It’s summer! You and your brain are taking a well-deserved break from school. Your history textbook has been replaced by a fluffy historical romance. Your desk has become temporary storage for your beach bag and splashy summer issues of your favorite fashion magazines. But, it won’t be long before your brain reminds you of the summer homework that you’ve been assigned for your first Advanced Placement class in the fall; and, ready or not, you’ll soon have to dive into the summer reading list rather than diving into the neighborhood pool.
The thought of summer school work might have you second-guessing your decision to take an AP class, but don’t email your guidance counselor to drop the course just yet. You are in the same boat as some of the most motivated, talented students in the country; and, it’s a pretty big boat. In 2014, over 2.3 million students sharpened their number two pencils and bubbled in over 4.2 million AP exams. All those students know that the main benefit for taking on the extra workload of an Advanced Placement class is the chance to earn college credit while still in high school. A passing score on an AP exam can mean that your first-choice college will award you credit for a similar class in its course catalog. This means that you’ll have a transcript before you even set foot on the campus.
The College Board develops the curriculum and administers the AP exams, and the College Board has also reported other benefits of AP classes, such as getting a leg up on the college admissions game. Admissions counselors know that AP classes are rigorous, and students who are successful in these classes have demonstrated that they can handle college-level work. AP classes also help you build college-level study and time management skills. In addition, you’ll feel confidence going into your first college semester having already experienced a college-level class.
Knowing the benefits of an AP class can motivate you to get in the race, but you’ll need advice from seasoned AP veterans to help you get to the finish line. Before their high school graduation this spring, four of these veterans from the class of 2015 sat down to discuss their Advanced Placement experiences. Here are three pieces of advice from these experts to help you get the most out of your AP classes:
1. Don’t procrastinate! Keep up with the reading and writing assignments.
Simapreet Kaur, majoring in pre-med this fall, started taking AP courses in her junior year. By the time she graduated from high school this past spring, she had several AP science and math courses under her belt.
She said, “I was very nervous about how difficult the AP workload would be, considering that they are college-level classes. However, once the school year started, I found that if I kept up with my daily homework and used my class time wisely, I was able to maintain a good grade and understand the material.”
AP teachers move the classes along faster than a traditional high school class, so time management is key. According to Simapreet, “Putting in some effort daily to do your work will prevent a heavy workload from collecting at the end of the week.”
This is something any college student will also tell you about studying. Do it in small doses all the way along, and you’ll save yourself from those stressful and less effective cramming sessions.
Another important benefit of Advanced Placement courses is the opportunity to develop independent learning skills. Don’t wait for teachers to tell you that it’s time to study for unit tests or the actual AP exam. “Start studying for the exam during the beginning of the second semester. This will ensure that you remember information from the units in the first semester,” said Simapreet. You’ll take more ownership of your own learning, and the you’ll gain confidence from taking on that responsibility.
2. Ask questions. Teachers are there to help you.
“Going into your first AP may seem really scary and intimidating,” said Delaney Reilly, veteran Advanced Placement English, math, and science student, “but honestly, it’s not as bad as it seems.” Delaney made the point that teachers are the best resource you have in a high school AP class. Asking questions about the material and about the process of studying will keep you on track. “Although the teachers do expect you to act more like a college student, they do everything in their power to make sure you succeed,” she said. So, she recommended not being afraid to voice your questions and to admit that you don’t understand something. Teachers (even Advanced Placement teachers) really do believe that there are no dumb questions. Delaney said, “Teachers are always there for you when you need help, and they genuinely care about you.”
Angela LeDonne, veteran of AP science, math, and government, agreed: “Ask questions! If you don’t understand something, ask for help right away.” If you let your confusion about a topic go unresolved, you’ll find another question coming up right around the corner. AP content builds fast, and you’ll need to understand concepts in sequence to build the knowledge for the exam.
Angela also recommended that you “find a buddy in the class and study with them. It helps more than you would think.” Study groups are an essential college-level study strategy. The old adage about two heads being better than one really is true. Having “study buddies” will give you another place to bounce your questions and ideas around. You’ll have help working out difficult problems, and you’ll learn valuable collaboration skills.
3. Manage the stress
The advanced level of content and fast pace of any AP class is bound to cause stress. Being able to manage that stress is going to determine not only how successful you are in the class, but also the quality of your life during the school year.
Michelle Bader, veteran of AP English, science, and math, pointed out that the biggest source of that stress comes from getting behind in the coursework. “Keep up with the workload,” said Michelle. “It’s more stressful not having it done than actually doing the work!”
Learning how to be proactive in getting things done will enable you to avoid those late nights and will help you find time to stay involved in your extracurricular activities. Michelle recommended that students “find an outlet for the stress so it doesn’t get out of control. Study groups are good for that.” Michelle took her own advice. She used her involvement in her school’s band program as a way to balance the work of her AP course load. “Yes, studying is important, but don’t let it take over your life. Have fun!”
“Overall, don’t psych yourself out for AP classes,” Simapreet said. “They aren’t difficult if you are willing to pay attention in class, ask questions, and do your work on time.” All of the AP veterans agreed that with a little more time and attention, you can gain some fantastic benefits from your college-level coursework.
“This isn’t like any normal high school credit,” Delaney said. “You can get college credit and save money just by studying hard for your AP exams.”
Take Angela’s last words of advice: “It’s a lot of work, but if you ask questions and do the work, you’ll be fine!”