"I can't, I have homework," is something I feel like I've been saying a lot. But it never really used to be this way. Freshman year I barely had any homework, sophomore year picked up, only for junior year to die down. But nothing could prepare me for senior year.
This year I decided to take four AP classes, only one more than the number that I took last year. Yet, this year I seem to be slammed with homework. It's not that the classes I'm taking are hard APs, it's just lots of work, and I think most of it has to do with it being senior year, and classes are supposed to get harder. But that's the nature of an AP class: lots of homework/ studying outside of class. Lots of people try to avoid AP classes for this reason, but honestly, at the end of the year, it's worth it.
People say they don't take AP either because it's too much work, or colleges don't accept AP credits once you take the AP test. Both of these may be true, but you shouldn't let that stop you. For one thing, taking an AP class is a college level course, so it prepares you for courses you will take in the future. Even if your college doesn't accept your AP score, you'll still have the knowledge to pass the course in college, and the class will be slightly easier for you. Plus, when you take an AP course, they're weighted higher in your GPA than other classes. So, your GPA and class rank will be higher if you get a good grade in the class, which looks good for college applications. Some people have also said that high school APs are easier than the actual college class, so taking the course in college will seem like nothing. As far as the workload, this will only prepare you for college when you have to be prepared for more work in your classes.
If your college does take the AP credit and you pass the AP test, that's one less course in college you'll need to take. Also, the AP tests are the first two weeks of May. The whole point of an AP course is to prepare you for the AP test, so theoretically, you should have learned everything by your AP test. Therefore, once your AP test is over, so is the class. At my school, AP classes become pretty chill; no homework and most of the time teachers reward all your hard work by letting you watch a movie. For causing so much stress initially, it all goes away at the end, and it all pays off.
However, don't feel forced to take APs you know you won't enjoy. If you hate history, don't take AP US or AP World because then you'll regret it. Also, if you take an AP course and don't feel like you'd pass the AP test, talk to your teacher. It's better to ask them and get their take than waste $90 and take the test and not pass. Bottom line: my advice is to take an AP class you will enjoy, and you know will prepare you for college.
