Advanced Placement (AP) classes are a defining aspect of many students’ high school journeys, offering rigorous academic challenges and opportunities to earn college credit before even entering universities. Many students, feeling pressured to take on such classes to become more desirable to colleges, enroll in multiple AP courses each year. This over-enrollment prompts the question: How many AP courses should a student take?
While the quantity of AP classes students take vary based on their goals, interests, and time-management skills, the focus should mainly be on balance. Students who take 10 AP courses sacrifice their sleep, extracurricular activities, and mental health. It is far more beneficial for a student to instead excel in three to four AP classes that align with his academic strengths and interests rather than to overwork himself by grasping for every AP course available. Junior Jaime Pereira detailed his course load: “I took two AP classes last year, and I’m currently taking five right now.” He added, “The number of AP classes a student should take depends on how much foundation [he/she] has. I’m taking five [courses] this year because I feel capable.”
The hallways can be a cacophony of students boasting about their schedules, highlighting the several AP courses they have managed to cram in. However, this culture of overachievement has significant consequences, sending the message that quantity triumphs quality; the competitive atmosphere undermines the idea that learning should be an enriching experience and instead reduces education into a stressful game of endurance. Guidance counselor Melissa Marr explained her attempts to counteract this phenomena: “I always look to ensure my students have an appropriate balance in their academic rigor. I let them know what to expect in terms of reading outside of school as well as the additional time they will need to devote for self-learning of some of the course curriculum.”
Knowing that colleges and universities look for applicants who academically challenge themselves, students tend to increase the number of AP courses they enroll in; what these students do not consider is that admissions officers value students taking a few major-related courses over ones that are simply unfocused. Senior Kelsey Roth warned how “taking too many AP classes can have long-term repercussions that extend beyond high school.” Students may develop a skewed perception of success that prioritizes academic performance over genuine learning. While grades are indeed a significant factor in high school, understanding the course is what should take priority. This unhealthy habit of overloading can lead to lifelong habits of burnout, stress, and anxiety, rather than passion and fulfillment. As Marr emphasized, “AP courses require time for independent study of the course curriculum.”
Every student is unique, with distinct abilities, interests, and future plans. Accordingly, there is no “perfect fit” for the number of AP courses a student should take. Marr concluded, “The key is to focus on personal growth, intellectual curiosity, and overall well-being.” This key is acquired when students take the time to ensure they are working to the best of their abilities and not just burying themselves under an impossibly heavy course load.
