How to Pick AP Courses: A Comprehensive Guide

Advanced Placement (AP) courses offer tremendous benefits, including college credits, GPA boosts, and enhanced college applications. With 39 available AP courses, deciding the right ones to choose can seem daunting. This detailed guide will help you make informed decisions about selecting AP courses that align with your academic interests, strengths, and future aspirations.

Why Take AP Courses?

Taking AP courses provides distinct advantages:

Earn College Credits

Many universities offer college credits or advanced placement based on AP exam scores. Earning these credits can help you save money by reducing college tuition costs and graduating sooner.

Enhance College Applications

Colleges and scholarship committees often view AP courses positively, recognizing students who challenge themselves academically. It demonstrates your willingness to tackle rigorous coursework.

GPA Boost

AP courses typically carry extra weight in high school GPAs. Consult your counselor for details specific to your school’s grading policies.

How to Select the Right AP Courses

Step 1: Understand What’s Available at Your School

Schools selectively offer AP courses based on resources and demand. First, check with your counselor for available options. Speak to peers or upperclassmen who have previously enrolled in these courses to gain valuable insights and realistic expectations. Reviewing official AP course descriptions on the College Board website provides detailed breakdowns of course content and assessments.

Step 2: Reflect on Your Strengths and Interests

Choose AP courses that genuinely align with your academic strengths or personal interests. Enjoy literature? AP English Literature and Composition could be ideal. Fascinated by how economies function? Consider AP Economics.

Use tools like AP Potential™, found through SAT or PSAT score reports, to discover AP courses where you are most likely to succeed. It can reveal potential strengths you might not even be aware of, guiding you to rewarding choices.

Step 3: Align with Future Goals

Consider courses that directly relate to your intended college major or future career path. For example:

• Future engineers: AP Physics or AP Calculus

• Prospective political science majors: AP Government and Politics or AP History

• Aspiring medical professionals: AP Biology or AP Chemistry

Research the AP credit policies of your preferred colleges to see which courses grant college credit or advanced placement.

Step 4: Strategically Plan Your AP Journey

Start planning AP courses early. Here’s how you can map your AP courses strategically from freshman to senior year:

• 9th Grade: Consider courses like AP Human Geography to ease into AP-level coursework.

• 10th Grade: Advance to AP World History or AP Psychology.

• 11th Grade: Take core courses such as AP English Language, AP Biology, or AP U.S. History.

• 12th Grade: Pursue specialized interests like AP Art History or AP Computer Science Principles.

Explore thematic or complementary AP courses, such as AP Environmental Science and AP Biology or AP Microeconomics paired with AP Macroeconomics.

Step 5: Engage with Your School Counselor

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, discuss them with your school counselor. They can provide critical insights into your choices, advising on course workload, prerequisites, and ensuring alignment with graduation requirements. Most schools start enrolling students in winter or spring, so initiate these conversations early.

Best Practices for AP Success

Balance Your Course Load

While challenging yourself is essential, avoid overwhelming yourself. Balance rigorous AP courses with your overall workload and extracurricular activities to maintain excellent performance.

Prioritize Quality over Quantity

Taking too many AP courses simultaneously might harm your GPA rather than help. Focus on excelling in fewer AP courses rather than mediocre performance across many.

Leverage Resources and Support Systems

Use available resources such as AP study guides, online tutorials, and study groups to reinforce your understanding. Engage with teachers and peers proactively for better learning outcomes.