Why take Advanced Placement (AP) courses?

Why take Advanced Placement (AP) courses?

Wednesday night, I attended a parent workshop at a suburban public high school here in the Chicago area. The principal spoke to parents about why the high school is choosing to move forward with offering more AP courses and the importance of challenging students early in their high school career with honors-level courses. She presented the pros and cons. I was invited as one of three college representatives to share thoughts on how AP courses are viewed in the eyes of the college admission process.

To AP or not to AP? That is the question. Or, at least one of the questions many students and parents are asking themselves as they approach their sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Here are a few reasons why students who are offered the opportunity to take AP courses should consider signing up for them.

  • One of the top indicators of how a student will perform in college is their high school GPA and the rigor of their coursework. College admission officers are looking for students who have challenged themselves. AP courses are a great indicator that a student is seeking out the most challenging course offerings.
  • AP courses offer a glimpse of what college-level work will be like. Students must analyze information, write in practically every course, and focus on key points of information. These skills are crucial in college!
  • Students develop better time management skills as more time is dedicated to studying for these subjects. Time management is one of the toughest challenges many students have as they transition to college, as they are faced with much more ‘free time’ out of class.
  • Many colleges offer credit for AP courses. Check for AP credit policies on the Web sites of colleges you may be interested in to learn more. Having credits when you come into college might offer you the option of taking more electives or choosing a double major or a minor.

Disclaimer: Advanced Placement courses, developed by the College Board, are only one example of challenging college-level courses offered to high school students. Not all high schools offer AP courses, but many offer similar programs such as International Baccalaureate or school-developed honors courses. Ideally, students aim to pursue the most challenging courses offered at their own high school and especially in areas of interest.

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