Are we taking too many AP classes? If so, what should we take instead?

By Laura Sheikh

I’m sure you’ve seen them. The AP zombies. They shuffle around with dark bags under their eyes, cradling their caffeinated beverage of choice.

You can smell the smoke wafting off them when they walk by. The burnout is putrid.

They used to have hobbies. Used to play guitar. Used to crochet. Used to have friends. Now they teeter on the bridge of sanity, trying to survive the endless inundation of work.

Surely this isn’t healthy — and one can’t help but wonder if these students will look back and ask themselves if it was really worth it.

Lewis and Clark High School college and career advisor, Suzanne Maguire, has noticed this to be a prevalent problem at LC.

One of her students who graduated many, many years ago “came part way through junior year and just was an absolute puddle, and was crying and crying and crying because she was so overwhelmed,” said Maguire. “I feel like that's a pretty standard thing, especially come springtime junior year.”

So what’s behind this masochistic mindset that leaves students wiped out miles before graduation?

Maguire believes that students are not choosing classes based on what’s best for them, but rather, based on their social circles.

“I think what's important is that students start thinking earlier about what they want their life to look like and how to best be prepared for their next steps, rather than ‘I am going to take all the classes my friends are taking because I like my friends, and they're all taking 78 AP classes.’”

So, what do you actually need to get into college?

Citing a 2023 study from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC):

For 76.8% of colleges, the most important factor for admissions decisions was high school grades in college prep courses (English, science, math, etc.).

For 74.1%, the second most important factor was total high school grades (all courses).

For 63.8%, the third most important factor was the strength of high school curriculum (e.g., AP/IB classes).

“Honestly, for a lot of state schools”, like the University of Montana, WSU, University of Utah, and Arizona State, “they're only looking at your [cumulative unweighted] GPA. And for a lot of state schools, the GPA requirement is getting lower,” said Maguire.

When selecting a course load, Maguire often preaches to “Begin with the end in mind.”

She recommends taking a balanced schedule. AP classes can often prepare students for the rigor of a four-year college, but then again, so can many other classes.

“It absolutely depends on the college that you want to attend. It depends on the major that you want to major in,” said Maguire.

Post high school burnout

In the years prior to 2020, Maguire recalls attending a workshop with a board of mental health professionals and college admissions officers.

“They were concerned about the fact that so many students were entering school completely burnt out because they had fried themselves in high school, pushing themselves academically so hard, and then they didn't know how to college,” said Maguire.

“I wish students would concentrate less on getting into college and more on, ‘Will they succeed in college?’ I wish the emphasis was on ‘How are you getting prepared to be a strong college student?’”

What classes should I be taking?

With registration a few weeks behind us, if you’re planning to switch up your schedule for next year, it’s better to do so sooner rather than later.

“I've been joking that the only way to beat the robots is going to be with your experience and your ability to communicate in person with people,” Maguire said.

Classes like theatre can build public speaking skills. Business classes teach applicable concepts, and CTE programs can provide hands-on experience.

Sophomore, Sawyer Bancroft recommends taking a theatre class with Mr. Pschirrer.

“It’s a really great community, everyone’s awesome and we do a lot of really cool projects,” said Bancroft.

Advice from a sage senior

By the end of this year, senior Natalie Tompkins will have taken 11 AP classes and 13 tests.

“It’s definitely very overwhelming and I’m scared for May when I’m actually going to have to take my tests,” said Tompkins.

However, she said if she could go back and change anything about her journey— she would likely still take the same challenging AP classes, but choose different electives instead, such as art.

“It would allow me to be more creative, and I feel like I’ve lost a bit of that throughout high school.” 

————

To conclude, make sure you’re listening to yourself and choosing your classes wisely.

And remember: Begin with the end in mind.