Questioning AP
classes
Are AP classes really needed to get into
a good college? We are going to take these classes anyways in college so why do
we as high schoolers feel pressured to take them still? People rarely even take
them because they want to, they do it so they can put another great achievement
on their college applications. It more about the image rather than wanting to
become a master in that topic. Truthfully, I don’t know if colleges will want
to accept someone if they haven’t taken AP’s but since everyone seems to be taking AP
classes, it seems as if we have to take them to prove we are smarter than other
people or to show off. It seems only smart people take them, especially in a
school like San Domenico everyone has taken at least one AP, but I feel people
who haven’t take one can be just as smart just in a different way. I myself have
never taken one and have no interest to; most of the teachers I've talked to say
they didn’t take any when they went to school, same goes for my parents. It a
very new-age thing to do it seems; everyone’s standards are raising up making school
and learning less of an interesting environment and more of a place that
provokes stress, pressure and for some, anxiety. When people don’t take AP or
honors classes they feel like they're not special and that they wont be able to
accomplish anything in life, that they wont get into a ‘good’ college. It’s the
stress cycle of high school but like I said,
I feel people don’t need AP’s to be smart, other kinds of people are just smart
in different ways that society isn’t prepared for yet, like having a creative
mind rather than being able to get high scores on a standardized test or all A’s
in every class. Some people who are more
book-smart seem to lack having street-smarts or common sense. Its just the way
we were born.
Great questioning. From my understanding, AP classes aren't essential for college-bound students. Honors classes, that can allow for more creativity, are perceived in a similar way by college admissions. However, if you offer one AP class then schools are expected to offer as many as possible. Part of the challenge of changing from APs to more creative honors classes is that the AP is so recognized that many students and families feel that it will help them get into a prestigious school. How do you think this perception can be challenged and possible changed?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I think it is ridiculous that the expectations for high school students, at least the ones at our school, are to be taking college classes in high school. We have enough stress trying to get in to college and to show colleges that we've taken college classes is just raising the bar a level, making the competition for college even more stressful on those who maybe can't handle AP classes during high school. I would like to see people being judged on personal growth and accomplishments not how many AP classes they took in high school.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you. From my perspective, the purpose of having AP class is to provide a deeper and a college level class for students to dig more in what they are interested in. However, AP class becomes a profit-minded thing. In a realistic way, AP class is something that college seeks for. I know a girl who took 19 AP and got 5 for all the AP she took, and she was admitted by Harvard. This number confuses me, is she a person who really loves to study in everything or it's just for college application?
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