Everything You Need to Know About AP Classes

Even if it’s too late to sign up for any AP classes this year, it’s worth talking to your counselor about putting them on your schedule next year. Not sure if Advanced Placement classes are right for you? We’ll answer a couple common questions to help you figure it out.

What Exactly Are AP Classes?
AP courses are college-level courses that you’ll take alongside your regular high school classes. They’re typically taught within your high school and taught by your school’s teachers. You don’t have to leave school early and head to a local college to participate. If the classes you want aren’t offered in your high school, talk to your counselor about the possibility of taking a class online.

Do I Get College Credit?
It depends. At the end of the year, you’ll take an Advanced Placement test. Scores range between 1 and 5. The higher your score, the more likely it is multiple colleges will accept your AP credit and allow you to skip certain college courses. However, every college has different requirements, so call the admissions offices at the schools you’re considering to see what AP scores they accept.

What Types of AP Classes Are Available?
There are nearly 40 different AP courses offered, meaning there’s probably something that fits your interests and academic achievements. Biology, Psychology, European history, drawing, Spanish, statistics – the list goes on and on!

Why Should I Bother Taking AP Classes?
It’s no fun to be taking more advanced classes if you have friends who are sitting back and enjoying an easy year, but AP pays off in the long run. Not only will you skip certain college classes, you’ll be a more attractive candidate to admissions counselors and save thousands in college costs once you enroll. Plus, getting a taste of what college-level coursework is like before you set foot on campus helps you prepare for a different workload your freshman year.

Taking AP classes can also help push up your GPA, which could help you qualify for additional college scholarships.