four things i wish i knew about ap courses freshman year

ap prep courses are not harder than regular prep courses

when i took my first ap class , i went in with the idea that it would require more knowledge than a regular prep course. as the year progressed, i learned that in comparison to other prep courses i was taking, my ap class wasn’t much harder. the difference between the two types of classes, in my eyes, is the amount of work. advance placement courses have a bit more classwork and homework than prep courses because you go more in depth in the subject you are taking than in a prep course.

 

you need to be dedicated to ace an ap

you can’t tip toe your way around an ap course. it requires serious dedication to studying during class and on your free time. the work load in quite heavy, so procrastinating will only end in sleepless nights and poor test scores. intelligence alone won’t be enough for this type of course. hard work and dedication is what will lead you to a good grade, higher gpa, and a passing score on the ap exam.

 

failing the ap exam is not the end of the world

not passing the ap exam may seem like the end of the world at first, but trust me, it’s not! although you spend the year investing your time into prepping for this final test, not passing does not take away the knowledge you gained from all your hard work. sending in your score to colleges are optional too!

 

don’t take an ap class you’re not interested in

i know too many people who end up taking an ap course because they believe it will improve their chances of getting into a university or they want to be with some of their friends. i advise you not to take an ap course that you’re not interested in! taking an ap course you are not interested in will make it infinitely harder to focus on the material, pass the class, and pass the final exam. yes, taking an ap course may improve your chances in getting into a top ranked school, but if you take a class you’re not interested in, you run the risk of failing. having a failed class on your transcript, ap or not, is much worse than having a good grade in a prep course.