3 AP Courses I'd Never Take

There are many AP courses offered, and most of them have the potential to be superior to other courses offered by your high school; yet, there are three AP courses that I, as a college admissions coach and big fan of academic rigor, would avoid taking.
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[@TheLauren1113]

AP Psychology is a good course. My daughter is taking it and it’s rigorous. It’s a legitimate social science.

[@leealysia9965]

AP Psych is so much work, so much reading but it is an interesting course.

[@isaacfeinberg4623]

I would avoid AP physics 1. It's 90% of the same content as Physics C, minus the calculus. Jump straight to C if you're taking calculus concurrently or even self-teach the calc.

[@dylanebers8017]

Yes 100% agreed I took AP Physics 1 it was good because I didn't really have to study much because I knew most of the stuff allready however if your school offers it I would go the c route

[@a238859]

Thank you for your honest opinion and not being afraid to express it. I wish I learned of your advice sooner. I used to naively think that an AP label automatically makes a class a good choice.

[@donaldbucher472]

APES is 4 credit equivalent course. AP Chem and Bio are 8 credits. I’ve taught all three classes, to very different kinds of students. APES, Human Geography, and Psych are good classes, but the truth is they don’t help people like Mr Meister with the work he does. For students who are not going to the top 20 universities and the little ivies they can be terrific options that prepare students for college work. APES may not be as academically rigorous as other stem classes, but I can say it took a toll on me teaching students about all the ways humans are altering the biosphere, day after day, year after year. And the alterations are looking worse and worse. To a small businessman like Mr. Meister, I guess it is understandable that he considers such sentiments political. If he has children of his own, when they mature I have no doubt they will disagree with him.

[@brondabailey1]

Typical APES instructor. That's the alarmiam Meister mentioned. However, I would question calling any specific AP class left leaning. They're ALL skewed politically to the left like all of education in the United States but especially college.

[@JeannotBr]

I really like your content and this video doesn't change my opinion, but I'm not sure I agree with your advice on AP human geography. Maybe other schools offer more flexibility, but at my kid's high school, freshman can only choose between AP human geography and a similar but easier on-level class. Shouldn't you take the AP class? Not only you are going to learn a lot more (I was impressed by what my kid learned in AP human geography vs what I used to learn at the same age) but also it should help with your school ranking since it's a more advanced class.

[@CollegeMeister]

If the student only has the two options you describe, then, yes, the student should take AP Human Geography. Good luck.

[@robertlee2908]

What are your thoughts on the rigor-level of AP Comp Gov, AP Seminar, and AP Research?

[@sportstalkwithjordan]

I’m in AP Seminar and the course is not hard, but it requires a lot of work. The class has a major group assignment, as well as a similar task where you work alone, each counting for part of your final grade. As a student, it’s important to get ahead of your work, but the class is nowhere near impossible. AP Research is similar, as you have to write an academic journal paper. Same type of class as Seminar, but you work independently all year on one paper. I believe there’s more work. AP Gov, I know the least about, but I don’t believe it’s that bad, from what I’ve heard.

[@nathanbutler8522]

Seminar is a lot of work, but AP research is really quite teacher-dependent. If you don't have a lot of busy work assignments to do then as long as you don't procrastinate it's pretty light

[@fatima-hw1vt]

bro i taking 2 out 3 of these lol

[@licorice5001]

Too bad, I took them all. 😢

[@Ascend915]

AP Human Geo is a joke 😂

[@Ascend915]

Their is literal juniors in my school taking it