If you read my post on senioritis, you are familiar with the benefits of keeping up a strong course load during your senior year. For those of you who just can’t wait to make the jump into college, I have just the thing for you: College Prep Classes.

What are they and why does it matter? Advanced Placement (AP) courses are high school courses designed with the help of colleges to challenge students with a faster paced curriculum, helping the students understand and develop the skills that are necessary for success in the college environment. AP courses are great for students who find regular classes to be repetitive and who are capable of learning at a much faster pace.

Students have the option to take an AP test at the end of the course. Scoring well on this exam earns college credits that can be transferred into most colleges. Not only do you get a jumpstart on your college education, you can open up possibilities to take more interesting electives by meeting the prerequisite requirements. For example, taking an AP physics course in high school will give the student an opportunity to take a more advanced physics course at the college level.

College admissions can be very competitive. AP courses can be a good way for students to demonstrate that they are mature and capable of the demands of college course work. Studies have shown that students who have taken AP courses are well disciplined and more prepared for the challenges of college.

Have any of you had any experience with AP courses? Do you feel that they helped you to prepare for your college level courses?

Challenge yourself,
Tom