AP/Honor Classes Help Please?!?

Question

Hi. I have a question about honor/ap classes

Currently this year i only have 1 honors class (english). I took english honors to simply "challenge myself" not because i am a "superstar" at the subject. I was in basic English my 9th grade and got A in both semesters. This year I ended up getting a 77% in my honors class. So I know I can't go to AP English. Our school had class registrations and I get really anxious about AP classes and i know thier testing an thier grading scale. Since I got a C+ in my honors class, im scared i would get a C in lets say AP U.S History (which is the only AP class i can pretty much get into b/c i had a 85% in 1st semester an currently a 97% right now.) I am also scared it would affect my GPA because I already have 4 A's 1 B and 1 C. Something simple like U.S history can affect my GPA and would not look good to colleges if lets say i got a C in that class.

I always here word of the mouth about college at my school. Once again I have taken a honors class but not an AP. I am also scared that if i only take a certain number of AP classes, like 1, i may not be able to go to a good college not b/c of my GPA, its because i didnt take AP classes.

I DO want to go to a 4 year college, but i am a laid back person. Im not even sure If i want to take an AP class in US History. Too many people in my class say their taking APUSH (ap u.s history). This year they were taking AP World. However, most of the people i talked too about AP world said they got a C, which scares me a little. Very few people I talked too said they got a B, but those are like the kid who are "super smart". Im just "smart". I do not think I would survive a day in AP, but yet again i took a "honors class" which is almost like college level work i suppose. This is like one of those situations like "you think that you have everything for colleges, but there is ALWAYS one thing to be added to make your transcript look good for colleges" and it will have to always screw up your time!

My conclusion is I do not want to take an AP classes, I have already taken a honors class and I think that is enough "challenge" for me to experience. But then yet again, students, the internet, and College Board want to give you the flipside for everything! They say 'take an AP class! It will help you look good for college! And people who take AP classes are more destined for college than CP students (which i would be)". Okay lets say you take an AP class or Honors course and ended up getting a C like i did! Now what?!!?. The stupid sources like college board will say "oh its okay they will still give you credit". But colleges do not like C's! They want A's and B's! And now college board is saying im not going to a college all because i did not take a friggen AP course?!?!?

Screw College Board! I friggen hate it now all becuase they are saying im not going to college all becuase i didnt take a AP course. I took a honors course! I was destined in my mind to take 1 honors course. And i DID that already!

Please give me understandable advice if you know really well about college admissions. I am really confused and mad now! :(

Answer 1

First of all, calm down. No one is saying you HAVE to take an AP class to get into college. It'll probably help your chances, depending on the college you apply to, but it does not guarantee anything.

Second, go with what you're comfortable with. If you're just fine with 1 honors course, then so be it. You don't have to take anymore. Me, on the other hand, prefer AP/honors classes. I'm more comfortable in them instead of regular classes. If I were in all regular, I'd be bored.

A "C" in an AP/honors course is just as good as a "B" in a regular; it's completely acceptable. Colleges would look past the grade you got and see that you challenged yourself. AP classes are weighted so they're out of 5 (being an A) instead of 4 (which is an A in a regular class).

Answer 2

I took AP US History and it is nothing compared to World History. World History is SO broad of a subject and the book was huge (the AP U.S history book is huge too but World History was bigger), and the fine print was so small. It was like a dictionary. The U.S. history book was so organized and bigger print. However it was about 20 pages to read each chapter, and we read two chapters a week and at a test every week on both chapters. I got an A one semester, and a B+ another semester. Now, judging by what you have said, I don't think you are ready to take an AP course. Why? You don't seem to be up there academically. You are laid back and well... you don't seem to have taken any challenging classes.



It is said you should take atleast 1 AP course because it is basically a college class. It prepares you for college. Also there was a lot of writing in AP U.S. History. You are introduced to new writing and new content, that is present in college aswell. When I say a lot of writing, I mean about a page or two about questions like, how did the great depression affect blah blah and blah. I would say question but it's always questions in a question.



I took 3 AP courses, 1 I passed the AP Exam which you get college credit for which was for AP Psychology. Anyway I didn't pass the APUSH, why? IT was hard as hell, not going to lie and I didn't study. I don't regret it however because I got into the college of my choice. But there is nothing against you if you don't pass the AP Exam.



Also reading what you said, is it that you only took 1 honors course which was English? ALL of my courses was honors. I was in a magnet program so I automatically got honors. But you must have most honors or AP classes to get into college because it boosts the GPA and colleges LOVE honors and AP. You only took one honors class which is ... I'm sorry to say this.. pathetic. Honors classes at my school were like regular classes. As in, I didn't know they were a challenge, they were just classes. The real challenging ones are AP classes.You need to up your game. You are still in school and you need to get as much honors classes as you can. I don't think you can handle AP by the way.



If you don't get more honors classes or AP classes you might be looking at a 2 year college. Four year colleges are getting really competitive these days. AP classes and honors classes help your WEIGHTED GPA though, but not the unweighted.

Answer 3

At most colleges a C in an honors or an AP subject counts as a B. The rule of thumb is if you get a 3.0 GPA you will be able to find a good college to take you.



AP and even honors classes are not necessary to go to a good college. Elite colleges like MIT and Cal-tech - yes - but the average run of the mill good school like say Drexel - no.



To widen your choice of colleges check out:

http://www.ctcl.org/



Thanks

Bill

Answer 4

In short yes, I do believe MOST (not all) honors students get extremely aroggant but not all. The reason I say this is from personal experience because one day we went to a regulars class and the kids in the class I was (honors) where all saying "great now we have to go to the stupid kids class". So my opinion is a little biased but I still believe not all honor students are arrogant, just some.

Answer 5

Cooming from a senior with a 3.4 accumalitive GPA, I got a B and a C for AP US .........ive been accepted into UCR and UCM you should be fine, Just take the course and do your work, and keep your head out of your ***, dont stress about it, you'll understand the work better and your studying skills and work habits will improve, you will have no other choice or you'll screww up.



But hey if you want the challenge ... take it =)

I took it , worked out for me =)



PS: its way different than CP... Go look at "The American Pageant" thats the text boook for AP US...think your choice over thouroughly, some ppl are not cut out for AP courses, they do not understand the material or they flip from the work.

Answer 6

brah the bottom line with APUSH is that it's a WANT class. If you WANT an A in the class you're gonna have to sit ur *** down in your chair and work. If you do that, you'll do well. But you have to WANT it 100%

Answer 7

You have to be willing to take at least some AP classes if you're wanting to do well in college. I don't understand why you're saying that you're gonna get C's. If you study, learn how to write a good essay, and do all of your homework, you should do well. An AP class is supposed to be equivalent to the workload that you'll face in college. Basically, you're not a little kid anymore. If you think AP Classes are too hard, then you're saying that college courses are too hard. You should try to take at least 1 AP class and definitely all Honors so that you can look good on your college application.



That being said, you don't want to overload on AP courses, because they can be overwhelming if you take too many at one time. In that case, take an AP course on the courses that you're good at. If you're good at writing essays and history, then take the AP History class. If you're only planning on taking one AP class, then I definitely recommend that you take it, since 1 AP class should be manageable. I knew high school students that were taking multiple AP classes their junior and senior years. You just have to make sure that you know what you're getting yourself into, and that you're prepared to do the work, because if you're not, then it's better that you not do it. That's why I'm saying, AP English Composition (for 11th graders) and AP English Literature (for 12th graders) seems to be standard, so if you're going to do one, I would recommend that one, since it'll have you reading books and poetry and writings essays about them.



Based on what you've written, I would only recommend 1 or 2 AP courses, since it is difficult. The other AP class should be taken depending on what you want to be. If you're planning on getting into the medicine field, you might want to get involved in AP Chemistry or AP Biology, if you're planning on going into the Business field, maybe AP Microeconomics /AP Macroeconomics might be good for you, if your school has it.



Again, in your case, I would recommend just getting 1 or 2 AP courses. They do take time out of your life, with having to read material and do essays. Throughout the year just make sure to maintain A's and B's, and then if you feel ready, you can take the AP exam at the end of the school year. You're not required to take the exam, but it looks a lot better if you do. If you can focus on 1 AP class and do good by getting a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exam, it'll look great on your high school transcript.



Now, you didn't say what grade you were in, but most students take AP English Language and Ap English Literature their last two years of high school, even if they don't plan on taking the AP English exam at the end. I would recommend that, since it is standard in many high school applications. Talk to the English teachers about that. I recommend taking the AP English classes, along with maybe 1 more, if you feel up to the challenge. It depends on what you're good at though. I can't tell what you're good at.



I will say that since you're academics are a little less on the AP margin, you might want to be active in some extracurricular activity. Colleges don't only base their decision in admitting solely on the number of challenging classes that you take. They also look at teacher's recommendations, the personal essay (which you'll have to write, so start reading up on that) and also your extracurricular activities. This is where you can shine. Try and get involved in a variety of clubs and maybe try to earn a leadership role or something. Colleges will see this and it will make your application look well with the honors and the few AP classes that you just, whether it's just 1 or 2.



As a special assignment I would recommend that you go with your parents to a bookstore, such Barnes & Noble or Borders, and go to the "Study Aids" section. There you will find AP Course books that show you an overview of the topics that the AP courses go over along with actual test samples. This is a great way for you to familiarize yourself with what's going on and know exactly what the actual test is like. So look through the AP History Course Book, and see for yourself what the test is like and the essays they make you write and the multiple choice questions, you can do this for nearly every AP course.



I would also recommend you look through a book called "College Essays that Made a Difference." It's a good book that showcases very good essays, which is something you'll have to do, and you should start getting used to writing essays, and learn how to do it good, uh, I mean well. Anyway, I know the book shows kids getting into Harvard and stuff, which you don't have to do, but at least it sets the standard really high for essay writing, which is I think is something you should be able to do. Anyway, go to the bookstore and just flip through some books you don't have to buy them, and at least you'll have an idea of what will be expected of you.



Don't worry, believe it or not, you don't have to be like the extremely smart kids to get into college. As long as you get your A's and B's, get your extracurriculars in, get a good teacher recommendation, and learn to write a pretty good essay, you will get into a good school that's the right fit for you.