Over 50% of Huntingtown High School students have taken or are currently taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes*, and they have mixed feelings about the different classes they’ve taken. AP classes are stressful, time consuming, and can be incredibly difficult, yet students consistently come back the next year and take more. Why do students continue to take these classes if it has the potential to cause unnecessary stress and potential damage to grades? 

After discussing the matter with multiple AP students, the conclusion can be reached that there are three primary reasons people take a given AP course. The first, being that they feel passionately about the subject. Personally, I was thrilled to finally take AP Literature and Composition, as I’ve always been interested in literature and writing. If I was unsure of what my career aspirations were, taking classes in subjects I love might have helped me figure it out.  

“I plan to take physics and AP math classes to get ahead in my future career field and get a feel for what the future might look like,” one sophomore explained. 

Taking AP classes in subjects that align with considerations for a potential career can expose students to their chosen field and allow them to explore new interests as well.  

“I don’t remember why I took the class,” Senior Kayla Blunt said about AP Psychology, “but it was really fun. There’s a lot of content in that class that I can relate to things outside of psychology, like in journalism too.”  

Aside from scoping out future careers, another reason students take AP classes, is to challenge themselves with difficult coursework. Advanced placement classes are sponsored by the College Board, meaning that feature content that is more expansive, faster paced, and more difficult. Technically speaking, these are college classes, and can even potentially grant college credits. When comparing AP classes to standard, or even honors classes, the difference is staggering. For instance, one entire year of honors chemistry covered the roughly two of the nine units taught in AP Chemistry. AP classes take content to the next level, which is perfect for students who are ready to step up the challenge.  

When asked about this experience with AP Statistics this school year, senior Kylie Hoffman told me,  “Math was always one of my hardest subjects, so I wanted to challenge myself to try and be better and to lock in more. Lock in on math, lock out of not being good at math.” 

It can be difficult to gain motivation to do schoolwork, especially for seniors. AP classes give students the opportunity to take on new and exciting tasks that keep them invested in the course.   

The third reason that Huntingtown students take on these advanced classes is more practical than the first two, and prevalent nonetheless among AP students. Many AP classes are taken not out of love for the subject or an inclination to rise to a challenge, but for the grade point average (GPA) boost. Huntingtown weighs GPA for AP and non-AP classes differently, with AP being on a 5.0 scale rather than a 4.0 scale. Students who take the “easier” AP classes and maintain a good grade, can easily go from a 3.8 GPA to a 4.1 with the right schedule.  

Even though I myself have done this multiple times, its difficult to get students to admit that this is why they take a certain class. I think choosing to take a class simply for the purpose of your grades shouldn’t be seen as taboo, but instead as proactive. Students who value their GPA by taking less stressful, or even fun AP classes like AP Human Geography, are setting themselves up for a high GPA and class rank, while also having fun. 

No matter what the reason is for taking AP classes, I think we should continue to encourage students to take these classes. Whether it’s for an extra challenge, passion of the subject, or simply for the GPA boost, AP classes are incredibly rewarding. 

Despite how difficult, tiring, or migraine inducing AP classes tend to make students, all Huntingtown students should try to take at least one. There are so many valuable opportunities presented to us to learn and explore our interests, that we shouldn’t waste.  

*53% of Huntingtown High School students are enrolled in an AP class according to US News.Com