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[TCKaos]

How advanced are AP classes anyways? We don't have them in Canada. Electricity and Magnetism is by far the hardest courses I took in University so if it was anything like that then I feel really sorry for you.

Generally AP classes are just more advanced versions of the original courses. It varies from school to school as to what the actual curriculum is. In APUSH (AP US History) we had a great deal more depth in our studies than any of the other classes, even some of my college courses. We took the course for two years (first year starting with a study of the Native Americans and ending after the Civil War and the second year starting with Reconstruction and ending sometime after the moon landing) and read from two text books, an eight inch binder worth of handouts, a book report per semester and a huge project before the actual exam where we had to write a study guide for a portion of history (I got the evens leading up to the Civil War). It was all lectures from a podium, and I found them very interesting. It was probably more informative than any of the college classes I've taken thus far.

I also took APCS (AP Computer Science, which was just Java programming) and two years worth of AP English (Composition and then Literature). I opted not to take AP Economics or AP Government because they were more or less identical to the original courses with a great deal more projects/work attached for no reason. The AP English courses were about the fundamentals of writing a great paper and how to properly interpret different kinds of literature as well as a study of different literary eras. The standard classes were more along the lines of memorizing quotes from books and learning how to write in complete sentences (and failing).

 

[jtb]

Sounds like your teacher is a dick. That's high school for you. I must have had... one, maybe two (if I'm being particularly generous) teachers who knew their shit and who knew how to teach, which made college applications a special kind of hell. AP... eh. AP's pretty easy. At least it was at my school. Just apply yourself and you'll do fine. If necessary, up the caffeine intake too (though, if this is your only AP class, probably not necessary.)

On an unrelated note, fuck that E/G/S/N/U bullshit. Ugh they did that at my high school the year after I graduated... so fucking pointless.

 

[CliqWriter]

Don't stress yourself so much in high school. Try and have some fun.
Drop the class, you will still graduate.

 

[Lamel]

Don't stress yourself so much in high school. Try and have some fun.
Drop the class, you will still graduate.

OR instead of giving up and dropping it, discipline and apply yourself.

 

[Lazy Man's Wallpaper]

Try having a BOSS who doesn't communicate expectations, tells you to "figure it out," then threatens corrective action when you don't read their mind.

You don't know the meaning of pain, son.

 

[Crayons]

No way would I drop the class after all the work I've already done.

 

[squidyj]

I've found any teacher I had in high school who spent a significant amount of time talking about what classes in University would be like was a bad teacher. Teachers who tried to prepare you with, yknow, skills, by, yknow, teaching the class well so that it could be understood and completed and developed the understanding needed to progress. Those were the best teachers.

Of course I have a lot of stuff where I sort of have to self-direct in CPSC.
For some of the students up until 453 (graphics rendering) there hadn't been a course which used or dealt with C++, all of the introduction into ideas of object oriented programming and data structures and algorithms was done in java.

Furthermore most students in my 413(algorithm analysis and design, has a lot of proof writing) hadn't touched LaTeX until the course and now it's required to hand in LaTeX designed assignments which will not be covered at all.

Direct requirements are usually well covered but all the things you need to know to implement what you're learning in lectures will probably be left for you to figure out on your own.

There are also Profs who are just straight up bad though and that's probably going to be something you'll have to suffer through if you can't switch your lecture.
Thankfully I don't have any of those anymore (Had a prof in 413 for about a week who rambled nonsensically about what we were doing but he got sick and someone far more succinct and informative replaced him).

Try having a BOSS who doesn't communicate expectations, tells you to "figure it out," then threatens corrective action when you don't read their mind.

You don't know the meaning of pain, son.

I hate people like that, they have no business overseeing others IMO

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Generally AP classes are just more advanced versions of the original courses. It varies from school to school as to what the actual curriculum is. In APUSH (AP US History) we had a great deal more depth in our studies than any of the other classes, even some of my college courses. We took the course for two years (first year starting with a study of the Native Americans and ending after the Civil War and the second year starting with Reconstruction and ending sometime after the moon landing) and read from two text books, an eight inch binder worth of handouts, a book report per semester and a huge project before the actual exam where we had to write a study guide for a portion of history (I got the evens leading up to the Civil War). It was all lectures from a podium, and I found them very interesting. It was probably more informative than any of the college classes I've taken thus far.

I also took APCS (AP Computer Science, which was just Java programming) and two years worth of AP English (Composition and then Literature). I opted not to take AP Economics or AP Government because they were more or less identical to the original courses with a great deal more projects/work attached for no reason. The AP English courses were about the fundamentals of writing a great paper and how to properly interpret different kinds of literature as well as a study of different literary eras. The standard classes were more along the lines of memorizing quotes from books and learning how to write in complete sentences (and failing).

I took AP American History... twenty-ish years ago and I don't even remember a textbook, haha. I assume we had one though. What I remember is our teacher turning a chair around backwards and basically narrating American history for forty minutes in every class. I never took so many notes in my life, and I only got a two on the exam.

AP Composition was about as close as my high school classes got to an actual college class, in my experience.

Edit: Honestly OP, don't drop the class, it sounds like you're doing fine from what you're telling us. It doesn't matter how you do individually, it's how you do compared to the rest of the class. Live on the curve!

 

[Necromanti]

At the very least, you'll be well prepared for university. I took IB courses in high school, and I have yet to find a class truly "challenging" since then. I'm now a junior molecular bio major.

 

[Wafflecakes]

OR instead of giving up and dropping it, discipline and apply yourself.

This.

Not only are they not that bad (mostly...I passed AP US History, AP English, AP Euro History, and AP US Government.....failed AP Comparative Government and AP Calculus) they knocked about a 1/2 year and 5k dollars off my collage bill. That s 18 credits right there.

 

[Kusagari]

And this is why you use ratemyprofessors in college.

So you don't get stuck with teachers like this if you can help it.

 

[squidyj]

This.

Not only are they not that bad (mostly...I passed AP US History, AP English, AP Euro History, and AP US Government.....failed AP Comparative Government and AP Calculus) they knocked about a 1/2 year and 5k dollars off my collage bill. That s 18 credits right there.

That must be a very impressive collage.

Spoiler

I'm sorry, please don't hurt me

 

[Hellix]

take all ap classes you can, or you'll regret it later.

I don't. I had a near 4.0 GPA in high school, and I was always offered a chance to take Honors or AP classes. The extra workload didn't interest me. I didn't notice any inherent differences in what I was learning in my normal classes compared to the other kids in the AP classes. I had no trouble getting accepted into the colleges I applied for or receiving scholarships. I guess if you were aiming for an Ivy League school it would matter.

 

[Wafflecakes]

That must be a very impressive collage.

Spoiler

I'm sorry, please don't hurt me

5k for a semester is about what you pay at any good state school........

For the career I am going into going to a fancy ass 20k a semester school would be a waste of time and money. (going to be a teacher)



(I know you were being sarcastic....still want to punch you in the face though)

 

[LuffyZoro]

5k for a semester is about what you pay at any good state school........

For the career I am going into going to a fancy ass 20k a semester school would be a waste of time and money. (going to be a teacher)



(I know you were being sarcastic....still want to punch you in the face though)

I believe he's pointing out collage/college.

 

[Wafflecakes]

I believe he's pointing out collage/college.

Fuck me.

Spellcheck fails me every time.

Good thing I am not an English major or I would be worried.

 

[ag-my001]

Coming back to this thread after a few hours:

The thing to remember about AP courses is that they are not there to prepare you for college, they are there to replace courses in college. Each college gets to decide what to award for each score (or what course a test counts for), but that's the basic idea. If a college is going to give you that credit, in place of the hundreds to thousands they could charge you for those hours, you better believe it's going to be a lot of work.

That being said, in my mind way too many students, parents, and guidance counselors are getting way too hyped up on the AP program. I encourage all my students to work towards an AP English and/or History course, because no matter what college you go to you'll have to take one, and chances are they will be the courses with the large class size and disinterested TA. On the other hand, I am a firm opponent of trying to test out of a major requirement, such as Chemistry for a Chem/Bio/Pre-Med major. A college department will design their curriculum on the assumption that a student will take all of their courses. Skipping ahead means opening up the possibility that you'll miss information that department wants you to know. Those AP courses should still be taken, but more as a means to familiarize yourself with the content. As cashman said back on the first page, the AP course may be torture, but it makes the college course much easier, which is what really counts.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

a few months after high school, nothing since. Not even once.

just thought I'ld chime in on this highly important topic.

 

[Lamel]

I don't. I had a near 4.0 GPA in high school, and I was always offered a chance to take Honors or AP classes. The extra workload didn't interest me. I didn't notice any inherent differences in what I was learning in my normal classes compared to the other kids in the AP classes. I had no trouble getting accepted into the colleges I applied for or receiving scholarships. I guess if you were aiming for an Ivy League school it would matter.

Another valid point by the way. If you are aiming for a top 30 school then realize that taking the hardest courses and getting good grades in them looks a lot better. Also realize that a lot of your competition will have taken those same AP courses and aced them.

Coming back to this thread after a few hours:

The thing to remember about AP courses is that they are not there to prepare you for college, they are there to replace courses in college. Each college gets to decide what to award for each score (or what course a test counts for), but that's the basic idea. If a college is going to give you that credit, in place of the hundreds to thousands they could charge you for those hours, you better believe it's going to be a lot of work.

That being said, in my mind way too many students, parents, and guidance counselors are getting way too hyped up on the AP program. I encourage all my students to work towards an AP English and/or History course, because no matter what college you go to you'll have to take one, and chances are they will be the courses with the large class size and disinterested TA. On the other hand, I am a firm opponent of trying to test out of a major requirement, such as Chemistry for a Chem/Bio/Pre-Med major. A college department will design their curriculum on the assumption that a student will take all of their courses. Skipping ahead means opening up the possibility that you'll miss information that department wants you to know. Those AP courses should still be taken, but more as a means to familiarize yourself with the content. As cashman said back on the first page, the AP course may be torture, but it makes the college course much easier, which is what really counts.

Good point. Many med schools/grad schools won't accept your AP score as a class, so you will probably have to take an upper level bio/chem anyway. Pre-med advisors always say it isn't good to AP out of a core pre-med course.

On the other hand, you should still take the AP course in high school...it WILL prepare you better for the college class and when you apply to colleges you will be a better candidate since you took a more rigorous curriculum.

 

[Kisaya]

It's either E, G, S, N, or U. I know I have an E (excellent)

You don't happen to go to Edward R. Murrow high school, do you? B) Oh wait I don't remember them offering Japanese, rofl nvm.

I took a few AP classes during my junior and senior year, but never that much in one year. It's a ton of work, yes, but you have to decide whether all of that is worth what you're striving for. You also have to consider your limits, and if it's too much for you then fuck it. You > anything else.

Also, the AP tests are much easier than the work you do in class. I always figured they made you work harder to get you extra prepared. Nonethless, it's much more worth it getting an E in the class than getting a good score on the AP exam.

As hard as I worked in high school, in the end it didn't matter as much (well... my scores in AP helped clear some courses in college). Kinda wish I took it easier if I could go back, since I ended up going to a SUNY school.

Plus the SATs, applying for college, I'm in a club where we go to walks for diseases like breast cancer or Alzheimer.

Key Club? ;3

 

[dinazimmerman]

tips for the ap test: find and practice with as many real, past ap tests you can online. practice makes perfect yo.

 

[Anbokr]

Seriously don't worry too much. Enjoy high school, don't stress over AP courses. I was exactly like you, then I hit university and realized how much of a joke AP classes are compared to the real deal. Take advantage of that curve and use it to determine how much you have to study (for me that wasn't much since the rest of the class never studied/cared).

I go to a UC and all of my AP credits were meaningless (pretty much all 5's), they just put me at sophomore status and gave me a slightly early enrollment period.

 

[Crayons]

You don't happen to go to Edward R. Murrow high school, do you? B) Oh wait I don't remember them offering Japanese, rofl nvm.

I took a few AP classes during my junior and senior year, but never that much in one year. It's a ton of work, yes, but you have to decide whether all of that is worth what you're striving for. You also have to consider your limits, and if it's too much for you then fuck it. You > anything else.

Also, the AP tests are much easier than the work you do in class. I always figured they made you work harder to get you extra prepared. Nonethless, it's much more worth it getting an E in the class than getting a good score on the AP exam.

As hard as I worked in high school, in the end it didn't matter as much (well... my scores in AP helped clear some courses in college). Kinda wish I took it easier if I could go back, since I ended up going to a SUNY school.



Key Club? ;3

Yes key club!
No I didn't go to Edward R. Murrow, I go to a school in Queens.

 

[Moppet13]

Semester grading system. Quarters don't matter, I guess.

Had this in grade school, but it was mostly about behavior.

Edit: Sounds like your teacher is arrogant and full of shit, all of my professors have told us to email them if we have any questions.
Edit2: Is this the same teacher that you said holds you to higher standards because she hated your old school?

 

[Kisaya]

Yes key club!
No I didn't go to Edward R. Murrow, I go to a school in Queens.

Aww yeah I was right about one thing! xD
Loved Key Club when I was in high school. Lots of fun, especially when you have people who really care about the work they do instead of the assholes who do one or two events just to put something on their college applications =_=

 

[GaimeGuy]

I've been out of college for 2.5 years and I've had a version of this dream proably a dozen times already. HR at work and my university inform me that it turns out they made a mistake and I haven't graduated yet, and I need to take a few classes for a semester or else have my diploma revoked, lose my job, and need to pay back my salary from the last two years. Usually involves me dealing with an impossible conundrum of working my full time 40 hours a week job and attending classes scheduled during the day, as well (like, between 9 AM and 3 PM).


The teeth falling out dreams are much worse.

 

[Crayons]

Had this in grade school, but it was mostly about behavior.

Edit: Sounds like your teacher is arrogant and full of shit, all of my professors have told us to email them if we have any questions.
Edit2: Is this the same teacher that you said holds you to higher standards because she hated your old school?

Yes...

 

[Ken]

Get your villagers to do your homework for you.

 

[Moppet13]

Yes...

Sounds like she's just a bad teacher, good luck.

 

[Razorskin]

Get your villagers to do your homework for you.

And make them wear silly outfits while doing so.

 

[nhlducks35]

The reason I took AP's were mostly for GE requirements

 

[dinazimmerman]

if you want to get into a selective institution, not taking a good amount of AP courses (or IB classes or whatever classes are considered the "hardest" at your high school) sends a bad signal (e.g. you're not smart enough to take them or, if you proved your intelligence elsewhere like on the SAT, then you're too lazy to take them)

 

[xxracerxx]

Learn to accept criticism, even of it is on things you did well. There is nothing worse than an adult who cannot take constructive criticism.

 

[Joates]

Learn to accept criticism, even of it is on things you did well. There is nothing worse than an adult who cannot take constructive criticism.

This is a good point. When you say the teacher had critiques for every single one of your slides did you understand why she gave you the critiques, or was she just being a bitch?

Either way OP, its really only worth it if you get credited for it at the college you choose. Otherwise its truly a higher workload just for the sake of it. You likely dont learn much more in them and just have more work to do. I just wouldnt get too bent out of shape over a HS AP course, especially if I hated the teacher.

 

[Cousteau]

See if she can tutor you.after school.at her place.
Perhaps build a blanket tent.

 

[Fragamemnon]

If you go into college as a STEM major, you are going to have classes with courseload that are going to push you to the limit like this. Honestly, this is the best kind of college prep you can get - learning how to manage your time with heavy course workload and learning how you get things done efficiently.

I had incredible hardasses in my AP classes 15 years ago and I credit most of my success in college to the change in study habits I learned from the workload they pushed on us.

 

[Canuck76]

Wow, just keep at it bro.

I'm in college and it's really not too difficult. If you just show up and frigging pay attention that's half the battle right there. Some classes, you don't even have to study.

Intro to politics first exam: 92

Amount of time studying: 0 minutes

Just know it gets a whole hell of a lot easier in some classes.

 

[Surface of Me]

Mang, fuck AP classes. I bombed AP Calculus, and the mother fuckers at the AP score place never sent me back my score for Physics, so I just ended up taking it in college. AP US History was weird, I got a 2 on the exam. I know a girl that drew a picture of a cat dressed as Abraham Lincoln in the essay spot that also got a 2. I slept through the AP Economics test, I guess I'm a bit of a failure overall.

EDIT: College is easier than AP classes, truth.

 

[ClassyPenguin]

Seriously don't worry too much. Enjoy high school, don't stress over AP courses. I was exactly like you, then I hit university and realized how much of a joke AP classes are compared to the real deal. Take advantage of that curve and use it to determine how much you have to study (for me that wasn't much since the rest of the class never studied/cared).

I go to a UC and all of my AP credits were meaningless (pretty much all 5's), they just put me at sophomore status and gave me a slightly early enrollment period.

This. I went to a community college and still graduated at the same (or even before) many people who stressed out over AP courses in high school. It all depends on your major though and if you decide to take an internship over a class or two ( or changing major/double major or more prereq courses etc.), meaning an extra year or two in college won't matter in the long run.

It takes most people the scare from Academic Probation that Freshman college year to get into college form, AP courses or no.

 

[hawkshockey11]

I am a sophomore in Computer Science and I just "wrote" a 3 page essay comparing the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution..............It was so mundane and easy I almost died.

You will be just fine in college dude.

 

[MaverickHunterX]

Came to post this:

"don't be afraid!"

But fuck on that college dream comic. I thought I was the only one!

 

[Yoshichan]

The teeth falling out dreams are much worse.

Ok, I thought I was the only one... what is this shit and what does it mean?

 

["God's Beard!"]

I took 5 AP classes and one self-taught class and I still spent most of my time fucking around with my friends. One of my buddies had his AA degree before he graduated High School and he spent his afternoons drinking on top of the restaurant he worked at. Hell, we used to cut class in the middle of the lecture and drive down the street to get donuts. I loved high school. I was even on the wrestling team and competed in 3D animation and I never felt like I was under much pressure.

Once I went to state(the only place I applied to because it was by a dim sum bakery), I wound up ditching most of my classes and passing out on top of the student center. I skipped one class 45 times and got an A on the final. Whether it's easy or hard is just luck and I got lucky. Then I quit and now I'm an art student.

 

[eBay Huckster]

I took 5 AP classes and one self-taught class and I still spent most of my time fucking around with my friends. One of my buddies had his AA degree before he graduated High School and he spent his afternoons drinking on top of the restaurant he worked at. Hell, we used to cut class in the middle of the lecture and drive down the street to get donuts. I loved high school. I was even on the wrestling team and competed in 3D animation and I never felt like I was under much pressure.

Once I went to state(the only place I applied to because it was by a dim sum bakery), I wound up ditching most of my classes and passing out on top of the student center. I skipped one class 45 times and got an A on the final. Whether it's easy or hard is just luck and I got lucky. Then I quit and now I'm an art student.

you're doing god's w--

*sees username*

...oh.

 

[maxxpower]

AP classes are nothing like college courses, I learned that the hard way.

 

[Hazaro]

HS ended up meaning nothing for me, so just fuck around your Senior year doing things you want.

Take easy shit and work on video games yo.

 

[Lamel]

I took 5 AP classes and one self-taught class and I still spent most of my time fucking around with my friends. One of my buddies had his AA degree before he graduated High School and he spent his afternoons drinking on top of the restaurant he worked at. Hell, we used to cut class in the middle of the lecture and drive down the street to get donuts. I loved high school. I was even on the wrestling team and competed in 3D animation and I never felt like I was under much pressure.

Once I went to state(the only place I applied to because it was by a dim sum bakery), I wound up ditching most of my classes and passing out on top of the student center. I skipped one class 45 times and got an A on the final. Whether it's easy or hard is just luck and I got lucky. Then I quit and now I'm an art student.

That's really coo...

*looks at tag*

"is now out of a job"

Hmmm...

 

[Cipherr]

Holy fuck that is unreal. I swear I have had that exact type of dream, minus the part where I remember I have already graduated. For me the anxiety lasts the entire nightmare, then I wake up and remember. I had no idea that this was common.

 

["God's Beard!"]

That's really coo...

*looks at tag*

"is now out of a job"

Hmmm...

It's not like I was always doing well. My AP English teacher was a real hard ass that would kick you out at the semester if you got a C, so my friends and I had a contest to see who could get the closest without failing. I lost and got kicked out with a 79.3%.

 

[wbsmcs]

Glad I'm not the only one under pressure. I'm in Canada so my school doesn't focus so much on AP courses. I'm currently taking AP Calculus, one of the two AP courses my school offers, and man is it driving me crazy. The past couple years math has never been a problem for me. I would go to class, see what the teacher has to say, maybe read a chapter here and there, and get near perfect on every test. This year however I have no clue what's going on half the time. When I go home at night I actually have to do the homework questions, and sometimes stay after school to get extra help. This course was a real eye opener for me. Never have I've been so frustrated than when I don't understand a problem. It's never happened to me before. But in the end I'm glad I took this course. Hopefully it gets my ass into gear for college, as I desperately need to build a work ethic, seeing from what you guys are saying about STEM degrees.