AP testing is quickly creeping up. Preuss students have to ask themselves, how locked in on studying am I for these exams? At most other schools students have to pay often close to $100 per test, and god forbid your incur a late fee which is $225 dollars. Here at Preuss, though, these exams are offered for free, which greatly helps the low income students that chose to attend here. I am here to state: please do not take this opportunity of free education and testing for granted. Please study up.
AP testing is not like a regular final exam. AP exams are a huge boost towards college credit, often helping future college students free up time for other classes since they already took the AP test and scored well. According to the “AP Credit Policy Search” provided by the College Board, the majority of U.S. colleges and universities grant credit based on the AP scores. That means a great score will allow students to skip introductory courses and move directly into higher level classes. Trust me, this will save you so much stress and free up time so you can actually enjoy the college experience.
This benefit alone should be more than enough to motivate most students, but if you are not, it gets even better. If you are a low income student, skipping even one or two classes in college can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in tuition. The College Board reports that students who take AP classes are more likely to pass their courses on time. In this economy, with the gas prices alongside ridiculous shrinkflation happening, saving money any way possible is a win, especially since you are also getting valuable education.
Additionally, time is a huge factor as well. Entering college with AP credit gives students more time to be flexible with what they want to do. They may be able to graduate early, take fewer classes especially since college gets stressful, and it gives students time to pursue other activities and hobbies. According to the “AP Program” results stated by the College Board, around 75% of AP students who enroll in four year colleges start with some college credit. That boost can make a huge difference especially for first generation students since a majority of Preuss students are from immigrant families.
Beyond money and time saving, AP classes are also heavily favored in college admissions. Admissions officers typically look for hard workers and high achievers. AP courses provide that for students, but also keep in mind that it is not all they look for. In the article “The Benefits of AP” on the College Board website, around 85% of colleges and universities state that a student’s AP courses can heavily impact admission decisions. Preuss is a school that makes sure you are ready for these challenging and competitive colleges and universities, so these rigorous courses are already built into the school programs.
Still every year there are some students who walk into the amphitheatre with a lackluster mindset. Students who give up before they even enter the amphitheatre, students who show up late, students who accept that they will not try to at least pass. This mindset is so detrimental towards bringing out academic potential and opportunities for college, and mocks the privilege provided to students. Many schools across the country do not provide the AP courses that we have at Preuss, like AP AFAM (African American Studies). Many other schools have students pay around 80-100 dollars as well. These schools also offer AP classes only to a handful of cherry picked students, which is not a fair opportunity to all students. At Preuss, these obstacles towards education are basically gone. The only thing that matters at Preuss is effort.
Taking AP exams seriously does not mean staying cooped up in your room all day and getting burnt out trying to achieve perfect 5’s on every exam, though you still should try to pass. Even students who don’t achieve the legendary 5 can still benefit from the AP exams, as long as you score a minimum of 3. Even scoring a 2 will at least make you college eligible. Research from the College Board reports that students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to develop the correct mindset and skillsets to survive in a harsher and more mentally challenging environment. These critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as learning and striving for perfection under pressure are valuable life long skills that many will rely on.
As AP testing is only a spring break and a few weeks away, Preuss students should really ask themselves another question: how seriously should I study?
The answer is as serious as you can. Please take the exams seriously. Study with intention. Get good sleep, do whatever you can in order to strive for greatness. In other schools it is rare for opportunities like these to even appear, yet at Preuss they are given. Please, Preuss students, do not squander this privilege that is given out to you. Take advantage and good luck to you all.
