Top 5 Benefits of Taking an AP Course

Advanced Placement courses are some of the most challenging classes a high school student can take. Whether you’re deciding which AP course to take, or if you want more information about AP in general, MEK has you covered!

Read on to learn more about what AP courses are and how they can benefit you.

What is AP?

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are challenging college level classes offered to high school students in a variety of subject areas from AP Literature and Composition to AP Physics. The AP curriculum is comparable to a foundations, survey, or 101 course you’d take during your first year of college. Therefore, you can expect a heavy workload along with rigorous classroom expectations. 

Every AP course has a corresponding exam offered in May (or June for  some courses). Students who earn top scores on the exam are eligible to receive college credit. 

Taking AP classes is a major responsibility. But what can an AP course really do for you?

What are the benefits of taking an AP course?

1. You can receive college credit.

We know we said this before, but we think it bears repeating. AP courses focus on both content and test-taking strategies in order to best prepare you for the exam in May or June. Students who earn a 4 or 5 on the exam are eligible to receive college credit. Some schools even give credit to students who score a 3. Receiving college credit before you start college means you’ll save time and money earning your degree!

2. A good grade in an AP course will boost your GPA and class rank.

AP courses are weighted more heavily than any other courses offered. Therefore, earning an A in an AP course can boost your GPA beyond a 4.0 and help you quickly reach the top of your class. 

3. You learn necessary skills that will prepare you for the college classroom.

AP Courses are both rigorous and challenging. And, just like professors of college courses, your AP teacher will assign a lot of work that they will expect you to complete outside of class. Being able to work independently is an important skill because it requires you to be organized, manage your time well, and practice your critical thinking. Plus, AP courses will give you the foundational knowledge to succeed in more advanced courses later on.

4. You’re able to explore your interests and talents on a deeper level.

If you have a specific passion, and you are looking to pursue that passion in college, AP courses are a great place to start. As we said before, AP courses are essentially a foundations, survey, or 101 college course, meaning that you’ll learn a wide variety of topics within a given subject. Therefore, AP courses will help you get to know a subject really well. And knowing a subject really well is the first step to deciding what you want to study in the future.

5. You’ll impress college admissions officers.

College admissions officers are always impressed by students that have excelled in AP courses throughout high school. Earning an A in your AP classes shows admissions officers that you have the college level skills and work ethic to succeed at their school. Not only that, taking an AP course is a great way to show that you have the talent and passion for a certain subject that you want to pursue in college.

Next Steps

No matter where you are in your AP journey, MEK is here to help you reach your goals.

We offer AP Course & Exam Prep in both the Spring and Summer through virtual group classes and one-on-one tutoring. Our courses focus on teaching students to master core concepts in their current AP classes and up to 60% of their AP course curriculum, while also giving students the specific test-taking strategies to earn a 5 on the exam in May.

Want even more information about Advanced Placement courses and what they can do for you? Click here to learn about our AP Course & Exam Prep Programs or contact us today!

We can’t wait to hear from you!