As many Park students scramble to register for next year’s classes, one of the biggest considerations pupils have to take into account is what Advanced Placement (AP) classes they are going to take. Choosing an AP class is no walk in the park, it can be a daunting task. Before signing up for a class, it’s important to know the way you learn best. Some students thrive when it comes to remembering every date in the textbook while others are a lot better at solving problems when you hand it to them on a paper. With a wide variety of different AP classes to choose from, it’s important to know what classes you can do best in. Instead of cramming your schedule full of every AP class you can take or not taking any at all, strategically choose what classes you are taking to maximize your success.
AP History classes are a great and popular choice. I took European History and US History and I wouldn’t say there is a stark difference in the course difficulty. Both are classes that require lots of memorization and studying. It’s a great way to sharpen your study skills because a lot of the curriculum is based on textbooks. The big decision for many is if they are going to take European History or World History. As far as I’m aware, neither class is significantly harder than the other. I recommend taking the class that interests you more. History is a long story and the best way to remember everything that happened is if you are engaged with what is happening. I chose European history because I wanted to learn more about the French Revolution. Because I went into the class with the mindset of learning more about something, it made the class much easier and led to my success in the class. However, if you are fascinated by the Silk Road and decolonization, then World History is a great choice for you.
Math AP classes are usually part of a set path that students take throughout high school. One thing to know about math classes is that they are much more practice-oriented rather than memorization. Instead of spending the two weeks leading up to the test cramming the words of the history textbook into your brain, you’ll be doing stacks of practice problems for review. It’s a different learning style and some students are a lot better at it than others, so it’s important to understand your learning style before registering for classes. You want to challenge yourself while still playing to your strengths. When it comes to taking a math AP test, it’s a lot like riding a bike. If you get in a good rhythm and keep momentum, it’s a smooth ride through the test. This is unlike the history tests, which I would describe as more like piloting a plane. You need to remember all the different procedures and protocols and what to do in certain situations that might come. If math is your strong suit, then classes like Calculus and Computer Science are for you, others take Precalculus and Statistics. If you haven’t taken a lot of other math classes, it’s not wise to jump right into Calculus. Treat math like a ladder with each rung being a bigger challenge.
One AP class I would recommend to anyone, especially someone who hasn’t taken many AP classes before, is AP Psychology. It’s a good medium between the memorization-heavy history classes and the practice-heavy math courses. Psychology is a lot more engaging for students than most other AP courses, there are some hands-on experiments, and parts of the reading are very interesting. Having a class that students find “fun” can make studying much more efficient. Juniors and seniors are able to take this class at Park, but I would recommend taking it senior year because most people in the class are seniors.
It’s important to choose what is right for you. Don’t put yourself into a class you don’t feel confident in just because all your friends are taking it or to pad your college resume. What you put into an AP class is what you get out of it. That’s why it’s important to know what the curriculum of the class is going to be like and what effort is necessary to be successful on the test in May. Always remember that the score you get on the final test or what AP classes you take doesn’t define you.
