With course catalogs highlighted on laptop screens, students across campus weigh which classes will shape their next year of high school. Among the choices, Advanced Placement courses often carry the heaviest stress and workloads. However, despite the stress and workload they demand, AP courses prepare students for college by building academic discipline and help them develop the independence required for higher education by exposing students to college-level rigor.
According to the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization, evidence suggests that AP can benefit students by increasing their college entry, degree attainment and future earnings. Many AP classes emphasize independent studying and note-taking skills along with long readings, which mirror the expectations students encounter in university classrooms.
“AP classes definitely helped me learn how to manage my time better,” junior Anusha Sinha said. “There is a lot of homework and tests, but it prepares you for having to balance a lot of workload, which is what college will probably be like.”
Although AP classes are often criticized for causing stress, academic challenge is precisely what prepares students for the transition to college. The pressure surrounding AP coursework can overwhelm students, but learning to navigate that level of rigor with access to academic support allows students to strengthen study habits they will need before encountering similar expectations in college.
“Sometimes APs can feel stressful because there’s a lot of material to cover,” junior Amy Kim said. “But it also makes college feel less scary because you already know what it’s like to be in advanced classes.”
At the same time, the rigor of AP classes does not have to come at the expense of genuine enjoyment in learning. When students take AP courses in subjects they are interested in, the challenge of the coursework can deepen their curiosity rather than turn learning into a tedious obligation. A 2018 study found that receiving high AP scores increased students’ likelihood to pursue majors in those subjects.
Beyond the workload, AP courses expose students to the style of thinking required in college classrooms. Rather than focusing solely on memorization, many AP courses emphasize analysis and argumentation that comes with deeper conceptual understanding. In classes such as AP English Literature and Composition and AP U.S. History, students regularly write evidence-based arguments by interpreting primary sources and engaging in discussions that resemble college seminars.
Ultimately, AP courses offer a preview of the academic expectations students will encounter after graduation. By pushing them to manage their time and engage with complex material, AP classes prepare students not just to get into college, but to succeed once they arrive.
