Take AP classes. Prepare for college. Succeed. Many students associate Advanced Placement courses with success. Taking college courses as a high school student is good college preparation. They help one learn time management at a young age and comprehend advanced concepts. However, are AP classes the only way to do this? 

Many Wilsonville students are pressured into taking these courses, everyone’s doing it; It’s just what you have to do. At Wilsonville High School, this may be true.

U.S. News and World Report indicated that a whopping 67% of projected graduating students at Wilsonville are enrolled in AP classes, quite high compared to the College Board’s report of 35% of overall public high school students taking Advanced Placement courses in 2024. 

Compare this to 1969, when only 14% of high schools even offered AP class(es). Study.com reports that even if schools provided AP course(s), typically fewer than 10 students participated. 

So why is AP culture so prominent at Wilsonville High School? 

Wilsonville has the opportunity to provide over 20 AP courses, catering to a variety of interests. Consequently, more students will be drawn to take these Advanced Placement courses. 

Additionally, Wilsonville is lucky to have great faculty who believe in pushing their students to do the best they can, which includes encouraging students to register for AP courses. As Ms. Schmidt stated in one of her emails, we are CATS: a Community Aimed Toward Success. 

Furthermore, AP classes are a hands-on way to build important skills needed to succeed in college and beyond. Big Future College Board states that taking AP classes will help you stand out from those who don’t by building stronger writing skills, introducing problem-solving abilities, and creating time-management skills and discipline.

Lastly, taking AP classes in high school can prepare students for success by aiding them in finding their passion before college, which saves money and helps them accelerate their time spent working towards a career. 

So, yes: AP classes advance High School students by accelerating students’ academics and helping them build necessary skills to thrive in college at a young age.

Wilsonville faculty is aware of the immense benefits derived from taking these courses, which is why counselors advise students to try and take at least one. 

But what counselors fail to mention to students enrolled in a significant number of courses is the workload.

AP classes can be strenuous. Extremely strenuous. Especially when students find themselves in three, four, or even five AP courses at a time. 

Junior Hannah Beckly states that, “I think AP classes are very beneficial, which is why I took them, I just wish I knew how overwhelming it could get. I kinda just signed up for three and no one advised me that three AP classes are a bit too strenuous. I wanted to prepare myself for college, but I feel like this might have been too extreme.” 

This is true for many students at Wilsonville High. 

While taking AP classes is valuable for college preparation, there is a necessary balance of pushing oneself to excel and ensuring they don’t overextend themself. 

There’s something to be said about the great increase of AP course participation in the last fifty years: There must be probable cause that catalyzed this. However, advanced placement courses can induce some negative consequences. 

Students who overload themselves with AP classes commit to a more rigorous schedule, causing an increase in stress. Research from Sulde et al. concluded that students in AP classes experience higher stress levels than those in general education classes. 

Additionally, students enrolled in advanced placement classes experience a higher potential for burnout and a negative impact on GPA. The overwhelming workload that accompanies advanced placement classes can lead students to feel pressured to perform well in AP classes, leading to decreased grades in both AP and/or non-AP courses. 

Paige Hibbard exclaims, “I’m so burned out. Four AP classes are too many. I sometimes kinda just forget about my other classes in order to prioritize my APs; It’s not great… but I think it’s worth it for college preparation and like standing out in college applications.” 

Contrary to popular belief, even taking one or two AP classes throughout one’s entire high school career sets one apart from the great majority, and it leaves more time to harvest good mental health. 

Mental health is important, and it often gets forgotten when students overload themselves. Students need to ensure that they make time to put energy into things they enjoy, instead of constantly draining all their energy into school. 

Back in 1969, when AP culture was way less prominent, high school students were still successful. 

While AP classes are beneficial, they are not essential. Weigh the pros and cons, think about the time those courses require, and how YOU personally are going to be able to tackle the challenge. 

Colleges accept students who don’t take AP classes. Standard high school courses are preparing students for college, and college admissions are aware of that. Therefore, while AP classes support strong students, students are going to succeed even if advanced placement class(es) aren’t what their plan is for high school.