such
a way that they demand a serious commitment of time and energy from their participants.
If other high school courses haven't forced students to develop a study routine,
the A.P. program certainly will. For students involved in a lot of extracurricular
activities or who work in the evening after school, A.P. may not be the best option.
Before committing to an A.P. course, students should ensure that their schedule
allows enough time and flexibility to make the most of the class.
Study the Subjects in Which You Are Interested
Are you an early bird who's already selected your major? If so, use it to your advantage
when selecting your course schedule during your junior and senior year of high school.
If a student is considering pursuing a major in English for example, an A.P. literaturecourse will give him a chance to study the subject of interest at a pace comparable
to a typical freshman college course. Not only do most institutions offer credit
for these courses, but participating in them gives students a unique opportunity
to test the waters in a particular subject, and decide if it is likely to be a good fit in and after college.
Receive College Credit
As mentioned, it is possible to receive college credit for your A.P. courses. Not
all institutions credit students for participating in the courses and performing
well on the exams, but there are many that do, including universities outside of
the United States. To receive credit for the A.P. class that you took and opt out
of a freshman-level course, most schools require that students score a 4 or 5 on
the A.P. placement exam. Some universities will even extend credit to students who
receive a 3. For those students who do not place high enough on the exam to receive
credit, having participated in the A.P. program is still to their advantage.
Challenge Yourself
High school students often feel as though what they learn in their courses is of
little value once they enter the real world. For students like this, A.P. is a great
option that will allow them to begin studying subjects that can add direction in
their academic career and give them an opportunity to begin working towards their
future goals a couple years early. A.P. courses are challenging, but they require
a mutual commitment from the student and the teacher that works toward the benefit
of both. By providing challenging coursework for their students, teachers find that
their students are more engaged and committed to succeeding. At the same time, students
who are willing to buckle down and take the course seriously will find that they
are well prepared to attend college and that the work they do in A.P. can and will
impact their future both academically and professionally.
Encourage Teamwork
Not only will the A.P. program provide you with interesting and challenging curriculum,
but it also typically encourages students to work together on group projects and
during class discussions. Because the program promotes critical thinking, class
discussions, and supports consideration for the contributions of other classmates
are an important part the learning process supported by the dynamic curriculum.
The interaction that you learn in such course prepares students for the lecture/discussion
style that they often encounter their first year of college. Throughout life, much
of an individual's success may hinge on their ability to share their ideas and opinions
with a group and to problem solve with other team members. The teamwork required
in these courses begins early the preparation necessary for students to succeed
in college and later, in their career.