Do I Have to Take AP Classes?

While the short answer is no, you do not need to take any AP courses to get accepted into college, it can definitely help you get into more selective or prestigious schools. Although it’s possible to get into a good school without AP classes, there are many benefits to taking them. 

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Having high grades in AP classes looks great on your high school transcript, especially when it’s time to send them to colleges. If you routinely perform well in an AP class, and score pretty well on the exam (at least a 4, though a 3 is passing) it might put you ahead of other candidates who perhaps didn’t do as well or didn’t take the classes at all. Even if you don’t get a 5 on the exam and an A+ as your final grade in the class, just by showing the admissions board that you’re willing to put in the effort for something as difficult as an AP course can work in your favor. 

Prepares You for College 

By experiencing these more difficult classes, you can get a good sense as to how you should be studying and working once you get to college. AP classes are known for being more difficult than alternate options to those courses, and it’s likely that you’ll have a lot more studying and homework to do for those classes than you would if you didn’t choose to take the AP version. You will have practice writing essays regularly, taking difficult tests, and studying intently, which are all going to be important when you get to college. Getting this practice in early will help you adjust to university life and do well in your college courses!

General Ed Credits

Most importantly, you can completely skip certain general education college courses if you score well on the AP exam. If you pass, you can submit these scores to your college and they might waive a few classes or credit hours that you would have had to take otherwise. This can save you money on tuition and help you get ahead in your college career if you’re hoping to graduate early.

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